mentoring through the postsecondary transition fall, 2013 indiana college success mentoring...
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MENTORING THROUGH THE POSTSECONDARY TRANSITION
Fall, 2013
Indiana College Success Mentoring Initiative
MENTOR TRAINING
Welcome & Thank You:
USA Funds
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
What Do You See?
RESEARCH
COLLEGE COMPLETION GAP WIDENING:
“Using 1996 data, those in the
top family income quartile were found to complete a baccalaureate degree at a 74% rate,
as compared to 5% for those in the bottom income quartile.”
-Retaining First Generation and Students, Pell Institute
COLLEGE DROPOUT CRISIS
For Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars…
88%: Scholars entering college directly after HS
75%: Scholars persisting from 1st to 2nd year in college
31%: Scholars earning a degree within: - 6 years (Bachelors), 3 years (Associates)
13%: Scholars earning a degree ON TIME ! - 4 years (Bachelors), 2 years (Associates)
TRANSITION BARRIERS IN 2013
•Limited rigor of academic preparation
•Scholars lack of confidence or hope about succeeding in college
•Financial limitations, actual and perceived
•Needing to earn an more income than PSE would allow (working at local retailers and restaurants)
•Family obligations (including parenting and pregnancy)
•Not accessing their TFC scholarship due to lower than required GPA or late or no FAFSA filing
•Delayed enrollment for Spring 2013
•Not sure why, because unable to reach scholars!
For your scholar: Hurdles Not Barriers
Q: What hurdles will your scholar have to get past?
•SENIORS ARE NOT ABOUT TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
•THEY ARE ABOUT TO CROSS THE STARTING LINE OF COLLEGE.
WHAT IS A “TRANSITION”?
…It is a bridge over Niagara Falls(Vast distance, long way to fall, between 2 very different
places)
May – September and
•HS Senior Year to Freshman Year and
PSE Freshman Year – PSE Sophomore Year and
•Home community to school
Mentoring relationship from HS to PSE, possibly from local to distance relationship
Your Mentoring Relationship:The New Chapter
RESEARCH
“The single most important feature of those that purported to be successful with individual students
was a close, caring relationship with a knowledgeable adult who monitors the students
progress” (USDOE, National Center for Educational Statistics. 2001).
Research also shows that underrepresented youth are most significantly impacted by mentoring
relationships (Jekielek, 2002).
-Improving College Access Through Mentoring, National College Access Network
HS MENTOR & COLLEGE MENTOR
HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE MENTOR MENTOR
RESEARCH
“FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS IDENTIFIED THREE CRUCIAL STEPS ALONG THE PIPELINE
TO COLLEGE WHERE SUPPORT WAS MOST HELPFUL IN MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM
HS TO COLLEGE:
1.Raising aspirations for college2.Navigating the college admissions process3.Easing the initial transition to college.”
“It was the relationship with pre-college program staff that allowed them to be receptive to the messages (they) had to offer”
-Straight From the Source: What Works for First-Generation Students (2006), Pell Institute
RESEARCH
BEST PRACTICES OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS (TO RETAIN STUDENTS):
“One of the common practices of high-performing programs is the provision of a structured freshman
year...
Features of such a program (include):
“pre-freshman year academic and social preparation”,“an intrusive advising process throughout the freshman
year”, “a powerful message of success through
conscientious effort.”
- Retaining First Generation and Students, Pell Institute
MENTOR = College Success Coach
Question:What is the role of a College Success coach/ mentor?
Question:What is not the role of a College Success coach/ mentor?
STAYING CONNECTED: Dosage
How Much Contact Should I be Having?
With Scholar:
Bare Minimum: Monthly Voice or Video Call
Additional: Texting & Social Networking
In Person: “LOCAL” - 2-3 local visits
“ON Campus”: 1 annually (ideally in first
semester)
With Staff:
Bare Minimum: Monthly updates about your scholar
STAYING CONNECTED: How?
How do I Reach Them?
Best Option: What is their favorite way to connect?
Most Popular: Texting, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Also Build in: Phone Calls & Video Chats: Facetime/ Skype
Worst options: Email and waiting for them to contact you
STAYING CONNECTED
Discussion:
What can I do when they don’t respond?
GETTING THEM TO RESPOND
Keep them answering the phone/message by having some of your contacts be mainly light & supportive.
Send “care packages” of support, inspiration.
Ask for access to school data
1. Send a quick message via different platform
2. Contact staff
3. Contact family
MENTORS WATCH FOR…
*Informed by reports/recommendations of the
* Informed by recommendations of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education
MILESTONES WARNING SIGNS
Orientation Not responding to you or staff
First day of classes Not responding to parents
Deadline to drop classes Doubting the college choice
Mid-semester grades Struggling in class (esp. 2 or more)
Registration for next semester Missing home
End of semester grades Sounding stressed
Staying on campus until Thanksgiving
Sounding isolated/ not connected
Returning to campus after breaks
Working full-time
*Total credits earned (30 annually)
*Taking “remediation” classes
*File FAFSA annually (March 10)
* Undeclared/ lack of “goal clarity”
*Meeting with college advisor
* Pursuing a major that is not a good fit
HOW TO RESPOND…
IF YOU HAVE A DROPOUT CONCERN:
1.Listen and trust your instincts about what’s going on
2.Try to support and get through to your scholar in ways that have worked in your relationship before
3.Contact staff of your mentoring organization as soon as possible to convey any of your concerns about the scholar dropping out
PRIORITIES FOR SCHOLAR SUCCESS
ADJUSTING TO CAMPUS LIFE
TOP 10 WAYS TO ADJUST TO CAMPUS LIFE
1. GET INVOLVED: With people, activities. Related to strong self-esteem and academic performance.
2. STAY POSITIVE: Encourage your mentee to work toward maintaining an optimistic attitude.
3. GO TO CLASS: Attendance in class ought to be one of your mentee’s top priorities. Academic success and feeling connected are dependent upon good attendance.
TOP 10 WAYS TO ADJUST TO CAMPUS LIFE
4. PARTY SMART: If they choose to party, do it ways that are safe and don’t result in harm to themselves or others, doesn't result in poor academic performance and don’t jeopardize their scholarship(s).
5. STAY ON CAMPUS: Encourage your mentee to stay on campus as much as possible (including on the weekends and by living in campus housing, if possible).
6. EAT AND SLEEP WELL: Your mentees will function best through adjustment, crises and school demands when their bodies are appropriately nurtured.
TOP 10 WAYS TO ADJUST TO CAMPUS LIFE
7. PRACTICE GOOD STRESS MANAGEMENT: While some stress is inevitable, there are things
mentees can do to prevent or reduce stress. Encourage them to seek out and learn these methods.
Exercise Meditation Television Spend time with friends Playing video games
Top 10 Ways to Adjust to Campus Life
8. COMMUNICATE PRODUCTIVELY: Mentees should be assertive with others so that your own needs are met, but do so with respect to others and to their differences
9. MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS: Avoid toxic relationships, stay in touch with people who support them, offer friends “give and take” and resolve conflicts in an honorable way.
10.STAY FOCUSED: College success and academic success require students to focus and to concentrate and minimize distractions.
For your scholar: Adjusting = Hurdling
Q: What tips for adjusting will be most important for your scholar?
ADJUSTING THROUGH A CRISIS
4 KINDS OF CRISIS
Physical – illness, injury, other physiological impediments.
Social – challenges with social or communication skills, intercultural understanding, roommates and other interpersonal issues
4 KINDS OF CRISIS
Emotional – psychological upsets that interfere with a student’s ability to function. Can include a) clinical depression or bipolar disorder and/or b) emotional responses to life problems, divorce, death of a family member or friend, financial worries and relationship worries.
Academic – may be conditional admission, failed tests, low midterm grades and academic warning.
MENTORING THROUGH THE CRISIS
The Five Keys1.Prevent crises by nurturing resilience
2.Stay in touch – keep the door open
3.Detect Early: Look for signs
4.*Identify: What is the crisis?
5.*Refer: What is the referral process?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
CRISIS SCENARIOS
WHAT IS TIME MANAGEMENT?
Time management refers to a range of skills,
tools,
and techniques used to manage events in
relation to
time.
STRATEGIES TO MANAGE TIME
*Know how you spend your time*Set prioritiesUse planning toolsPlan Ahead
*Get organizedStop procrastinatingManage time wastersAvoid multi-tasking
* Great discussion points for mentors!
SCHOLARS’ WARNING SIGNS
SIGNS OF POOR TIME MANAGEMENT * Stress
Tasks take longer
* Illness/ Fatigue
Disorganization
* Lack of Accomplishment
* Most apparent warning signs mentors can look for!
STUDY SKILLS
STUDY SKILLS
Remember, many college students have never really learned how to study
before they get to college.
STUDY SKILLS
TIPS FOR STUDYING
1.Schedule it
2.Find productive, alternating places to study
3.Take advantage of:
Peer study groupsProfessors’ office hoursCampus resources: writing and tutoring centers
4. SLEEP !
NOTE TAKING
NOTE TAKING
Remember, note taking is difficult because it requires:
Organizing a large volume of information
Recording what you will need to know later
Understanding the content being presented
STUDY SKILLS
TIPS FOR GOOD NOTE TAKING
1.Scholars should develop a note taking method & organizing system that works best for them
2.Go to class prepared
3.Strengthen your listening skills (avoid zoning out)
4.Focus on recording key content (repeated, emphasized, written on the board)
5.Fill in the gaps with friends/ professor later
REMOVING THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS
REMOVING THE FINANACIAL BARRIER
Priority One: Keep Their 21ST CENTURY
SCHOLARSHIP
THE 21CS SCHOLARSHIP 101
WHAT IT PAYS FOR:
The scholarship covers undergraduate tuition and regularly assessed fees at an approved public institution. The scholarship covers only a portion of the tuition and fees at a private (independent) school. At proprietary schools, the scholarship amount is the same as if the student were to attend Ivy Tech Community College. For schools which charge by the credit hour, the scholarship covers a maximum of 15 credit hours per term. All eligible institutions are in Indiana.
- www.scholars.in.gov
THE 21CS SCHOLARSHIP 101
WHAT IT DOESN’T PAY FOR:
The scholarship does not cover the cost of books, room and board, parking fees, lab fees or any other fees assessed that are not assessed to all students.
THE 21CS SCHOLARSHIP 101
WHAT SOME CAMPUSES MAY OFFER 21CS SCHOLARS:
Financial aid assistance, fee waivers (for books, labs and/orapplications), support services including ScholarCorp
mentors,staff, tutoring, service opportunities and assistance withadjusting to campus life.
RESEARCH
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNSELORS AND COLLEGE ACCESS PROFESSIONALS:
“…Because of how important “college match” has become
in the college selection and decision process for low-income and first generation students…college access professionals need to advise their students
to become better informed about the promising student support services practices in their college
match criteria”
-Promising Practices Supporting Low-Income, First-Generation Students at DeVry University, Pell Institute
HOW TO KEEP THE 21CS SCHOLARSHIP
Scholars have 1 year after HS graduation to begin using the it
File the FAFSA annually
Meet the college’s “Satisfactory Academic Progress” Standards
Honor the 21CS Scholars Pledge
NEW: CREDIT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS !!! 30 credits annually: eligible for full 21CS award 24-29 Credits annually: $2500 or less Less than 24 credits annually no award
21CS SCHOLARSHIP: CLIFF NOTES FOR HS MENTORS
For HS Scholars:•2.5 GPA•FAFSA: March 10th deadline•Senior Affirmation (March 10th deadline)•Honor 21CS Scholars’ Pledge
• ** Find the best credential fit… Help your scholar choose wisely!
- what else does the campus offer scholars? - what credential track/ coursework can the scholar successfully complete w/ 30 credits annually?
21CS SCHOLARSHIP: CLIFF NOTES FOR COLLEGE MENTORS
For College Scholars:•Maintain “Satisfactory Academic Progress”•FAFSA: March 10th deadline•Honor 21CS Scholars’ Pledge•Enroll as full time student•See what else the college offers scholars (finances and/or supports)
• COMPLETE 30 CREDITS ANNUALLY TO FULLY ACCESS THEIR SCHOLARSHIP !!
REMOVING THE FINANACIAL BARRIER
Priority Two: Be “Money Smart”
FINANCIAL LITERACY
HELPING YOUR SCHOLAR BECOME FINANCIALLY LITERATE
“Show me the money”or
Learn to make Ramen Noodles 20 different ways
MONEY SMART FOR SCHOLARS
Equipping young people in their formative years with the basics of financial education can give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to manage their finances once they enter the real world.
MONEY SMART FOR SCHOLARS
Bank on It an introduction to bank services
Check It Out how to choose and keep a checking account
Setting Financial Goals Money Management
Pay Yourself First why you should save, save, save
Borrowing Basics an introduction to credit
Charge It Right how to make a credit card work for you
Paying for College and Cars Installment Loans (i.e. car and student)
A Roof Over Your Head informed decisions on apartments and mortgages
SCHOLARS’ COLLEGE FAQ & MYTHS
MENTORS’ RESPONSE TO FAQ
Your Role is To:
1.Provide Information
2.Dispel Myths
3.Connect with resources that have more answers
4.Look for underlying, unstated questions or issues
5.Ensure the scholar is, ultimately, owning the answer or choice being made!
6.Update staff as soon as possible!
SCHOLARS’ FAQ: Work Now, Delay College
I know someone who went to college and can’t get a job.
I don’t think a degree is really going to help me get a job.
Shouldn’t I just start working now, to get some real experience?
MENTOR TALKING POINTS
Someone who goes to college earns at least $1 Million more in their lifetime
than someone who doesn’t go to college.
Look at the top 3 jobs you are interested in right now.
What degree (or credential) do they require? Could you get hired for them now, or 3 years from
now (with experience), without a degree?
SCHOLARS’ FAQ: Need to Help My Family
My family needs me to help them out right now.
I have to choose between going to college and my family.
Shouldn’t I just wait to go to college so that I can help my family by working and helping out?
MENTOR TALKING POINTS
You qualified for the 21st Century Scholarship because your family is “low-income.”
Research has shown that the best way to end the cycle of poverty in your family is to get a college
degree.
Your college degree will start to pay off for you in just a few years so that you can help your family who needs it soon and the younger kids who will
need it in the future.
RESEARCH
“encourage(s) students to take ownership of their academic experience, to participate as active citizens of the institution, and to use their education to improve their lives
and those of their family members and communities.”
-Promising Practices Supporting Low-Income, First-Generation Students at DeVry University, Pell Institute
SCHOLARS’ FAQ: Choosing College Over Friends/
Family
No one else I know is going to college.
My family and friends all think I am trying to be better than them.
I don’t want to leave them behind or disconnect.
“BREAKING THE RULES”
For some scholars, pursuing college means “breaking the rules” of their
family, community and/or culture.
When have you ever had to “break the rules” in order to pursue a goal or vision?
What courage, strength, grit and assets must we and
our scholars call on to “break the rules”?
MENTOR TALKING POINTS
Even though no body else you know is going to college, are any of them doing what you want to be doing?
Now? In 5 years?
One of the reasons you are going to graduate from college is to help and give back in whatever way you can.
Your degree will help your family. Your degree can help your friends and community.
You have both earned and been given this opportunity to go to college.
You have a responsibility to see it through.
For all of your friends, “college” is an option for them too. They should start by talking to their guidance counselor (in HS) or
someone at their local Ivy Tech (if older).
SCHOLARS’ FAQ: Not Smart Enough
I’ve never been that smart.
I don’t think I am college material because it was hard enough to get through high school.
Why should I start college and pay for it…if I know I am not going to finish anyway?
MENTOR TALKING POINTS
If you were smart enough to get through high school, you are smart enough to get through college.
Finishing college will take hard work and commitment, but you have proven in many ways, that you are up the
challenge. (now list the many ways here…not all school based)
You will be more successful in some colleges than others…make sure you are in the right program, on the right campus.
And by the way, a lot of people, who are not as smart as you are,
have gotten through college!
IN SUMMARY
YOUR JOB AS A COLLEGE SUCCESS MENTOR:
1.Decide to stay invested
1.Figure out how to stay connected
1.Stay Connected to your scholar and staff
1.Coach your scholar towards college completion
1.Watch for warning signs
2.Respond to warning signs (and use staff and resources)
QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
