LEAD Scholars Program Leadership Excellence and
Academic Development
Erin Kimura-Walsh, Assistant Director
www.scu.edu
Purpose
The LEAD Scholars Program:
Fosters college success of first generation college students (those whose parents have not attended college)
Challenges participants academically while exposing them to university culture and community
Timeline
Established as “Bridge Program” in 2002 with James Irvine Foundation grant
30 students in the first Bridge Program 2003-2004
Housed in Drahmann Center
Transformed into the LEAD Scholars Program 2007
LEAD = Leadership Excellence and Academic Development
Housed in Office of Honors and Fellowships
Selection Process
60 first generation college students each year
– Financial need (FAFSA)– Receiving need-based and merit-based aid– Not participating in other University honors
programs– Distributed across demographic groups
Gender Race Geography Majors Academic performance
Participants by Race and Gender
Graduation year 2013 2014 2015 Eligible 2015Total Participants 53 60 59 175
RaceAsian American/Pacific Islander 9 (17%) 5 (8%) 6 (10%) 25 (14%)Black 15 (28%) 10 (17%) 6 (10%) 8 (5%)Hispanic 26 (49%) 31 (52%) 30 (51%) 58 (33%)Multiracial 0 0 9 (15%) 29 (17%)White 3 (6%) 4 (6%) 6 (10%) 45 (26%)Other/NSPEC 0 10 (17%) 2 (3%) 10 (6%)
SexMale 20 (37%) 25 (42%) 26 (44%) 77 (44%)Female 33 (62%) 35 (58%) 33 (56%) 98 (56%)
Program Components
Summer before first year– Orientation Sessions 2 & 3– LEAD Week
First year– LEAD CTW 1 & 2
LEAD Research Symposium– LEAD Seminars
LEAD 1, fall: Transition and Resources LEAD 2, winter: Leadership Exploration LEAD 10, spring: Optional ELSJ course, Creating College
Going Communities
All four years– Academic and professional development opportunities
LEAD Week Activities
CTW 1 and LEAD Week elective in Engineering, Chemistry,
Business, or Humanities/Social Sciences
Small mentoring groups and large group community building
LEAD Research Symposium
Persistence Rates
First to second year persistence (class of 2011 & 2012)– LEAD Scholars: 96%– Comparison Group: 90%
Second to third year persistence (class of 2011)– LEAD Scholars: 93%– Comparison Group: 79%
Future Developments
Increasing stability and continuity
Development of programming for 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students– Research seminar for juniors and seniors
Use of research to improve programming
Alumni outreach– Alumni network and panels
10th anniversary celebration (2013-2014)