An Integrated Model: Increasing the Retention
of At-Risk Students
Presented by Pavielle Chriss
Southern Methodist University
International Conference on The First-Year Experience
OPENING ACTIVITY
Find a partner
Introduce yourself
Share:
what interested you in this topic
what you hope to gain from the discussion
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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Background
SMU Approach
How to implement
Q and A
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BACKGROUND
Private university
Dallas, TX
Approximately 6,000 undergraduates
27% diversity
BACKGROUND
Bridge program – fall 2010
used 10 years of data
best practices from IAS (Dartmouth) and
AAP (UCLA)
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APPROACH AND IMPLEMENTATION
Proactive
Operates over academic year
Asset model
Coordinated support services
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PROGRAM PILLARS
Failure is not an option
A mediocre effort is not acceptable
Earn a minimum of a 3.50 GPA each
semester
Keep appointments
Participate in program
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IDENTIFYING AND INVITING STUDENTS
Using data, created query
Exclude athletes and international
students
Not a condition of admission
Invite deposit paid students to
participate (48% yield rate)
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IDENTIFYING AND INVITING STUDENTS
Invitation letter – opportunity to maximize
success in college
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SUPPORT SERVICES
targeted
academic
advising
orientation
individual
appointments
weekly study
group sessions
peer
mentoring
collaborative
learning
workshops
extracurricular
experiences
blocked seats
in key courses
faculty
feedback
SUPPORT SERVICES:
TARGETED ACADEMIC ADVISING
Summer – Major Declaration
Work with advising center
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
ORIENTATION
2 ½ days, interactive activities
Led by peer counselors
Objectives:
Introduction to staff, students, faculty
Community building
Learn strategies for success
Exposed to resources on campus
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS
Meet 3 times a semester
Address a variety of issues
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
WEEKLY REVIEW SESSIONS
Once a week, 60 minutes
Hosted in tutoring center or library
Student facilitated
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
PEER MENTORING
Upper class students
Volunteers
Paired with 2-3 students
Trained
Serve from summer – end of first year
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
LEARNING WORKSHOPS
Monthly dinners
Present key resources
Career center resume writing workshop
Study abroad
Scholarships and financial aid
GPA 101
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCES
Outings
Museum tour
Sponsor alternative spring break trips and
civil rights pilgrimage
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
BLOCKED SEATS IN KEY COURSES
Courses include:
General Chemistry 1, 2
Introduction to Biology 1, 2
Economics (Macro, Micro)
English 1, 2
Pre-calculus
Calculus
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SUPPORT SERVICES:
FACULTY FEEDBACK
Utilize GradesFirst
Report on:
Attendance
Participation
Anticipated grade
Comments
Appropriate intervention deployed
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PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Program Director
Advisory
Committee
Assistant Provost
Associate Director for Student
Success
Student
Coordinator
Peer
Counselors
Peer
Facilitators
Mentors
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PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
STUDENT COORDINATOR
Works 10 hours/week
Assist with program development and
implementation
Coordinate monthly dinners
Create monthly newsletter
Assist with orientation and retreat
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PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
PEER COUNSELORS
Five students – one from each academic
college
Work up to 10 hours/week
Meet individually with students once a
month
Facilitate transition
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PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
PEER FACILITATORS
Earned an A in key gateway courses
Run weekly review sessions
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PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
PEER MENTORS
Help students with transition to college
Program run by student coordinator
About 30 students
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PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Individuals from across campus
Meet once a semester
Provide program updates
Receive feedback
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DEMOGRAPHICS
Term
# of
Participants
% from %
Texas Minority
Fall 2010
61
72%
85%
Fall 2011
75
76%
71%
Fall 2012
68
65%
78%
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RESULTS: GRADE POINT COMPARISON
Term
Fall 2010
Bridge
Students
2.870
All
Students
3.081
Fall 2011
3.120
3.099
Fall 2012
3.089
3.139
*average GPA for at -risk students for fall 2009= 2.32
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RESULTS: RETENTION RATE
Academic Period
Fall 2010 – Fall 2011
Fall 2011 – Fall 2012
Fall 2012 – Fall 2013*
Bridge
96.7%
96.0%
94.1%
All
89.2%
90.7%
89.6%
*projected for both groups
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RESULTS: SUCCESSES
 Participants connected and involved on
campus
 Incoming students asking to participate in
program
 Implementing second year program:
 Career exploration and preparation
 Networking with alumni
 Faculty engagement
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RESULTS: CHALLENGES
Voluntary program
set clear expectations early on
emphasize incentives
hold students accountable
Inconsistent messaging
one advisor connected to program for
students
Students not attending review sessions
moving to study hall
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HOW TO IMPLEMENT ON YOUR
CAMPUS
Collect data
Key partnerships
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COLLECTING DATA
Crucial for leverage and funding
Find out who are your students:
on probation
with Ds, Fs, and Ws in key gateway courses
not returning
not graduating
Find key commonalities and proactively
approach issues
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KEY PARTNERSHIPS
Institutional Research
Admission Office
Student Affairs
Learning Enhancement Center
Advising Center
Faculty
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CLOSING DISCUSSION
Did the session address your areas of
interest?
Any unanswered questions?
What are your key takeaways?
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CONTACT ME
Pavielle Chriss
Associate Director for Student Success
Southern Methodist University
[email protected]
214.768.4300
Leave card for e-mail version of presentation
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