Wayne State University’s “GO-GIRL” (Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life) program, designed to boost mathematics skills and generating confidence in seventh-grade girls, is now accepting applications for the winter semester. The 10-week Saturday program, hosted by Wayne State’s College of Education, will launch the winter semester in January 2007. GO-GIRL is free and open to a limited number of seventh-grade female students.

Middle school students interested in participating at Wayne State may visit http://www.gogirls.wayne.edu and download the application forms. The application deadline is Thursday, Dec. 15. Further information about the GO-GIRL project is also available by contacting Prof. Sally Roberts, faculty advisor, at s.k.roberts@wayne.edu.

Since its inception in 2002, GO-GIRL has helped more than 200 middle school girls from public and private schools in the Detroit metropolitan area develop mathematical confidence, skills and conceptual understanding by integrating mathematics and social science research into a single-sex, technology-rich environment supported by university student mentors.

Initially funded by a National Foundation grant, and collaboratively developed by faculty and staff from the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Women and Gender and Wayne State’s College of Education, GO-GIRL was developed in response to research findings suggesting a decline in interest in mathematics among middle school girls and minority youth. Pamela Trotman Reid, provost and executive vice president at Roosevelt University, founded the GO-GIRL program.

Sally K. Roberts, assistant professor in Wayne State University’s College of Education is the faculty advisor for the program. Pre-post comparisons indicate that GO-GIRL positively impacts participants’ confidence in their ability to do well in mathematics. Roberts believes this illustrates the positive potential of same-sex programs supported by mentors. “The interaction between the middle-school participants and their college mentors offers an opportunity for the students to begin thinking about career goals and looking more seriously at their future,” Roberts said. “The structure of the GO-GIRL program is an empowering experience to the young girls.”

The program is currently supported in part by funds from the Michigan Department of Education, the RGK Foundation, the Wayne State University College of Education and private contributions.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.