Transcript 3.6 Lorenz - The Mentor Connection Program: Supporting First Year Students in Academic Need

Amy Lorenz
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
United States
coachamyruns
[email protected]
• Assistant Director of
Academic Initiatives
• New position in 2012
• Reason: On campus grade
point average (GPA) was
lower than off campus;
retention rates were parallel
to the rates on campus (68%)
• Oversee residence education,
the first and second year
experience, and academic
initiatives
• Attendees will…
•
•
•
•
•
Understand Marshall University’s approach to Academic Mentoring
Identify student populations for a potential Mentor Connection program
Develop learning outcomes and job descriptions for Academic Mentors
Articulate campus partnerships to help facilitate a mentoring program
Receive support materials to aid in the creation of a similar program at
home institutions
Marshall University
• Located in Huntington, WV
• Part of Appalachia
• Several low-income, first general
students
• 68% of students need some
form of developmental
education
• Our retention rate is at 73%
from first to second year
• From Fall 2011-Fall 2012,
the average GPA for
students living on campus was
a 2.1
• Midterm interventions
with 1st and 2nd year
students on the D/F list
• Marco’s Academic
Madness
• A social norming campaign
regarding healthy
academic behaviors
• Partnerships with
advising offices
• Living learning
communities
• One for most colleges
• As of Fall 2014, all 1st
year students will live in an
LLC
• Academic programming
in the residence halls
• Faculty-in-Residence
• Began in Fall 2013
• Overall goals:
• Provide direct academic
support to students in the
residence hall
• Recruit and train staff able
to help in all academic areas
• Create tutoring opportunities
beyond office hours
• Improve the GPA and
retention of 1st year students
• Mentors live in residence
halls with 1st year
students
• Provide 3 office hours a
week
• At least 2 after 8 pm
• Each holds 2 academic
programs a semester
• Provide general
academic support
• Coordinate and
facilitate study groups
• Coach students on
academic probation
through the Mentor
Connection Program
• Student Resource Center
• Provost’s
Office/Academic Affairs
• Professional and Faculty
advisors
• Career Services
• Multicultural Affairs
• Structured, academic coaching
• Students meet biweekly with their Academic Mentors and
complete the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Academic Plans, Part 1 and 2
Complete a Time Management Packet
Meet at least once with each professor for their courses
Attend at least 2 Student Resource Center events
Complete a Learning Styles Inventory
…and other interventions mutually determined with the Academic Mentors
• Study skills instruction, test preparation, tutoring, and so on
• Formats
• Social media
• Fliers
• Emails to key academic
partners
• Specific contact to students
with below a 2.0 in Fall
2013
• Incentives
• Every student received a
$125 bookstore gift card
• 5 students received $500
due to nominations from their
Academic Mentors
• Academic Plan, Parts 1 and 2
• Online Resources
• Modeled after the University of Connecticut’s Uconn Connects Program
• http://aac.uconn.edu/links-resources/
Type of Interaction
Academic Advising
Course Registration
Class Attendance
Clubs
Final Exams
General
GPA Calculation
Graduate School
INTO
Major Exploration
Math Prep
Mentor Connection Meetings
Midterm Grades
Motivation
Notetaking
Professors/Office Hours
Sleep
Stress Relief
Student Illness
Study Skills
Study Bucks
Test Preparation
Test Anxiety
Time Management
Transfer
Tutoring
Writing Skills
All
Number
7
76
7
7
7
121
7
3
7
17
34
76
58
3
38
243
3
31
7
72
48
45
3
59
7
27
20
1003
• Students in the Mentor
Connection Program had
an average GPA of 2.64
• The average GPA of 1st
year students on campus
is a 2.02