Presenters

Rebeka Silvas Director of Mentoring and Tutoring at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Developed and established the Graduation Pathways Success center for first

year student peer mentoring Assist in Texas Success Initiative testing, academic advising, teaches a student

success course, and oversees the daily operations of the mentoring and tutoring center

Christina Rodriguez-Gonzalez Assistant Director of Mentoring and Tutoring Coordinator of the First Year Seminar (UNIV course) and Bridges to Success

programs Oversees the University Success course curriculum, scheduling, and

professional development.

Abstract

*Disclaimer*

The Center for Student Success was implemented in Fall 2011to create a

comprehensive First Year Experience to improve a 55% retention rate. The Center

for Student Success consists of university success course, freshmen interest

groups cohorts, mentoring, tutoring, dual enrollment, summer bridge programs,

supplemental instruction (SI), academic career literacy, and professional academic

advising. Since implementing the First Year Experience, the Center for Student

Success has seen an 8% increase in retention.

Presentation Agenda

• Background• Center for Student Success Implementation• Mentoring• UNIV• Advising• Starfish• Results and Data• Questions

TAMUK

• Type: Public HSI Research

Institution

• Enrollment: 8,300 (6,800)

• First Year Students: 1,200

• Commuter School

.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Background

UNIV 1101/1102

• Class Size: 24

• Sections Offered: 54

• Major Specific

• FIGS

University Background

• College Specific

Intro Course

• College Specific

Academic Advising

• Non ExistentMentoring

CFSS

Center for Student Success Implementation

• CFSS was established

• Mentoring• UNIV pilot

2011

• GPS Center • Advising• UNIV expansion• Common Read

2012 • FIG pilot• Starfish

implementation

2013

• Mentor in Class• Fig expansion

2014

Pillars of Success

Mentoring

2011

• Not Mandatory• Located in Small area

2012

• Move to Library• Integrated into UNIV

2013

• GPS Center renovation

2014

• Mentor class attendance

Mentor Staffing

Semester Number of Mentors

Fall 2011 - Spring 2012 29

Fall 2012 26

Spring 2013 26

Fall 2013 32

Spring 2014 31

Fall 2014 26

Spring 2015 26

• Mentors are paired with UNIVMajor specific40-60 student load30 minute, weekly session10 sessions per semester20% of UNIV Grade

• Mentoring SessionsBeginning – Academic

DrivenEvolved – Relationship and University ConnectionsUNIV Class Attendance

Mentoring Responsibilities

University Success Course

UNIV Faculty

1 Coordinator 30 Faculty members Center for Student Success &

campus staff & Colleges’ faculty Students are registered in classes

by their major

Freshmen Interest Group (FIG)

10 sections are designated as FIG Students take the same UNIV and

2 other classes together Designed to assist freshman with

enhancing their academic skills while

The course incorporates active learning strategies to train the

students how to organize and recall crucial information

apply that knowledge toward success in the classroom and beyond

grow into engaged citizens who are capable of achieving significant long-term goals.

University Success Course

Assist freshman with enhancing their

academic skills while introducing them to campus life

building professional relationships with faculty and fellow students

University Success Course

Campus Events Service Learning Project

University Success Courses

Semester Number of Sections

Fall 2011 - Spring 2012 3

Fall 2012 54

Spring 2013 56

Fall 2013 57

Spring 2014 55

Fall 2014 54

Spring 2015 54

Professional Academic Advisors

• 18 Professional Academic Advisors

• 1 Advising Coordinator

• Reduce the time to graduation with customized degree plans to meet

the needs of the student, assist with registration, and GPA calculation

Other Support Services

• Tutoring • Supplemental Instruction• Academic Literacy• Bridges to Success• Dual Enrollment• Javelina Read Program• TSI

Starfish

• Early alert software program

• Used for identifying undergraduate students who need assistance from

academic support services at TAMUK.

• Starfish offers convenient early warning identification capabilities and connects

students to a collaborative “Success Network” of:

Professors

Professional advisors

GPS Mentors

Professional academic tutors

Supplemental instruction leaders

Other campus support programs to address students’ needs and inquiries

University Success Course

Starfish

• Faculty enter class attendance and flag students with attendance concerns

• Mandatory Week 5 of the semester student surveys by UNIV faculty• Kudos (Positive Reinforcement)• Low Participation• Low Attendance• In Danger of Failing• Behavioral Concern• Low Quiz/Test Scores• Never showed up

Mentoring

Starfish

• Mentors establish their office hours and schedule appointments

(single or group sessions)

• Flag students with concerns of academic and social issues

• Flags are received by student and advisor

• Easy reporting to faculty of students participation in mentoring

sessions (grading purposes)

Professional Academic Advisors

Starfish• Advisors maintain their office hours and schedule appointments

(single or group sessions)

• Calendars can be easily scheduled via the web

• Flag students with concerns of academic issues

• Flags are received by advisor

• Easy view a students folder over all areas which contains

appointments, notes, and class information

Circle of Care

Success Network

Instructor

AdvisorsMentor

University Success Course Progress Surveys

Semester Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015

Surveys Sent 64 64 116

Surveys Completed 35 47 53

Keep Up the Good Work 342 525 570

Low Participation 64 51 82

Low Quiz/Test Scores 49 40 14

Behavioral Concern 0 1 1

Attendance Concern 128 79 100

In Danger of Failing NA NA 63

 Mentoring Total Visits

Fall 2011 Freshmen - 1322Fall 2012 Freshmen = 1272Fall 2013 Freshmen = 1216

Fall2011

Spring2012

Fall2012

Spring2013

Fall2013

Spring2014

Number of users646

(48.9%)424

(32.1%)1168

(91.82%)970

(76.26%)1176

(96.7%)909

(74.8%)

Number of visits 3260 2037 9584 7826 10121 7180

Average visits per user 5.55 5.29 8.21 8.07 8.61 7.90

Results

Challenges

• Getting all UNIV faculty to consistently enter attendance and surveys throughout the semester

• Getting all advisors to easily adjust to a new appointment system

• Getting all areas to accurately enter notes to be shared

• Flag Clearing

• Instructor Use

• Information sharing

• The waiting room for tutoring and mentoring ends at midnight so the data is lost if a tutor inadvertently forgets to pull a student from the waiting room

• Expanding Starfish use campus wide

Successful First Year

Experience

University Success Course

Mentoring

Tutoring & Supplemental

Instruction

Professional Academic Advising

Career Literacy

Star Fish: Early Alert System

Circle of Care

Questions?