Temple University’s mission has always been rooted in ensuring that individuals from all walks of life have a pathway to pursuing the high-quality education that is a hallmark of this institution. Today, the university reaffirmed its commitment to that mission with the launch of the Temple Future Scholars program. 

“In recent weeks, I have shared how important it is that our community engagement efforts are maximized for the greatest impact, and the Temple Futures Scholars program reflects what can be accomplished when we do just that,” said Temple President John Fry. “This is the type of program that can dramatically raise the educational aspirations of students and their families, leading to positive outcomes for all involved. This is a great day for Temple, and more importantly, it’s a great day for the children who attend these schools.” 

The program is a scaled college pipeline program that will support low-income, first-generation–to-college students in Philadelphia public middle schools. It is structured to provide comprehensive support to seventh-grade students, guiding them through their academic journey from middle school to college.  

“Temple has a responsibility to the students of Philadelphia, and this new program paves the way for talented students from across our great city to come and receive an excellent education at their public university,” said Provost Gregory N. Mandel. “We believe strongly in supporting the dreams of young people, and by connecting middle school students with the breadth of opportunity that will expand their options, we hope to help them realize their goals.” 

A partnership between Temple, the School District of Philadelphia and Heights Philadelphia, the program will initially launch with 120 students, with hopes of expanding to 200 in each ensuing year. In a few years, the program’s goal is to have 1,200 students from the School District of Philadelphia in grades seven through 12 enrolled as Temple Future Scholars at any given time. 

“We’re proud to partner with Temple University and Heights to create a pathway that opens the door of opportunity for students,” said Tony B. Watlington Sr., superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia. “By collaborating to provide resources and remove barriers for students, we can help them be more than just college and career ready—we can prepare them to imagine and realize any future they desire.” 

The Temple Futures Scholars program will launch with the following seven middle schools. 

• Mary McLeod Bethune School 
• Morton McMichael School 
• Paul L. Dunbar School 
• Russell H. Conwell School 
• Tanner G. Duckrey School 
• John F. Hartranft School 
• Juniata Park Academy 

“Students are at the center of everything Heights does, and we are committed to connecting Philly youth to educational and career opportunities that support their pathways to economic mobility,” said Sean E. Vereen, president and CEO of Heights Philadelphia. “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Temple University through the launch of Temple Future Scholars, and we are especially grateful for the opportunities this creates for our middle school students and their families. This is the kind of transformative long-term commitment that the city’s institutions and businesses need to make to young people. We call on other colleges and universities to follow Temple’s lead and join this citywide effort to establish high-quality educational and economic opportunities for all students. Heights is here to partner and support those doing right and better for Philly youth.” 

Students who enroll as Temple Future Scholars will take part in monthly Saturday meetings on Temple’s Main Campus throughout the academic year. They will also be connected to current Temple students, who will visit the participating schools and serve as mentors. 

Each summer, the Temple Future Scholars will take part in college and career readiness programming, and they will also receive regular support and guidance through Temple’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Staff members from that office will work to ensure that the students’ middle and high school course selection keeps them on track for successful admission to Temple. 

“The university’s greatest strength lies in recognizing potential in young people and providing the opportunity and resources to nurture it. This was the vision of our founder Rev. Russell Conwell, and this is what Temple Future Scholars accomplishes,” said Valerie Harrison, vice president for community impact and civic engagement. “Many of the students who start in this program may have never previously thought of attending a university, but by the time the program ends, they will be enrolled here at Temple. The significance of that cannot be overstated.” 

To Harrison’s point, Temple Future Scholars who qualify will benefit from the Temple Promise program, which will take the barrier of financing their college education off the table. Launched in the winter of 2024, Temple Promise is a last-dollar financial aid program for Philadelphia-area students with a family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less that covers the remaining tuition and eligible fees after all other aid is applied to a student’s tuition account. 

“Heights Philadelphia has had a longstanding partnership with Temple University through the Temple Promise and Cecil B. Moore Scholarship programs,” said Chris Avery, vice president of program strategy and partnerships for Heights Philadelphia. “We are incredibly grateful for the doors that have opened for our students, who are now on the pathway to achieving economic mobility. Heights’ partnership with Temple is a model for how other colleges and universities can support young people, and we strive to continue to find ways to connect Philly youth to transformative opportunities like this.” 

Since its launch, the Temple Promise program has been highly successful, with 489 students from the incoming Class of 2028 receiving Temple Promise funds. They were part of a total of 1,101 students in the class who hailed from Philadelphia, which represented a 68% increase from the previous year. 

The university hopes the Temple Future Scholars program helps further increase that number. While Temple is Philadelphia’s public research university, the 1,101 Philadelphia students represented just under 20% of the university’s most recent class.  

Additionally, of the 51% of Philadelphia's public school students who pursue higher education, only 38% attend a four-year college or university like Temple and 58% of these students are retained for their second year. These percentages highlight the need for programs like Temple Promise and Temple Future Scholars, which help remove educational barriers for promising young people.

“As a first-generation student myself, I understand the challenges and barriers that young people face when it comes to pursuing higher education. That is especially true here in Philadelphia, a city that has one of the lowest median incomes and highest unemployment rates in the country,” said Jose Aviles, vice provost for enrollment management. “Through this program, we will ensure that young people are thinking about their futures and visualizing themselves in college as early as seventh grade. It will not happen overnight, but before long, we will be fostering long-term academic engagement and see more and more local students succeed here at Temple.”