Washington University plans to launch a pre-college preparatory program for high school students in the St. Louis area this summer.

The program, organized by Leah Merrifield, assistant vice chancellor for community engagement, will house 20 rising high school sophomores on the University campus and offer the students programming intended to prepare them for college. The program plans to have students return the two following summers, when they will take for-credit courses.

According to Washington University’s Record, the goal of the program is to help underserved students prepare to complete a degree at a selective four-year university. In an interview with the Record, Merrifield stated that multi-year college preparation approaches have been shown to be most effective.

The University will work with local schools, including the KIPP Inspire Academy, to recruit students and develop the program.