The Percy Ellis Sutton S.E.E.K. Opportunity Program
Institution:
CUNY Lehman College
State:
New York
Academic Level:
Baccalaureate
Issue Area:
Support Services
Program Focus:
Key Personnel:
Angelia Holloway-Pinnock
Contact Info:
angelia.hollowaypinn@lehman.cuny.edu | 718.960.7967
Overview
The Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (S.E.E.K.) Program at
Lehman College is a pioneering initiative of the City University of New York—and the first
educational opportunity program established at a senior college in the United States. S.E.E.K.’s mission is to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to higher education and the tools to thrive. The program is designed for students who demonstrate the drive and potential to succeed in college but may not meet traditional admissions criteria due to academic and economic barriers. S.E.E.K. supports up to 900 undergraduates and enrolls a minimum of 225 freshmen each year; over 60% are Latino and 85% are 19 years or younger.
Program Description
S.E.E.K. provides a robust network of support to ensure students thrive in college and beyond, including career integrated advising and counseling; academic enrichment through tutoring, supplemental instruction, and academic coaching; critical thinking development and targeted workshops; and enhanced financial assistance, such as textbook and transportation stipends, an additional year of state aid, paid experiential learning, and scholarships for study abroad and graduate school preparation. Through cognitive and non-cognitive skill development, experiential learning, and social capital building, the program supports student persistence, fosters graduation, and prepares students for meaningful careers.
Outcome
Over the last five years (2019-2024), S.E.E.K. has implemented several strategies to achieve and exceed pre-pandemic outcomes in enrollment, retention, performance, graduation, and other areas.
Increased first-year retention: First year retention was 80% for cohort 2023 and 94.2% for (fall to spring) for cohort 2024.
Increased transfer retention: There was a 15% (from 80% to 95%) increase in first-year transfer retention rate of Latino students from 2019 to 2023, and a 47% (from 48% to 95%) increase in second-year transfer retention rates of Latinos over the same period.
Increased graduation rate: Six- year graduation rate increased from 43% for cohort 2008 to 49.8% for cohort 2017.
Career readiness support: Through the implementation of a Career Integrated Advisement Model, 100% of first-year students received career development workshops on resume, interviewing and internships, 95% of first-year students claimed their Career Services account on Handshake, and 56% completed their resume.
