The Mentor Connection Program: Supporting First Year Students in Academic Need

1. The Mentor Connection Program:Supporting First Year Students in Academic Need Amy Lorenz Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia United States

2. Connect with me coachamyruns lorenza@marshall.edu

3. A Little About Amy • Assistant Director of Academic Initiatives • New position in 2012 • Reason: On campus grade point average (GPA) was lower than off campus; retention rates were parallel to the rates on campus (68%) • Oversee residence education, the first and second year experience, and academic initiatives

4. Learning Outcomes • Attendees will… • Understand Marshall University’s approach to Academic Mentoring • Identify student populations for a potential Mentor Connection program • Develop learning outcomes and job descriptions for Academic Mentors • Articulate campus partnerships to help facilitate a mentoring program • Receive support materials to aid in the creation of a similar program at home institutions

5. The Context Marshall University

6. Demographic Information • Located in Huntington, WV • Part of Appalachia • Several low-income, first general students • 68% of students need some form of developmental education • Our retention rate is at 73% from first to second year • From Fall 2011-Fall 2012, the average GPA for students living on campus was a 2.1

7. Overview of Services • Midterm interventions with 1st and 2nd year students on the D/F list • Marco’s Academic Madness • A social norming campaign regarding healthy academic behaviors • Partnerships with advising offices • Living learning communities • One for most colleges • As of Fall 2014, all 1st year students will live in an LLC • Academic programming in the residence halls • Faculty-in-Residence

8. The Academic Mentor Position • Began in Fall 2013 • Overall goals: • Provide direct academic support to students in the residence hall • Recruit and train staff able to help in all academic areas • Create tutoring opportunities beyond office hours • Improve the GPA and retention of 1st year students

9. General Job Description • Mentors live in residence halls with 1st year students • Provide 3 office hours a week • At least 2 after 8 pm • Each holds 2 academic programs a semester • Provide general academic support • Coordinate and facilitate study groups • Coach students on academic probation through the Mentor Connection Program

10. Key Campus Partnerships • Student Resource Center • Provost’s Office/Academic Affairs • Professional and Faculty advisors • Career Services • Multicultural Affairs

11. Time to Reflect

12. The Mentor Connection Program • Structured, academic coaching • Students meet biweekly with their Academic Mentors and complete the following: • Academic Plans, Part 1 and 2 • Complete a Time Management Packet • Meet at least once with each professor for their courses • Attend at least 2 Student Resource Center events • Complete a Learning Styles Inventory • …and other interventions mutually determined with the Academic Mentors • Study skills instruction, test preparation, tutoring, and so on

13. Marketing to Students • Formats • Social media • Fliers • Emails to key academic partners • Specific contact to students with below a 2.0 in Fall 2013 • Incentives • Every student received a $125 bookstore gift card • 5 students received $500 due to nominations from their Academic Mentors

14. Key Resources • Academic Plan, Parts 1 and 2 • Online Resources • Modeled after the University of Connecticut’s Uconn Connects Program • http://aac.uconn.edu/links-resources/

19. Key Findings: Mentor Interactions

20. Key Findings: Effect on GPA and Retention • Students in the Mentor Connection Program had an average GPA of 2.64 • The average GPA of 1st year students on campus is a 2.02

21. Discussion Time

22. Contact me with Questions