They began with support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and a three-year grant from System's Continuing Education. The Institutes are the nucleus of the program.
Students join in the middle school and are invited to return until graduation.
Students form networks and communities, many of them still in existence. The Institute is a one-week residency program with the primary goal of introducing students, at an early age, to the university and developing their comfort level with campus life. Students live in residence halls, works with Wisconsin teachers and University staff and use a variety of university facilities. Their experiences hopefully emulate university life. Over time, the summer program has been refined so that the activities and curriculum fit well into the week students are on campus.