KKR & Co. Inc. is partnering on a program this autumn to help mentor 50 undergraduate business school students at Cornell University who are the first in their families to attend college.
Under the initiative — called the Accelerator Scholars Program — participating students will "first and foremost receive psychosocial support via the meaningful mentoring and support necessary to help them navigate the college environment — both from peer mentors and professional ones from KKR," Pamela Alexander, KKR's head of corporate citizenship, said by email. "In order to better prepare for the professional world, students will also partake in career sessions, mock interviews and more."
The program's content is still under development and is the first of its kind at KKR, Ms. Alexander said.
Michelle Duguid, associate dean of diversity, inclusion and belonging at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, said by email that the program will initially include 50 students, but both Cornell and KKR expect to open the program to more students in the near future.
The program's ultimate success will be measured by, among other factors, graduation rates for the cohort of students participating in the program, Ms. Alexander noted.
Ms. Duguid added in a news release that more than one-third of undergraduates across the U.S. identify as first generation and "with that trend continuing to grow, as an inclusive community, we look forward to meeting the needs of these students and helping to fully support them for success."
KKR had $510 billion in assets under management as of March 31.
