Our Mission
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence, also known as PEOPLE, started in 1999 with 66 high school students from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PEOPLE has grown to over 1300 students in the pipeline ranging from 8th graders to college seniors. Our program has two separate units — one for precollege high school students and one for college scholars. Together, our vision is to be the premier college access program for student success. PEOPLE is the UW’s most successful venture in creating such opportunities and improving campus diversity.
485
students from Milwaukee have been accepted at UW-Madison and received a full tuition scholarship.
94%
of PEOPLE high school graduates enroll in higher education.
253
students from Milwaukee have graduated from UW-Madison as College Scholars.
The PEOPLE Journey
Precollege
We enroll 8th graders from Madison and 9th graders from Milwaukee to participate in engaging programming from their freshman year to high school graduation. Every PEOPLE student is assigned a Precollege Advisor to assist them throughout their educational journey. In Precollege, we want to help students master academic knowledge, build cognitive strategies for success, improve self-management skills, and experience college through experiential learning. Precollege students attend a robust, residential summer program. They will live in a dorm on UW-Madison's campus and experience a preview of college life while supported by our staff.
College
We work directly with PEOPLE students who have successfully completed PEOPLE Precollege or Information Technology Academy and have been directly admitted to UW-Madison or transferred from another institution. Our College Advisors provide guidance in major exploration, class selection, identifying campus resources and services, study abroad opportunities, internships, scholarships, student organizations, leadership opportunities, and more. The advisors serve as advocates for students to ensure College Scholars are supported as they strive to achieve academic and personal success as they work toward college graduation.
Alumni
You never stop being a PEOPLE Scholar! We love to reconnect with students who have graduated from our program. As you move onto your next journey, connect with us on social media to receive updates about alumni-specific events, volunteer opportunities, and potential careers with our program. Many PEOPLE Scholars have returned to offer their expertise to our program as full-time staff or to help with our robust Precollege summer program. We want you to continue to reach out to your College Advisor and our Directors as you progress in your career, and let us know if your expertise could be helpful to future PEOPLE students!
