AVID
Advancement Via Individual Determination
AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap
by preparing all students for college readiness
and success in a global society.
AVID: 30 Years of Success
AVID is one of the most successful college
readiness programs serving:
• approximately 400,000 students,
• nearly 4,500 schools,
• 45 states and 16 other countries/territories
Since 1990, more than
65,300 AVID students have
graduated from high school
ready for college!
The AVID College Readiness System
College Ready
Elementary
Secondary
Postsecondary
Community Support
Business and Corporate sponsors  Mentors  Foundations
 Faith Organizations  Tutors  Federal and State Initiatives
AVID Elementary
 Part of a district-wide effort to create college-ready students
 A foundational program for elementary campuses (grades 4 – 6)
that feed into AVID Elective programs at both the middle and high
school levels
 An embedded, sequential academic skills program intended for
multi-subject, self-contained classrooms across entire grade levels
College Readiness – Elementary
Study Groups
Higher Order Thinking Skills
Time Management
Oral Language
Student Success Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Critical Thinking
AVID Elementary
Educational Plan
Study Skills
Writing and Note Taking
Reading
Rigor
Preparing for MS
Organization
Goal Setting
Inquiry
AVID Secondary

A structured, college preparatory system for all students,
working directly with schools and districts

A direct support structure serving students with unmet potential,
especially those who are first-generation college goers

A professional development program providing training
throughout the U.S.
College Readiness - Secondary
Critical Reading
Socratic Tutorial Model
College & Career Plan
Academic Behaviors
Rigor
Academic Writing
Higher Level Math/Science
AVID Secondary
Problem Solving Skills
Higher Order Thinking Skills
Extracurricular Activities/Leadership
AP/Pre-AP
Study Groups
Financial Aid/Scholarships
AVID Closes the Achievement Gap for
ALL Students
AVID Senior Data Collection. Study of 14,995 AVID Seniors, [Electronic Database]. (2007 - 2008). AVID Center, CA.
Greene, J.P., Forster, G. "Public High School Graduation and College Readiness Rates in the U.S.“ Manhattan Institute, Education Working Paper 3. 2003.
*(Filipino and Other not classified in study.)
AVID Graduates
 92% plan to enroll in a college or
university
 65% plan to enroll in a four-year
university
 27% plan to enroll in a two-year
college
 83% of parents have less than a
four-year college degree
Source: AVID Center Data Collection System, 2008-2009
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole percent
Why AVID Works
 Accelerates under-achieving students into more rigorous
courses
 Teaches academic skills not targeted in other classes
 Provides intensive support with in-class tutorials and a
strong student/teacher relationship
 Creates a positive peer group for students
 Develops a sense of hope for personal achievement
gained through hard work and determination
Purpose of AVID Postsecondary
AVID Postsecondary supports Institutes of
Higher Education to better serve students
who are traditionally underrepresented and
aspire to college completion but lack
college readiness skills.
What is AVID Postsecondary?
A systemic initiative to support students who are not college
ready by:
 Providing a year-long academic training program to
develop college success skills needed for persistence
and degree completion
 Reducing barriers that traditionally limit levels of
educational achievement
 Facilitating professional development using student
success pedagogy applicable to various disciplines and
student services
Components of AVID Postsecondary
 A year-long first year experience course applying AVID
strategies and structures
 The development of an AVID Cohort or Learning Community
 Activities that build student efficacy, leadership, and community
service
 Early access to rigorous credit-bearing courses, thereby
reducing the time students spend in remediation and
developmental classes
Components of AVID Postsecondary
 An AVID Site Team to develop a student support plan
addressing acceleration, persistence and college
completion
 Faculty professional development opportunities, support
in critical reading and thinking, and pedagogical training
in specific disciplines
 Tutorial services, training, and support
 An AVID Student Center
College Readiness – Postsecondary
Key Cognitive Strategies
Intellectual Openness
Inquisitiveness
Problem Solving
Precision and accuracy
Academic Knowledge and Skills
Writing
Research
Core academic subject areas
AVID Postsecondary
Academic Behaviors
Self-awareness
Metacognition
Self-Control
Study Skills
Organization
Conley, “Toward a More Comprehensive
Definition of College Readiness”
Contextual Skills and Awareness
How college works
College system and culture
Negotiation skills
Postsecondary Success
AVID’S FOUNDATIONS FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS
Research-based
Academic Training
•
•
•
•
Writing
Inquiry
Collaboration
Reading
Structured Tutorial
Support
College Success
Skills
• Organization
• Time
•
•
•
•
•
•
management
Networking
Career
connections
Self- Advocacy
Cognitive
strategies
Academic
behaviors
Contextual Skills
•
•
•
•
Inquiry training
Accountability
Deeper
understanding of
content
Collaborative
Skills
Development
Professional
Development
• Examining institutional
barriers
• Focus on student
success
• Interdisciplinary
• Interdepartmental
• Student Success
Pedagogy Training
A Cohort of Students
•
•
•
•
•
Negotiating the
college campus
Accessing resources
Meeting regularly
Accountability for
success
Supported by a
cohort of instructors
AVID at UTPB
 2009
– 2010
 AVID
Freshman Seminar
 UTPB AVID Site Team
 Critical Thinking and Tutorial Training
 2010
– 2011
 Expansion
of AVID Freshman Seminar
 Cohort Group of Students
 Faculty and Staff Professional Development
UTPB Freshman Seminar
Enhance Social and Cultural Behaviors
Students will:

Connect to an ongoing learning community,

Develop negotiation skills with faculty, staff,
and peers,

Effectively collaborate in study groups, and

Understand and employ resources available on
the campus to support academic success.
UTPB Freshman Seminar
Develop Academic Behaviors
Students will:

Understand their learning styles and learn how to
apply those styles in a variety of academic settings,

Manage time effectively and organize their
academic materials appropriately,

Master the Cornell note-taking system, including
writing effective summaries,

Develop higher-level inquiry skills as well as
problem solving ability,

Improve their ability to read critically and access
challenging text.
Postsecondary Success with…
Students
Instructors
Academic behaviors,
competencies, efficacy,
peer support, AVID family
atmosphere, mentor
advocacy
Professional development
specific to various disciplines
Culture changes when
belief systems change
Research-based pedagogy
The power of high
expectations with high
support
AVID Site Team Purpose:
Rigor with support –
tackling acceleration
successfully, changing
belief systems
Student accountability
Learning strategies applied
to coursework (not taught
in isolation)
• aligned with campus vision
• focused on barriers to student
persistence, acceleration and
completion
• data driven goals in student
support and professional
development
• advocacy and monitoring of
AVID students
Culture
Change from teaching
environments to learning
environments
Instructional strategy and
student engagement matter
Research Base

David Conley: Toward a More Comprehensive Definition of College
Readiness

Arthur Costa: Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind

Marzano/Pickering: Classroom Instruction That Works

Clifford Adelman: Answers in the Toolbox

Watson Scott Swail: Retaining Minority Students in Higher Education

Alan Seidman: Minority Student Retention

George Kuh: Student Success in College
For More Information
 Marlene Grueber, AVID Postsecondary Director
[email protected]
303-337-1225

Eileen Friou, AVID Texas State Director
[email protected]
972-591-2516
 Granger Ward, Executive Vice President, AVID Center
[email protected]
858-268-2265