2014-2015

MACHEN FLORIDAOPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

ANNUAL REPORT

2 FOS ANNUAL REPORT

The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program ensures a vibrant future for the state of Florida by providing a University of Florida education to first-generation, low-income students.

OVERCOME GREAT ODDS

SOME PEOPLE

TO BE GATORS

32011-2012

WELCOMEDIRECTOR’S

The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program had a successful ninth year, expanding our programs and engagement with scholars and alumni.

National studies have shown students from low socio-economic backgrounds can be deterred from enrolling in a four-year college or university because of fear of debt and concern that working while in school could hinder their chances for academic success.

The University of Florida recognizes this issue in the state of Florida and is taking the steps to support students from low-income backgrounds. To date, the Opportunity Scholars Program has supported approximately 3,200 students in the ninth years since the program’s inception. Every semester more students graduate, and successfully transition out of college into the next phase of their lives. Many choose to apply their talents and enter the workforce, while others pursue advanced degrees.

Our scholars come from diverse backgrounds and are focused on many different fields of study. Though pursuing different career dreams, I see a common thread between them - They all leave a tremendous impact on our campus, and they also all desire to give back to the program after they graduate.

Opportunity Scholars are truly inspiring students, and I hope you get to learn more about the program through this annual report.

Go Gators!Leslie Pendleton Director, Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program

SUPPORTFrom the moment scholars arrive on campus, we connect them to one another. Opportunity scholars have an inherent bond where they easily understand each other. Developing a community of support matters to the success of first-generation students.

Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program and the First-Generation Support Services operates with two full-time staff, two graduate assistants, one AmeriCorps-VISTA and one student assistant.

For a small office supporting so many students, one of our best resources is older, more seasoned students. Our older scholars who have successfully transitioned to UF can provide helpful advice to our younger scholars. Peers are quite important as they offer invaluable encouragement and support.

From the Opportunity Scholars Program staff to the Advisory Committee and Leadership Council, this program is a partnership and a university-wide commitment to supporting first-generation college students.

The Advisory Committee provides support to scholars as well as assistance with the overall vision for the program. Committee members are great resources for our scholars and scholars are encouraged to contact them directly with questions that might arise. Many also teach sections of First Year Florida, a one-credit hour course that all MFOS first-year scholars are required to complete.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Tasked with raising funds that will sustain the program for generations to come, the council’s immediate goal is to inspire $100 million in private gifts and commitments.

The council members hail from academic, business and industry spheres, including: Health Care, Law, Broadcasting, Real Estate, Veterinarian Science, Technology, and Financial Management.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

CONTINUED COMMITMENTFollowing President Emeritus Machen, President Kent Fuchs has pledged to support and enhance access to the University of Florida for first-generation college students.

To ensure a vibrant future for the state of Florida by leading in the transformation of public higher education. A self-sustaining Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program will serve as the cornerstone of that endeavor by enabling qualified Florida high school graduates to attend the state’s flagship university

The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program provides financial resources and individual support with the primary goal of graduating first-generation, low-income undergraduate students. By addressing systemic barriers and challenges, we provide a full grant and scholarship financial aid package as well as a comprehensive support

regardless of their socio-economic status. By supporting low-income, first-generation college students, the program will help Florida families rise out of economic hardships, make it possible for talented young people to reach their promise, improve communities and create a stronger workforce.

program to ensure students thrive at UF. We help students develop valuable college success strategies, build confidence, understand their first-generation identity, connect to peer and professional mentors, and access campus resources which prepare them for a successful college career and meaningful post-graduate life.

$9,047Average Award to

Opportunity Scholars

$18,408Average family income

66%of Scholars identify as

Black or Hispanic.

0Parents of scholars with

college degrees

8Former Opportunity

Scholars have graduated from

UF’s law and medical schools

1,214Opportunity Scholars

currently enrolled

$

BY THE NUMBERS

of the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars are female.66%

21.8%

38.3%

1.9%

9.7%

26.2%

WhiteHispanic-

Latino

African American

Asian/Asian American/

Pacific Islander

2 or more Races

Top 5 Majors

Liberal Arts & Sciences________45.6%

Engineering__________________13.1%

Business Administration_______8.2%

Agricultural & Life Sciences_____7.2%

Health & Human Performance___7.2%

Demographic Data

TOP 5 COUNTIES

Gender Orange

42.2%11.7%

9.2%

5.8%

20.4%

Marion

Osceola

Polk

Lake

We have Opportunity Scholars from almost every county in Florida. These are the top 5.

The summit was sponsored by the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program, the First-Generation Student Organization, and the Gates Millennium Scholars.

The summit’s theme, “Claiming Your Story,” was aimed at encouraging first-generation college students to understand, share, and reflect on their story. The day long summit included sessions on the importance of claiming your story, how to tell your story, who wants to hear it, and sharing your story. Students heard from a variety of presenters about each topic, including UF staff members

who are also the first in their families to attend college.

Other sessions addressed nonverbal communication, elevator speeches, the “dos and don’ts” of public speaking and sharing your first-generation during job interviews. Speaker Ernesto Valderrama expressed that as a hiring manager he seeks to hire other first generation students. “Employers want self-starters,” he said. Students were encouraged to utilize their stories to show the unique qualities they will bring to a team.

PROGRAMS

University of Florida Law School parntered with the Opportunity Scholars Program to create a mix and mingle event for law faculty and potential law students. Current law students also attended to share stories and their experiences with the undergraduate students. Eleven Opportunity Scholars have attended UF law school since 2006. Michelle Adorno, assistant dean of admissions at UF

Law said, “Reaching out to MFOS students makes perfect sense given the college’s commitment to broad diversity and to enrolling students who will excel academically, attain the highest standards of professional excellence and integrity and bring vision, creativity and commitment to the legal profession.”

Over the past year, the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars (MFOS) Program has conducted a series of assessments to capture the experiences of being a first generation college student (FGCS) at the University of Florida. The assessments focused on scholars in different places during their academic experience.

The purpose of the assessment was to gain a greater understanding of how FGCSs transition, navigate, and succeed at the University of Florida. The survey questions were developed through contributions from the MFOS staff, advisory board, and students.

1st year - MFOS program evaluation and first year experience• 84% found the Financial Literacy Workshop highly effective or effective.• 76% found the First Year Florida class – highly effective or effective.• 72% found MFOS Staff 1:1 meetings highly effective or effective.

• 71% found Peer Mentoring highly effective or effective.

2nd year - Sense of belonging/Retention• 98% strongly agree or agree they have supportive friends.• 96% strongly agree or agree they have positive interactions with instructors.• 96% strongly agree or agree the size of the University of Florida is manageable.• 92% strongly agree or agree that they would choose UF again.

3rd year - Involvement Inventory• 90% strongly agree or agree being involved has helped with professional development. • 84% strongly agree or agree that they have the ability to apply classroom learning to practical application.

4th year - Exit interview• Career preparation is important. Students who went to the Career Resource Center early and often did better.

ASSESSMENT

PATH OF A SCHOLAR

ACCEPTANCE

After students are accepted

to UF, they complete a

supplemental information

form and 300 are identified

as Opportunity Scholars.

$N

S

W E

SCHOLARSHIP

The average award per student is

$9,229.

ORIENTATION

Attend UF’s Preview and a

separate Florida Opportunity

Scholar Program orientation.

MENTEE

First-year

students get paired with

one of 60 peer mentors.

START SCHOOL

Scholars are required to

take at least 12 credit hours per

semester.

FIRST YEAR FLORIDA

Enroll in a section of First Year Florida, a

one-credit-hour course which

helps students transition to college life.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Complete a series of two workshops to learn how to

budget money and build credit.

GATOR PRIDE

Attend a women’s

basketball game and learn

about hard work and school pride from the

coaches.

CAREER PLANNING

Complete a series of two workshops to learn about

resume writing and goal setting for internships.

Every Gator’s journey at UF is unique, but our scholars have consistent opportunities and check points as part of the program to maximze their success.

* *STUDENT ORG

Whether it is research, service or

leadership, there are more than 1,000 Student Organizations

to join for involvement.

MENTOR

90 percent of peer mentors

are Opportunity Scholars. It’s a great way

students give back.

ADVISING

Schedule a one-on-one with the scholarship program staff.

GO GLOBAL

Approximately

16% of Opportunity

Scholars have studied abroad.

FOSAL

The Florida Opportunity

Scholars Academy of Leadership accepts 75 applicants annually.

INTERN

Students are encouraged to complete at least one

internship before graduation.

PREPARE

Post Grad Support includes

advising, life coaching,

connections with alums, and

workshops.

GRADUATION

1,868 Opportunity

Scholars have graduated.

GIVE BACK

After Graduation,

Scholars give back to the

program through their time

and financial contributions.

For our scholars, walking across the stage in their caps and gowns is the realization of the dream. A dream held for them by the many generations that came before. And for our scholars, graduation is just the beginning.

Ensuring career preparedness is a focus of the program, specifically during scholars’ junior and senior years. In addition to career and life planning workshops, we facilitate programs for alumni to create career and social networking opportunities with undergraduates. This outreach has the added benefit of allowing us to better track our young alumni.

This year, we built off of the focus groups and LinkedIn database held last year to create even more alumni touch points.

ALUMNI ENGAGMENT

172011-2012

Our students’ successes do not end when they move their tassels across their caps. Their impact is already being felt across the country, and they are making a point to give back.

Our Featured Alumni Talks showcase talented, inspiring and successful MFOS alumni who give back to the program by sharing their journey since graduation with current scholars. These alumni talks began in Fall 2014, and we host four each semester. In order to reach current scholars who could not attend, the talks are recorded and shared.

This year, we had the opportunity to host mini city mixers at various locations around the country. Local alumni were invited to reconnect with the program and with each other.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

18 FOS ANNUAL REPORT

Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Christian Cruz received the 500,000th degree awarded by the University of Florida.

MFOS was named a finalist among America’s top programs that increase academic opportunities and increase achievement for Latino students. The Opportunity Scholars program was selected from among 217 competitors from 26 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as one of 14 Finalists for the 2014 Examples of Excelencia award. Conceived and run by Excelencia in Education, this is the only national initiative to systematically identify, recognize, and catalogue evidence-based programs that improve Latino college success.

It was determined at the end of Fall 2014 there was enough funding to increase the incoming 14-15 cohort to 350 scholars. That being the case,

50 current UF students who had submitted supplemental information forms, but who had not been awarded MFOS due to funding constraints were contacted right before the holidays and offered a spot in the MFOS program. We provided a welcome orientation for the new scholars in early-Spring 2015 and got them on the first-year program requirements track.

The MFOS Program was selected to present in the category of “exceptional practices” at the national ACPA conference in March 2015 in Tampa, FL. Data-driven programs which encourage college student success were suggested to apply for this category and MFOS was given this honor.

Our Assistant Director, William Atkins, was awarded the UF Division of Student Affairs award for Outstanding Research or Assessment Project. His assessment’s objective was to gain greater understanding of the transition issues for first-generation students.

AWARDS & MILESTONES

192011-2012

20 FOS ANNUAL REPORT

2014-2015

MACHEN FLORIDAOPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

ANNUAL REPORT