Author Information
Elodie Billionniere, Miami Dade College, United StatesLawrence Meyer Jr., Miami Dade College, United States
Abstract
The Rebooting through EmTech Programs (REP) initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, supports low-income and underrepresented students in computing fields—specifically cybersecurity, data analytics, and information systems technology. Over the past two years, REP sought to bridge academic achievement and career readiness by integrating mentorship, scholarships, and experiential learning into a cohesive student success framework. This mixed-methods evaluation of the REP Scholars Program at Miami Dade College reveals measurable improvements in students’ academic performance, self-efficacy, and professional preparedness. Surveys, focus groups, and institutional data demonstrate that structured mentorship and applied learning opportunities not only enhance academic persistence but also empower students to transition confidently toward technical careers. Findings suggest that holistic, equity-centered initiatives like REP provide a replicable model for linking academic excellence with workforce readiness in higher education.
Paper Information
Conference: ACE2025Stream: Learning Experiences
This paper is part of the ACE2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
Full Paper
View / Download the full paper in a new tab/window
To cite this article:
Billionniere E., & Jr. L. (2026) Bridging Academic Achievement and Career Readiness: The REP Scholars Experience ISSN: 2186-5892 – The Asian Conference on Education 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 1415-1428) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-5892.2026.108
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-5892.2026.108
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress