The UT Outreach Centers have now been renamed to UT Youth Engagement Centers (YEC) to better reflect their recent expansion including support and recruitment for both high school and middle school students from traditionally underserved communities.

With funding from The University of Texas at Austin, the YEC added six new staff positions to participating schools, doubling its reach from 3,500 to 7,000 students per year. The YEC has also partnered with the university’s Office of Admissions to connect promising high school students with the UT Honors Program. The partnership has helped accelerate college matriculation numbers.

Housed within the Longhorn Center for School Partnerships, the YEC continues to provide a comprehensive college preparatory program that includes workshops, boot camps, tutoring and mentoring sessions as well as community service opportunities and visits to college campuses. Several centers will serve middle school students and two centers have a focus on alumni engagement.

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More about the UT Youth Engagement Centers

Established in 1987, the YEC began its longstanding presence in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio in an effort to provide a comprehensive college preparatory program for selected students in targeted high schools. Group and individual services are designed to enhance a student’s academic success in high school and to increase admissibility to their chosen college. Staff members assist students by holding monthly meetings with them on academic subject requirements, SAT/ACT test preparation, college and student financial aid application assistance, as well as other college-related information.

For more information, visit the YEC website at www.diversity.utexas.edu/schoolpartnerships/ut-youth-engagement-centers.