DANBURY, CONN. — At the “Diversity at the University” program, Western Connecticut State University students majoring in elementary education spend the day with Danbury elementary school students learning as much from the youngsters as the youngsters do from them.

In October, more than 75 fifth-grade students from Danbury’s Shelter Rock Elementary school spent the day at Western learning about housing, financial aid, admissions and course registration. They also learned about dorm life and clubs, and Dean of the School of Professional Studies, Dr. Jess House, talked to them about being at Point A in life and making preparations for Point B.

Dr. Marsha Daria, WCSU coordinator of the Bachelor of Science elementary education program and education professor, said the university has been offering campus tours to Danbury school children for at least the past 15 years. She said the students often ask questions such as “Can immigrants go to college?” and whether university President James Schmotter is the university’s owner.

Daria said that the program is an excellent opportunity not only for younger students to learn that going to college is an option for everyone, but also a great opportunity for her college students majoring in elementary education to gets hands-on experience with students in a nontraditional setting.

WCSU student Marquise Taylor said the experience was inspiring.

“A lot of the (Shelter Rock) students knew so much more than I expected about the college process,” Taylor said. “I overheard two of the students talking about their future lives at WCSU. Overall I feel it was a truly inspiring program. It definitely achieved its goal, which was to expose and enthuse a future generation to and about higher education.”

WCSU elementary education major Alexa Calo said the event was a great way of getting students to think about their future.

“The younger students asked about paying for college, living away from home and whether WCSU offered certain sports, clubs and trips,” Calo said. “They weren’t afraid to share, speak their minds, and ask whatever questions they wanted. It was also refreshing to be able to talk to the fifth graders at a more grown-up level, because they had insightful questions and intriguing responses.”

After a serious course on how to get through the Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid and Housing, students got a tour of the library, a residence hall and the Science Building. Then they watched as WCSU theatre arts students performed.

Shelter Rock student Isabella DaSilva said she enjoyed learning about “banking,” referring to the financial aid discourse. She said she is looking forward to the possibility of attending Western in the future and is considering one of the many majors she learned about, including nursing, teaching and finance.

Fifth-grader Ibraheem Ahmed said he enjoyed learning about everything from the admissions process to grants.

“It changed my perspective,” said Ahmed. “You can live at home or you can live in a dorm. And you can choose your own classes. There are also a lot of clubs to join and if the one you want is not here, you can make a club.”

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.