Advising First Generation College Students
The BEST (Building Educational Strengths and Talents) Program at Cathy Blat University seeks to empower first-generation college students by providing tailored support that addresses their unique challenges. Through partnerships in advising, workshops, and academic resources, the program fosters success and retention among students who often face significant barriers in higher education. Key offerings include time management consultations, tutoring, and culturally enriching experiences that contribute to a supportive academic community.
Advising First Generation College Students
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Presentation Transcript
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 Source: Institutional Research Census Data
Fall 2012 – New Freshmen Demographics Source: Institutional Research Census Data
Fall 2011 New FreshmenIncoming Characteristics Source: Institutional Research Census Data
Fall 2012 New FreshmenIncoming Characteristics 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
Building Educational Strengths & Talents BEST Profile • 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
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
The “New” Unpreparedness • 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
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