Advising First Generation College Students Terre Lucas Building Educational Strengths and Talents (BEST) Program Cathy Blat University Center for Academic Excellence

Fall 2011 – New Freshmen Demographics FG (N = 1,007) Non FG/Blank (N = 2,162) Total (N = 3,169) AFRICAN AMERICAN14.0%14.8%14.5% AMERICAN INDIAN0.8%0.3%0.5% ASIAN7.1%4.2%5.1% HISPANIC8.8%6.0%6.9% INTERNATIONAL0.4%3.2%2.3% MULTIPLE4.7%3.5%3.8% PACIFIC ISLANDER0.0% UNKNOWN2.4%3.2%3.0% WHITE61.8%64.7%63.8% Source: Institutional Research Census Data

Fall 2012 – New Freshmen Demographics FG (N = 1,033) Non FG/Blank (N = 2,508) Total (N = 3,541) AFRICAN AMERICAN13.5%14.7%14.3% AMERICAN INDIAN0.7%0.5% ASIAN6.0%4.7%5.1% HISPANIC11.1%5.5%7.1% INTERNATIONAL0.4%2.4%1.8% MULTIPLE4.9%4.1%4.3% PACIFIC ISLANDER0.1%0.2%0.1% UNKNOWN3.1%2.6%2.7% WHITE60.2%65.4%63.9% Source: Institutional Research Census Data

Fall 2011 New Freshmen Incoming Characteristics FG (N=1,007) Non FG/Blank (N=2,162) Total (N=3,169) PGI HS GPA SAT V SAT M Source: Institutional Research Census Data

Fall 2012 New Freshmen Incoming Characteristics FG (N=1,033) Non FG/Blank (N=2,508) Total (N=3,541) PGI HS GPA SAT V SAT M Source: Institutional Research Census Data

Partnerships in Advising  Provide just in time information on resources to advisees  Beginning of the semester  Getting Organized Workshop  Complete a LASSI – Learning and Study Strategies Inventory assessment followed by an Individual Consultation (IC) with a GA  Tutoring/SupplementaI Instruction (SI) for potentially challenging courses  Midterm  Bounce Back from Setbacks Workshop  Schedule an IC to discuss Time Management issues  Tutoring/SI for courses with midterm grade deficiency reports

Partnerships in Advising  Provide just in time information (continued)  End of the semester  Test Taking/Stress Management workshops  Final exam review sessions – Reading Day  Students on Probation  49er Rebound program  SOS Mentoring  Academic Strategies course (UCOL 1300)  Niner Focus  Encourage students to apply for Tutoring/SI positions

 A federal TRIO Student Support Services Program committed to facilitating the success of select populations of students adjust to the culture of higher education.  Services offered include  BEST Choices Learning Community  UCOL1200(2), UCOL2200 (on demand) & LBST2212  Academic advising & coaching  Tutoring & access to other resources  Access to a private computer lab  Assistance with assessments & career exploration  Exposure to diverse cultural activities BEST Profile Building Educational Strengths & Talents

Support for Select Populations  BEST is charged with facilitating the success of college students who are  among the first in their family to attend college;  are from families with limited incomes; and/or  whose ability to learn is somehow impacted.  Additionally, all Achievers have an identified academic need.  BEST Achievers, on average  93% - Good Standing  50% - GPA 3.0 or higher  Retention & graduation rates rival those of the institution  At least one Achiever will study abroad each semester

Flying Solo Prepared For …… Reality

Characteristics of First-Gens  Less, different type of, parental support  Diverse perceptions of the first-gen experience  Different expectations  Lower self-esteem  Lack of preparedness

 Recent definitions of “underpreparedness” have expanded to include a lack of understanding  about behavioral skills needed to succeed (which includes a pervasive unwillingness to take an instructors’ advice)  that learning is an active, shared responsibility with faculty Sally Rings, 2001 The “New” Unpreparedness

Registration & Advising “Who should I talk to (Where should I go to talk) about …” “What does this mean to …” “When should I …” “Why am I taking this …” “How do I address …”

Pillars of BEST Advising: Intentionality  Impact of statement, “You should have known…”  Flying solo  Allocation of resources  Personal SMART Goal(s)  Questions & curiosity  Community  Willful blindness  “Get our hands dirty” “If it takes a village to raise a child, build one!” Malik Compton Rock

Academic Coaching What’s your story? Why are you here (… and so I want to help people)? How will you make “it” happen? Appreciation for academic advising

Advising Drives Success  Advisors – know how the car works and they teach new car owners how to use the Owners Manual  Mentors – share his or her personal experience about becoming an expert driver  Coaches – sit in the passenger seat and support the driver in doing whatever it takes to develop his or her own driving style

The Next Steps  CAP workshops  Individual Consultation (IC)  Celebrate “Trailblazers”, “Survivors” and “Overcomers”  Find your point of connection  Think in advance about how you’ll relate  Be mindful of hidden “isms”  Work together to create an academic community  Mention goals to students  Ask them for their question  Hone your “one question” & share it so we can follow up  Referrals

…How can we make this happen? … Thank you