The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is proud
to announce MREACH (Michigan Ross School of Business Enriching
Academics in Collaboration with High schools). MREACH will
bring Detroit and other Southeast Michigan high school students (urban and
rural) to the Ross School of Business for a series of action-based learning
experiences introducing the young people to basic theories of business
disciplines, with a special emphasis on accounting as the fundamental building
block. In addition, MREACH will offer students insight into the college planning
process and business careers.
MREACH (which was piloted in the Spring of 2006 with one cohort of freshmen
from two high schools in Detroit and Wayne, Michigan) is a long-term action plan
for recruiting and retaining talented underrepresented high school students into
both a school-based and a campus-based program that will encourage them to
attend college and study business and accounting. To date, MREACH has engaged
over 350 students from Wayne Memorial High School, Cass Technical High School,
Southfield Lathrup High School, Southfield High School, Martin Luther King High
School, Renaissance High School, Ypsilanti High School, Western International
High School, Howell High School and Ann Arbor Huron High School. When it is
fully implemented and operational, MREACH will serve four cohorts (ninth, tenth,
eleventh and twelfth graders) or approximately 950 students each year.
One unique aspect of MREACH is the goal to retain 100% of the same students
in each of the four years of the program. MREACH will prepare students for
success not only at Michigan but also at other colleges and universities
offering undergraduate business programs, including Wayne State, Michigan State,
Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Ohio State, University of Indiana, Howard,
University of Pennsylvania and many others. MREACH also provides an opportunity
for current BBA students to play an important role facilitating the on-site
program and serving as mentors between on-campus events. BBA students are
involved from the Accounting Club, Marketing Club, Finance Club and Black
Business Undergraduate Society and participate at several different aspects of
the program over fours years.
The Ross School is focused on strengthening the linkages along the
educational pipeline by providing career enrichment, academic preparation and
hands-on business activities for underrepresented minority groups (e.g.,
African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans) as well as first generation college-bound students and students from lower socio-economic standing.
Expose underrepresented students to both college and to areas of
business such as accounting, business economics, marketing, finance,
manufacturing, consulting, and general management;
Provide action-based learning experiences through an entrepreneurial
component that involves the Ross School faculty and undergraduate
students;
Provide participants with a unique and meaningful business learning
environment that is currently not available in high school;
Provide students with a Four-Year Course Planning Guide that will
help students prepare for the college application and
scholarship/financial aid process;
Promote professional development through interaction and activities
with corporate staff and executives; and
Foster cross-cultural and interpersonal relationships by
exposing the students to a different environment and people of diverse
backgrounds
2006-2007 MREACH Annual Report
2007-2008 MREACH Annual Report
2007-2008 MREACH Research Report
2008 MREACH Summer Academy Program Guide
