As the economic downturn deepens, SNU expanded a community-based outreach programs for the underprivileged.

'SNU Mentoring Program' provides online and offline counseling services and after-school programs for middle and high school children with few opportunities to access quality educational programs.

``The primary goal of the partnership program is to give a helping hand to underprivileged school children, who have relatively fewer chances of getting quality programs, so that they are not left behind,'' said SNU official KIM Jang-kyu.

He added teaching services will also be provided if that's what the students need, noting the outreach program is much more than free private tutoring.

SNU President LEE Jang Moo came up with the idea of encouraging highly performing students to give back to the community by using their expertise to help secondary school students in January.

In early March, the University sent off memos to middle and high schools nationwide asking their principals to recommend candidate students. It plans to select about 20,000 after receiving the recommendations.

March 26, 2009
SNU PR Office