July 16, 2015Tinley Park, Illinois

Smart Start – Preparation for College Success  Governors State University

University Park, IL

Presenters: LaTonya D. Holmes, Dianna Galante, and Kerri K. Morris

Smart Start Preparation for College Success

Presenters: LaTonya D. Holmes, Cohort Advisor and Coordinator for New Student Programs, Governors State University

Dr. Dianna Galante, Professor, Mathematics Coordinator

Dr. Kerri Morris, Associate Professor, Coordinator of First-Year Writing

Smart StartPreparation for College Success 

• Many students need extra preparation and support in both math and writing

• Smart Start provides a two-week jump start and supplemental instruction (SI) for first year students.   

• The program includes support from paid peer mentors and tutors.  

Peer Mentors

LaTonya D. Holmes

Cohort Advisor and Coordinator for New Student Programs Governors State University

Peer Mentors

• Who are our Peer Mentors?– 10 Rising Sophomores selected as Peer Mentors–  2.75 or higher grade point averages from freshman year

– Trained as Orientation Leaders (knowledgeable about university resources)

– 2 have taken Principles of Peer Leadership– 1 returning Peer Mentor who will serve as Student Coordinator (upper class student)

Peer Mentor Expectations

• Full time course load and grade point average requirements

• Peer Mentor training and further team building

• Common Reading• Master College Faculty Assignments• First Year Seminar Faculty Assignments• Cohort Activity Development

Peer Mentor Preparation• Intensive training as orientation leaders includes:

– Set Expectations– Who’s Who at GSU– Learning GSU Resources– Student Development Theory– Personal Commitment– Strengths Assessment Convocation Walk Through – Goals, communication, Emailing professors, Start Something That Matters, 

etc– Victim Vs. Creator Presentation (mindset and attitude.  How do you react to 

the things that happen? 3 Inner voices:  inner critic, inner defender (makes excuses, blames others), inner creator.Are the inner critic or inner defender ever right? Sometimes, what do you do about it?

Peer Mentor Preparation

• Intensive training as orientation leaders includes– How of Happiness Presentation  – Working with your Faculty Member – Communication.– Resources Review– Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives – we’ll create those as a team – Share GSU vision 2020 and discussing what they can do to help with those.

– Motivation/Life Lesson Introduction and Presentations – Lion King example

– COHORT THEMES: Faculty, Staff, Students, etc. 

Mathematics Support

Dianna Galante, PhD

ProfessorMathematics Coordinator

Available SI for Mathematics

• MATH1423 College Algebra - 2 sections• MATH2100 Elementary Statistics – 4 sections• MATH2281 Applied Calculus – 3 sections• MATH2290  Calculus I – 2 sections

Graduate Mathematics SI Leaders

• Three graduate mathematics students available and in class 20 hours per week as well as offering scheduled sessions in a designated classroom outside of class

• Each enrolled in MS in Mathematics program• Received tuition waiver and stipend

Elementary Statistics

• Several strategies used to add to student success including group work, lab classroom

• Online homework support, calculator, and textbook, 24/7 tutoring available with text

• SI available 15 hours per week• StatCrunch used for statistical calculation• Students were allowed to make corrections on tests and earn back  partial points

Writing Support

Kerri K. Morris, PhD

Associate ProfessorCoordinator of First-Year Writing

Writing: Two-week Intensive Objectives

• Responsibility—learning to prepare for class, meet assignment deadlines, follow teachers’ directions, and exhibit appropriate classroom behavior.

• Flexibility—identify differences among varying writing situations and begin to adapt to suit those situations, based on the expectations of audience and genre.

• Metacognition—reflect on writing process, written products, and the writing of their peers with a critical/analytical eye, particularly looking for areas of success and improvement.

Writing: Two-week Intensive Objectives

• Self-efficacy—advocate for themselves as learners and citizens and build self confidence

• Technology—develop proficiency with – Classroom Management System–Writing technology for blogs, presentations, formal papers 

Writing Support

• Two-week intensive–Meet daily–Write frequently– Use short writing to build toward a long paper (4-5 pages)

• SI – Friday meeting, 9 sections

What we’ve learned and what we’re changing

• Separating students out is counter-productive at worst and only minimally successful

• Mixing students from many classes into one supplemental group is confusing for students and instructors

• Tutors should be available to all students and should be integrated into the classrooms