Supporting student success in first year symposium presentation
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Transcript of Supporting student success in first year symposium presentation
Supporting Student Success in First Year
Presented By: Martha Rogers and Auroosa Kazmi
Peer Mentorship in the Classroom
To demonstrate the intersection of theory and practice in a course peer mentorship program designed to support first year success in the classroom.
Objective
Theory Practice
It’s about YOU!• Please feel free to interrupt us, REALLY!• We want to hear from YOU!• Just raise your hand and we’ll call on you.
ConceptualModel
York University’s Demographics• 50,000 students• 95% of our students commute to campus• 50% of undergraduate students spend less than
5 hours on campus outside of class time1
Faculty of Health Demographics• 10,000 students• Four programs: Nursing, Kinesiology & Health
Science, Psychology and Health Studies
• In 2010, the Faculty of Health survey revealed:• Only 27% of students are engaged in clubs• Only 33% of students use academic advising
Institutional Climate• White Paper• University Academic Plan• Faculty of Health Student Caucus Proposal
Design Decision
Situate a first year success program in the classroom.
Student Success Literature
Student Development
Theory
Chickering; Lizzio; Wintre’s Student Life-
cycle; 5 Senses of Transition
Cognitive-Structural
Development Theory
Gilligan, Kohlberg, Cognitive Complexity such as moral/ethical
development, received vs created
knowing
Campus Environment
Theory
Kuh; Tinto; Astin,Retention,
persistence, NSSE
Design Decision• Program must address:• Academic transition• Social transition• Student engagement • Provide students with tools for their success
BUT HOW?What about peer mentorship?
Raise your hand if you:
• Know of a peer mentorship program at York
• Believe that peer mentorship results in higher levels of student success
• Have had a positive experience with peer mentoring
Peer Mentorship Literature• Anecdotal findings are positive• Empirical findings are equivocal
• 2 major criticisms1. Lack of clarity and consistency 2. Without structure, the effect is minimal/non-existent
Successful Peer Mentorship Programs• Highly structured• Intentional Recruitment• High quality training• Systematic Evaluation Process
Design DecisionClearly define the purpose of the HealthAid Network
Support Student Success in the First Year
Foster student engagement
Develop student leadership capacity
Design DecisionEstablish a clear structure on how purpose will be achieved
Senior Peer
Mentors
Peer Mentors
Class Reps
Students in core classes
Design DecisionEstablish nature and frequency of interaction:• Mentorship teams of 6• Biweekly meetings of 2 hours• Participate in leadership, student success and student
engagement activities• Make announcements in large core classes once a week
Leadership Literature• Kouzes and Posner: The 5 Practices of Exemplary
Leadership
• Dugan and Komives: Social Change Model (SCM)
• Kazmi (2012) found the following critical to leadership:• Mentorship• Socio-cultural discussions with peers • Membership in student organizations
ConceptualModel
Team Activities• Fosters academic success in first year
• Classroom Announcements• Site Visits• Mentorship Conversations
• Encourages student engagement• Rewards System• Site Visits
• Develops student leadership capacity• Goal Setting• Leadership Workshops• Facilitating team meetings
Recruitment and SelectionIntensive Recruitment Process with simulations and objective criteriaCriteria Agree Neutral Disagree
X was able to identify specific obstacles that are commonly faced by students
X was able to present specific strategies related to student success i.e. discussed HOW to read the textbook vs. read the textbook
X provided an equal opportunity for all participants to share and contribute to the discussion. i.e. did not interrupt, invited others to share
Training and DevelopmentHighly trained (20+ Hours) and ongoing development that is participatory
Program Evaluation2011/12: Comprehensive evaluation process• 950 surveys collected from students in core classes• 49 surveys collected from members• 800+ reflection forms collected from members
Students in Classes• 67% reported improved awareness of campus
resources
• 74% reported that class announcements helped them stay on track with important dates and deadlines
• 45% reported accessing one or more resources or having participated in a student life activity/event
Students in the Network – Student Engagement & Academic Success
80% to 90% of students reported:• Increased awareness of academic resources• Attainment of concrete skills• Interactions with new students• Feeling connected, supported and proud to be a
part of the HealthAid Network
Students in the Network – Leadership Development
80% to 90% of students felt that the following activities contributed strongly to their leadership development:• Participating in and facilitating leadership workshops • Presenting and developing classroom announcements• Managing group morale and keeping team members
motivated • Serving as a resource for peers• Interacting with staff and faculty
Testimonials“...I am in a position to make a difference in so many lives and in return making an impact in my life as well. It's an opportunity of a lifetime in which I am able to be involve in the academic as well as the social aspect of student life while preparing myself and others for a secure future building leadership skills, friendships, improving self-confidence and public speaking skills."
Sparking Innovation• Peer Mentor access on Moodle• Making Connections program• YU START New Student Transition pilot• Widespread use of Lizzio’s model of new student
transition across the University• Manual being developed for creating course-based
peer mentorship programs• International First Year Experience Conference
Summary• Design decisions should be based on theory and
practice• PM programs are most successful when they are
highly structured• Evaluation is key for ensuring success
Now we want to hear from you!• In a group of 3, please discuss and tell us:
• What type of Peer Mentorship programs exist at your individual institutions?
• What are the 3 most important lessons that you have learned from this presentation that you will take home with you?
• What are some recommendations for our program based on your institutions’ approach to peer mentorship?
Selected ReferencesAllen, T. and Eby, L. (2007). The Blackwell handbook of mentoring:A multiple perspectives approach. Malden, MA:Blackwell Publ.
Cox, D. Hardy and Strange, C. (2010). Achieving student success: Effective student services in Canadian higher education. Montreal & Kingston: McGill and Queen’s University Press.
Kazmi, A. (2012). Contextualizing Leadership: Where, When and How Do Leadership Values Develop? University of Toronto, Qualifying Research Paper.
Kuh, G., Kinzie, J., Schuh, J., Whitt, E. and Associates (2005). Student success in college: Creating conditions that matter. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. Lizzio, A. (2006). Five senses of success: Designing effective orientation and engagement processes. Griffith University. Nguyen, A. et al (2010). Faculty of Health: Comprehensive peer mentoring feasibility study. Faculty of Health Student Caucus, York University, Toronto.
Selected ReferencesStrange, C. & Craney, C. (2010). Theoretical foundations of student success. In D. Cox & C. Strange (eds). Achieving Student Success: Effective student services in Canadian higher education. Montral & Kingston:McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Tieu, T, Pancer, S, Pratt, M., Wintre, M., Birnie-Lefcovitch, Polivy, J. and Adams, G (2010) Helping out or hanging out: the features of involvement and how it relates to university adjustment, Higher Education 60(3), 343-355, DOI: 10.1007/s10734-009-9303-0
Wiggers, R. & Arnold, C. (2011). Defining, measuring and achieving “student success” in Ontario colleges and universities. Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
Wintre, M. & Yaffe, M. (2000). First-Year students’ adjustment to university life as a function of relationships with parents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15 (1), 9-37.
Complete reference list available on request.
Thank You!For more information, please contact:Martha Rogers [email protected] Auroosa Kazmi [email protected]
Or visit:HealthAid Website http://healthaid.info.yorku.ca/