Opus preps students for life at Lakeland
Lakeland will welcome 25 students to campus on June 20 for the summer Opus program, which will help them transition from high school to life as Lakeland students.
Designed for first-generation college students who are primarily from the Milwaukee area, Opus focuses on helping students develop strong academic skills, navigate college life on their own and earn money to pay for school while learning good workplace habits and building a personal and professional network.
The eight-week program is a mix of coursework, work in a position on campus (each student will work at least 30 hours a week) and a variety of fun activities on and off campus. This is the program’s second year, and it is led by Jake Maechtle of the admissions team and Joshua Kutney, dean of the School of Humanities & Fine Arts.
Students will also learn how to set goals, maintain a schedule and manage other challenges related to living away from home and being a college student. Programming also includes community service work and a tour of Cooperative Education program partner companies.
Assisting the students will be four resident assistants who are returning LU students who were part of this program last summer.
Students who successfully complete the Opus program, which includes meeting a list of criteria related to coursework and other activities, will earn a $5,000 Bradley Foundation grant to help pay for their first year at Lakeland.
