Partnership for Student Success

A Joint Initiative of the University of Mississippi and Northwest Mississippi Community College

What is it?

•Alternative admission program for nonresident high school graduates who qualified for deferred admission

•Eases/“bridges” students into the transition from high school to college

•One semester

•15 hours: 12 at NWCC Oxford & 3 of EDHE 105

•Live on UM campus, enjoy a full meal plan, participate in activities (no FS Life), etc.

•With successful completion, enroll full time for spring

Who can participate?

•Invitation only

•Waitlisted/deferred nonresident high school graduates

•No developmental reading/English

•Must go through full admissions process (i.e. application, nonresident supplemental application, committee review, etc.)

Process

•Invitation

•Pay program fee

•Come to specific orientation

•Participate in programming

•Successfully complete program

Case by case if needed

•Enroll at UM full-time in spring

2014 Pilot cohort

•29 students paid program fee

•27 enrolled- 8 females 19 males

•Average ACT: 18.8

•Average SAT: 893

•Average HS GPA: 2.4 core

•Courses included: Writing/English, History, Sociology, Music Appreciation & EDHE 105

•Lived in Northgate Apartments

Academic and Transitional Support Program Components:

•Group study sessions before major exams

•Oversight of major papers/projects for NWCC classes

•Utilization of one UM Writing Center consultant (provided consistency)

•Rebel Challenge Course

•Required monthly 1:1 meetings with each student

•Ongoing communication with parents (monthly e-mails, phone calls, etc.)

•Ongoing communication with NWCC administrators and instructors

•Extensive 1:1 advising/counseling

Successes

•24/27 students full time UM students Spring 2015

3 left on own terms

•26/27 finished Fall semester with over a 2.0 GPA

•Average cum GPA at midterm: 2.6

•Average cum GPA of 24 Spring 2015 full time students: 2.89

2015 cohort

•1st mail out next week (250 invitations)

•2.5 core GPA- no English/reading development

•56 students

•Live in Hefley/Brown

Addressing The Needs of First-Generation Students

Center for Student Success & First-Year Experience

350 Martindale

First-Gen Students At UM: “PIONEERS TO THEIR FAMILY”

Characteristics

Female

Members of an ethnic minority

From low-income families

Employed full-time

Enrolled in few credit hours

Hesitant to become integrated into the campus culture

Fall- Fall retention comparison

Common factors that predict 1st semester GPA

Did you hear my story?

First-Generation College Student Survey (Summer 2012)

1, 286 surveys sent out

147 started

122 completed

FGS Experiences at Ole Miss

Question #1:

Did the resources offered to you at Ole Miss adequately address your needs as first- generation student?

FGS Experiences

Question #2:

What type of resources do you feel would have helped you be more successful during your first year as a first-generation student at Ole Miss?

Top 5 Responses:

  1. Finances/Financial Aid/Financial Literary
  2. More academic support (advisors, counselor, mentors)
  3. Understanding the system
  4. Class/programs for first-generation students
  5. Study skills

FGS Experiences

Question #3:

Do you feel that your experiences at Ole Miss as first-generation college student are similar to students who are not first-generation? Please explain.

FGS Experiences

Question 4:

Do you think that a program that introduces first-generation students to one another and focuses specifically on issues (i.e. academics, career decision making, establishing friends, managing work and school, etc.) that may affect them all would be beneficial on our campus?

So, That Was There Story…

We Listened

We Took Action

StudentsFIRST

Fall 2013

StudentsFIRST

StudentsFIRSTprovides targeted programs and services for first-generation students to foster an effective transition to the University and to promote continued support through their journey to become first in their family to earn a college degree

Resources Offered

Access to information

Peer and professional mentoring

Establishing Friendships & healthy relationships

Exposure to diverse environments

Creating student professionalism

Preparation for career exploration

Overview

Fall/Spring 2013-2015

StudentsFIRST provided support to 34 students (28 first-year, 6 sophomore mentors)

StudentsFIRST invited campus representatives to host monthly meetings to provide access to and information about various campus departments (i.e. Financial Aid, Career Center, CETL, Dean of Students Office, etc.)

StudentsFIRST facilitated Peer Tutor and Mentor certification for 6 sophomore mentors through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)’s International Mentor through collaboration with the CETL.

First generation students created student organization: F.I.R.S.T (Freshmen Interactively Reaching Success Together)

Future Goals

Increase awareness and resources for FY first-generation population at UM

Increase student participation in StudentsFIRST

Increase Fall-Fall retention for first-generation students at UM

Continue to collect and analyze date pertaining to FY first-generation students

Acquire funding

Student Perspectives

Rosaline Cruz

Sophomore

Biology/Pre-Med major

StudentsFIRSTmentor

Shunerla Wilson

Freshman

Biochemistry major

StudentsFIRST participant

StudentsFIRST

For more information, please contact:

Crystal Dunn

Academic Advisor/ Coordinator of StudentsFIRST

350 Martindale

662.915.2312