Summer Enrichment Program

Originally established in 1976, the Robert E. Horne Summer Enrichment Program ran until 2015 and served over 700 participants. The program relaunched in June 2021 to meet the increasingly diverse nation’s optometric needs by increasing the number of graduating underrepresented minority optometrists.

The goal of the newly relaunched Robert E. Horne Summer Enrichment Program is to improve the matriculation, attrition, and graduation rates of underrepresented minority applicants through a FREE 5-week hybrid virtual and residential program designed to introduce applicants to PCO's rigorous coursework and establish peer and faculty mentorship. 

Participants of the program receive:

• 100+ hours of content including coursework with current PCO faculty at no extra cost 
• Peer and faculty mentors for the duration of the program 
• Skill-building seminars on studying, test-taking, financial literacy, and wellness 
• Preparation for the rigors of optometry school