TAP into HumberTransition & Advising Program for First Generation Students

AGENDA

• Definition• Opportunity• Characteristics• Program Design• Testimonials• Statistics• Successes & Challenges• Lessons Learned & Next Stepshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=wkbNPVcHYGY&feature=youtu.be

DEFINITION

A student whose parent(s)/guardian(s) has/have not attended a postsecondary institution. If a sibling has attended a post secondary institution but the parent(s)/guardian(s) have not, they are still considered a First Generation Student.

OPPORTUNITY

• HEQCO- Parental education impacts college participation

• 41% versus 20%• MTCU issued a call for Proposals in 2010 for First Generation Projects

• Goal- ↑ retention and graduation rates, gain baseline and retention activity data.

• TAP (Transition and Advising Program) launched in September 2010.

TRANSITION ISSUES

1. First Year Student (Personal , Academic, Interpersonal etc)

2. First Generation Student

CHARACTERISTICS

• Work full time or part time while attending college

• Juggling multiple responsibilities• Unfamiliar with college culture and what it means to be a college student

• May be lacking skills needed for academic success (study skills) and get discouraged when struggling

CHARACTERISTICS con’t

• Reasons for attending Post secondary differ (blend of personal/sociological vs sociological as personal)

• Superficial understanding about college- affects choice of classes, major

• Imposter Phenomenon

• Modeled after the University of Toronto’s FLC program

• 12 Week Program• Weekly Tutorial – 50 min• Use a peer support model• Students grouped by faculty• Students registered on timetable• Mix of social events and learning skills development

PROGRAM DESIGN

PROGRAM DESIGN- YEAR 1

Semester 1 ( Fall 2010)• Faculty of Business & Faculty of Health• 6 groups• 13 student leaders (working in pairs)• Average weekly attendance- 20 students

Semester 2 ( Winter 2011)• Added School of Applied Technology• 7 groups• 10 student leaders• Average weekly attendance- 15

Semester 3 ( Fall 2011)• Added School of Social and Community Services• 9 groups• 18 student leaders (working in pairs)• Average weekly attendance-32

Semester 4 ( Winter 2012)• 7 groups• 15 leaders• Average weekly attendance- 32

PROGRAM DESIGN- YEAR 2

RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES

• Lists obtained through registration office

• Postcards• Incentives• Orientation Week Breakfast• Recognition- End of Semester Banquet

• Invited all FG students via email, postcard, phone calls and classroom visits

• Student Success & Engagement• Registration Office• Faculty of Applied Technology, Business, Health Sciences and Social and Community Services

• Career Center, Peer Health Educators, Librarians, Toastmasters• Faculty- guest speakers• Senior students ( 5 hrs/week)

WHO IS INVOLVED

SAMPLE WEEKLY SCHEDULEWeek Dates Academic Calendar Topics

Week 1 17-Jan First Week of ClassesIntroductory Session: Team Builder, Meet & Greet, Setting Up Group Expectations. Goal Setting.

Week 2 24-Jan Workshop - Personality Inventory/ Goal Setting completed

Week 3 31-Jan Workshop- Time Management and Prioritizing

Week 4 7-Feb Workshop - Career Development with Career Centre

Week 5 14-Feb Workshop - Exam Prep, Study Skills

Week 6 21-Feb Reading WeekOPTIONAL: Build your resume by participating in a Volunteer Field Trip ( Habitat for Humanity)

Week 7 28-Feb Workshop - Presentation Skills ( Toastmasters)

Week 8 7-Mar Workshop - Presentation Skills Practice

Week 9 14-Mar Social - Dress for Success & Dinner/ Business Etiquette

Week 10 21-MarMarch 25- Last Day to Withdraw Workshop - Budgeting- presented by Bus faculty member

Week 11 28-Mar Workshop- Stress Management

Week 12 4-Apr Social- End of term social event

SUCCESSES

• Students love the program! 97% would recommend TAP to their peers

• 198 students registered in Fall 2010• 94% of students who participated fully felt that they were better prepared academically

• 90% of students who participated fully successfully completed their academic semester ( Fall 2010)

SUCCESSES - Retention Statistics

TAP Program F10 W11 F11Business School 33 29 26Health Sciences 26 22 17UNB Nursing 3 3 3

#Retained 62 54 46% Retained 87% 74%

COHORT F10 W11 F11Business School 757 638 480Health Sciences 376 276 207UNB Nursing 80 62 57

# Retained 1213 976 744% Retained 80% 61%

SUCCESSES – GPA’s

TAP First Gen

Fall 2010 69.8 65.1

Winter 2011 72 65.2

Fall 2011 71.7 68.3

TAP First Gen

Fall 2010 75.4 71.1

Winter 2011 74.3 72.2

Fall 2011 80.7 71.5

Business School Health Sciences

TESTIMONIALS

“As a student returning to school after 25 years, I found the TAP Program to be tremendously useful.”

Dorreth

“TAP has most definitely helped me stay successful throughout this school year! It has helped me reach goals that I used to think were unattainable. My attitude is now so positive, and I have realized that with a little bit of support anything is possible!!”

Jasmine

VIDEO TESTIMONIALS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBfOR_C5cpU&feature=youtube_gdata

CHALLENGES

• 198 registered, however 89 students attended TAP (44%)

• Of those 89 students, 59 regularly attended (34%) (Attrition)

• Time commitment• Recruiting leaders in Winter• Many students still don’t know about or

understand the program• Self Identification • Scheduling

LESSONS LEARNED & NEXT STEPS• Educate students and faculty• Student voice is key- Focus groups with First Gen students

• Address Time commitment concerns- Creative Scheduling &Online Engagement

• Surge in attendance after midterms- Back on Track Workshops

• Faculty connection is important- TAP on the shoulder

LESSONS LEARNED & NEXT STEPS

• Students need help discovering their leadership potential- Emerging Leadership Workshop/Training

• Earlier we engage with students, the better- Summer Prep Program- Gear up with TAP/ Ready, Set, TAP into Humber

• Model is effective- Expand the model to other marginalized groups

Questions

References and ResourcesCushman, K (2006). First in the Family: Advice about

College from First Generation Students. Your College Years. Providence, RI: Next Generation Press.

Davis, J (2010). The First Generation Student Experience. Implications for Campus Practice, and Strategies for Improving Persistence and Success. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus.

Ender, S. C. & Newton, F.B. (2000) Students Helping Students : A Guide for Peer Educators on College Campuses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Feldman,R.S. (2009) P.O.W.E.R. Learning and Your Life: Essentials of Student Success, 4th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.

CONTACT

For more information: humber.ca/tap

Melanie Chai Manager, Peer Programs

melanie.chai@humber.ca