College Success Foundation: Advancing Student Success Deborah J. Wilds, Ph.D.

1. College Success Foundation:Advancing Student SuccessDeborah J. Wilds, Ph.D.

2. Today • College Success Foundation • Achievers Program Model • Role of Mentoring • Connections to Distance Learning

3. CSF Overview • Co-Founders Bob Craves is Chair & CEO Ann Ramsay-Jenkins is Vice Chair • Created in 2000 to reduce the inequities in baccalaureate degree attainment for students in Washington State • Initially funded by Costco and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • Originally named Washington Education Foundation – name changed in October 2006 • Rapid growth from 5 staff and 2 scholarships to more than 80 staff, 6 scholarships, and multiple support programs

4. CSF Overview Mission “We provide college scholarships, mentoring and support to low-income, high-potential students.”

5. CSF Overview Strategy: • Develop public-private funding partnerships • Provide innovative programs to assist high-potential, low-income students and students of color attain a college degree. • Advocate for increased college access opportunities • Replicate organizational model and programs in other places

6. CSF Results/Impact

7. 2006 Performance Score Card Millions Disbursed - $50.6

8. 2006 Performance Score Card Scholarships Awarded - 3850

9. 2006 Performance Score Card Graduates - 621

10. CSF Scholarships • Costco Scholarship Fund(students of color) • Washington State Achievers Program(low-income, high-potential students) • Chateau Ste Michelle Scholarship Fund(students of color) • Governors’ Scholarship for Foster Youth(students aging out of foster care) • Leadership 1000 Scholarship(low-to-moderate income students) • GET Ready for Math and Science Scholarship(students of low-to-moderate income & high math/science achievement)

11. Achievers Program A model for college success 5000 scholarships and $125 million in scholarships over 15 years

12. Levers for College Success • Academic Preparation • Affordability • High Expectations • Early Information and Awareness • High Support – personalization and mentoring

13. Achievers Program Purpose and Goals • Increase academic achievement, graduation and college enrollment rates • Reduce financial barriers for college • Provide mentoring to facilitate high school and college completion • Develop diverse cadre of college-educated citizens

14. Achievers Scholars Profile • All Achievers High Schools have a substantial number of students from low-income families, with an average of 47% of all students reporting eligibility for free and reduced meals. • All Achievers Scholars are from low-income families. Most are first generation college students. • About 60% are students of color and about 40% are white/Caucasian. • About 60% are females and 40% are males. Males of color are under-represented. • Outreach efforts in the middle and high schools are underway to increase the participation rates of males of color.

15. Achievers Program Program Components: • High school reform/improvement (16 high schools) • Scholarships (500-600 per year) • Early college awareness in middle and high school (32 middle schools) • Support Programs • Mentoring • Academic Advising

16. Achievers Program Supporting Programs – High School • College Awareness Curriculum • Hometown Mentors • College Prep Advisors • Achievers College Experience (ACE) • Higher Education Readiness Opportunity (HERO) Supporting Programs – College and Beyond • College Mentors • Community College Retention • Alumni • Career guidance • Community service • Mentoring • Giving back

17. Achievers Scholarship Process • Selection based on non-traditional indicators other than GPA and standardized test scores • 600 new selected in 2006 as high school juniors (500 to begin college fall 2007) • 600 new selected in 2007 (522 to begin college fall 2008) • 4000 scholarship recipients by fall 2008 • Maximum annual scholarship: $4,500 (2 yr), $7,200 (4 yr public), and $10,000 (4 yr ind.)

18. Achievers Results School-wide Results: • Increase in percentage of students passing WASL math and reading exams • Increase in number of students graduating with course requirements for admission to Washington four-year colleges • Increase in number of students taking the SAT/ACT • Increase in students enrolling in four-year colleges

19. Achievers Results Achievers Scholars • About 90% of Achievers candidates enroll in Washington colleges after high school. • About 75% of Achievers Scholars are now enrolling directly into four-year colleges. • 325 Achievers Scholars have graduated through 2006; another 364 are projected through 2007. • 55% of first cohort are expected to receive bachelor’s degree within 6 years of enrollment, compared to 25% of low-income students nationally. • By 5th cohort, 75% are estimated to receive bachelor’s degree. • Achievers Alumni are now mentoring other low-income students from the same middle and high schools they once attended.

20. The Role of Mentoring in the Achievers Scholarship Program

21. Mentoring • Over 2000 CSF students received mentoring support in 2006. • High School - 1100-1200 through high school Hometown Mentors (in-school, face-to-face) • College - 900 freshmen and sophomores (face-to-face, email, phone) • Support needed through first two years when risk of dropping out is highest • Agreements with 60 colleges in state to provide college mentors

22. Achievers Mentor Expectations • Are usually faculty/staff on college campus • Are expected to initiate contact and personally meet with mentees at least once a month during first 2 years • Assist in advising academic decisions • Assist in developing relationships on campus • Encourage participation in co-curricular activities

23. Mentor Expectations, continued • Report progress and/or problems to College Mentor Coordinator (CMC) using local mentor report form • After junior year, official relationship ends, but ongoing relationships can continue voluntarily • Recommend that colleges provide upperclassmen mentors in the scholar’s area of study or career interest • Encourage career-related internships, summer employment opportunities, etc.

24. Mentor Support in Freshmen Year Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

25. Sources of Support and Encouragement Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

26. Mentoring Opportunities in Distance Learning

27. Building a Relationship with the Learner • Ongoing, long-term relationship is beneficial to the learner and the institution • Mentoring is one strategy to build a relationship with the learner • Other strategies include study groups, opportunities for peer networking, student recognition, and other inclusive methods NEASC – Commission on Institution of Higher Education, Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs

28. E-Mentoring Benefits • Institution support • Scalability – e.g. Florida State University has found that having a mentor allowed an increase in class size from 20:1 to 25:1 • Faculty support • Lighter faculty load • Student support • Clarification of materials and processes • Encouragement • FSU online completion rate for mentored courses is 92% and success rate is 89% Florida State University

29. Sample E-Mentor Duties • Initiate and maintain contact with students • Respond to student communication in a timely manner • Facilitate electronic learning and discussion groups • Attend to student progress, grading assignments, and reporting grades • Communicate with faculty Florida State University

30. Sample Mentor Evaluation • Student performance indicators • Mentor performance reports (MPR) • Formal and informal faculty evaluations – formal and informal • Student evaluations – formal surveys, voluntary telephone interviews • Dissemination of plan, processes and results to receive feedback from partners and external audiences Florida State University

31. Mentee Quotes – E-Mentoring Experience • “My mentor has exceeded all expectations I could have ever had. We have become good friends and I feel as if I have somebody out there who cares about me.” • “I am sure that you have no idea of just how important it was for me to have someone to talk to and listen to!” • “You make me try harder, so in the end, I can tell you all my accomplishments and make you proud.” V-mentoring