Overview
Students who check "SEEK" on their CUNY applications may receive conditional letters of acceptance to the College, pending verification of eligibility. The next step for conditionally admitted students is to attend a SEEK Orientation and establish their eligibility for the program.
SEEK students may be admitted to the College without having passed all three CUNY/ACT Skills Tests. However, they are expected to pass these tests by the end of their first year. Entering SEEK students who have not yet passed all three CUNY/ACT Skills Tests must attend the Summer Immersion Program prior to their first registration.
A Summer Enrichment Program, in which students can get a head start on their academic career by taking a 3-credit course, is offered for entering students who have passed all three CUNY/ACT Skills Tests.
The SEEK Program, in connection with the Freshman Year Initiative (FYI) Summer Enrichment Program for students who have passed or are exempted from the three CUNY skills tests. In addition, those students who required one workshop are also encouraged to participate in the enrichment program.
New Student Orientations
If you have been admitted as a SEEK applicant, you will receive a letter from the SEEK Office notifying you that you will need to attend a SEEK orientation. SEEK Orientations are designed to introduce new students to all aspects of the SEEK Program: policies, people, requirements, benefits, etc. The orientations are mandatory for all new SEEK students.
When you attend the orientation, you will need to bring with you documentation to verify that you meet economic criteria for the SEEK Program. For a list of acceptable documents, please call the SEEK office at tel. (718) 960-7979. New students are permitted to register only after their eligibility has been confirmed.
Immersion Program
All entering SEEK students participate in intensive academic skills workshops during the summer and winter intersessions. Known as the Immersion Program, these workshops help students to prepare for college-level work and to pass the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Test requirement. SEEK students must participate in 45 hours of workshops offered through the summer or winter Immersion Program.
Entering students must participate in the summer before registering. If they still have not passed the CUNY/ACT Skills Tests, SEEK students in their first year must enroll in the Immersion Program in winter, and again the next summer if they still haven't passed the tests.
For more information, see the Immersion Program web page.
Please note that the SEEK Program requirements may differ from non-SEEK students' requirements.
Summer Enrichment
Students who have passed all the City University of New York Skills Assessment Tests (in Reading, Writing, and Math) can participate in a summer enrichment program in which they take a 3-credit required college course (Humanities 250) for free.
A 45 hour Preparatory Science course (non-credit) is also offered for students who are interested in science or who want to have an early start with science and math. This is offered for those students who are taking one skill workshop during the summer.
The summer enrichment program meets Mondays-Thursdays during the month of July.
Participants receive a stipend, as well as supplemental instruction and counseling services during the summer, subject to the program's financial availability.
Freshman Year Initiative
The SEEK Program works closely with the College's Freshman Year Initiative (FYI). Through FYI, first-year students at Lehman take a group of coordinated courses, including a Freshman Seminar, with the same group of fellow students. The instructor of the Freshman Seminar also frequently serves as a SEEK counselor. For more information, see the Freshman Year Initiative website.