Moving the Conversation From Access to Success: Creating a College Success Formula PRESENTERS: ALPACHINO HOGUE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LINK UNLIMITED SCHOLARS KHAIR SADRUD-DIN, COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM MANAGER, LINK UNLIMITED SCHOLARS

Introduction Defining Success - (2008) “Defining college success is a problem in the first place … because institutions of higher learning are so diverse, in terms not only of size, mission and location, but of the types of students who enroll and of their goals once they graduate. And unlike college access issues, looking at success in and after college requires statistics that in many cases don’t exist -- or metrics whose utility may be disputed.” Guess, Andy (2008, May 20). Defining College Success. Retrieved from

Introduction Defining Success - Present “For years, the value of a college degree has been determined not by the most important outcomes of a college education, but by the easiest outcomes to measure, namely, job and graduate school placement rates and alumni salaries… While these metrics have some merit, they do not provide a holistic view of college graduates’ lives. These outcomes do not reflect the missions of higher education institutions, and they do not reflect the myriad reasons why students go to college.” Great Jobs, Great Lives, The 2014 Gallup-Purdue Index Report

Introduction Defining Success - Present “It is not simply about meeting one’s own goals; success is also about contributing to a larger good, having a meaningful place within a community, and working toward a positive change in the world.” Foundations for Young Adult Success: A Developmental Framework, UCHICAGO CCSR Concept Paper, 2015

Today’s Goals  Discuss & understand the Gallup-Purdue Index methodology and results  Discuss & understand the road blocks underrepresented groups face in completing these experiences  Discuss LINK Unlimited Scholars College Success Formula  Learn transitional coaching practices and establish a framework to equip the population served with the skillset to achieve a more successful undergraduate experience

LINK Unlimited Scholars Overview Mission LINK’s mission is to connect economically disadvantaged African-American high school students with mentors, resources, and foundational skills required for success as they advance into, through and beyond college. Vision To transform our scholars into committed leaders who – by exceeding national college acceptance, persistence, and graduation rates and acquiring sustainable careers – will serve LINK and the larger community by modeling lifelong social responsibility and civic engagement for future generations of young people.

LINK Unlimited Scholars College Outcomes  64% - 6-year college graduation rate ( 1 National Average is 59%)  92% - persist from the first to second year of college ( 2 National average is 72%)  currently Enrolled in 4-Year college 1 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 2 National Student Clearinghouse

Purdue Gallup Index Rationale Responding to the call for increased accountability among higher education institutions, Gallup and Purdue University focused their research efforts on outcomes that provide insight into the common and essential aspirations for college graduates, no matter what type of institution they attend. Together, Gallup and Purdue created an index that examines the long-term success of graduates as they pursue a good job and a better life. This index provides insight into the relationship between the college experience and whether college graduates have great jobs and great lives.

Purdue Gallup Index Important Findings  There were no differences in employee engagement by race or ethnicity, or by whether the graduate had been the first in the family to attend college.  As many graduates from the Top 100-ranked schools in U.S. News & World Report are thriving in all elements of well- being as graduates from all other institutions.  If employed graduates feel their college prepared them well for life outside of it, the odds that they are engaged at work increase nearly three times.

Purdue Gallup Index Important Findings

Roadblocks for College Graduation  Financial Aid  Academic Expectations  Socio-economic Challenges  Racial/Ethnic Challenges  Campus Connectedness

Feedback from LINK Scholars We surveyed our current collegiate scholars as we began to develop a plan for College Success. 243 of our collegiate scholars were surveyed and we received a response rate of 40%. Below are a few highlights from our respondents:  100% of our scholars are involved in clubs/organizations while on campus  96% of our scholars work at least one job while in college  94% of our scholars have a college professor they would consider a mentor  93% of our scholars needed to aquire loans in college  66% of our scholars have considered transferring to another college/university  50% of our scholars have attained at least internship experiences while on campus

LINK Collegiate Scholars Five Keys to Success  Purpose – Being motivated allows our collegiate scholars to achieve their goals, culminating with a timely college graduation.  Organization – Allows our collegiate scholars to perform tasks more efficiently, without wasting time. Healthy organization also improves time management and study skills.  Involvement –It is important that our collegiate scholars have strong and supportive relationships, with peers and mentors. Our collegiate scholars must engage with campus community. We encourage our collegiate scholars to stretch themselves to learn about people and cultures. Our scholars will join at least 2 organizations during their 1 st Year. Our scholars will serve in leadership positions in a student organization before completing college.

LINK Collegiate Scholars Five Keys to Success – Cont’d  Positive Well-Being – Having good health and enough energy allows our collegiate scholars to be productive. Our scholars will gain an appreciation of diversity through study abroad, foreign languages, and relevant courses.  Career Preparation – Our scholars utilize the career center on their campus. Our scholars use Internships as springboards to employment and graduate program admission. Our scholars will engage in at least 2 career related internships before completing college.

Adam Harris Washington University in St. Louis B.S. Film and Media Studies B.S. Science in Economics Expected Graduation : May 2016 “Everyone needs an outlet in college, and I found mine in rugby. Without the challenge, support, and fun that I got from my rugby brothers and coaches, the stress from school would have eventually killed me.” “Being successful in college simply requires an understanding of your environment and an understanding of yourself. In finding this, you learn what is being asked of you and what you are currently capable of doing. With this in mind, you can easily complete the tasks at hand and make use of the many helpful resources available to achieve what you cannot. Knowing is half the battle, and once that's done, college is no longer a task; it becomes an experience.”

Group Discussion  Create guidelines for a success formula that would be relevant to the population of students you serve  Consider results from Purdue – Gallup Index  Consider how roadblocks impact students’ paths toward graduation

Group Presentations  Please share highlights from your group discussions

Roadblocks for College Graduation  Financial Aid  Academic Expectations  Socio-economic Challenges  Racial/Ethnic Challenges  Campus Connectedness

LINK Collegiate Scholars Additional Success Tips  Regular Communication  In-Person Campus Visits  Care Packages  Resume Review  Internship Assistance  Local Programming

Final Thought “The data presented in this report suggests, however, that the answers lie in thinking about things that are more lasting than selectivity of an institution or any of the traditional measures of college. Instead, the answers may lie in what students are doing in college and how they are experiencing it. Those elements — more than any others — have a profound relationship to a person’s life and career. Yet they are being achieved by too few. It should be a national imperative — owned by higher education institutions, students, parents, businesses, non-profits, and government alike, to change this.” - Great Jobs, Great Lives, The 2014 Gallup-Purdue Index Report

Questions & Answers

Thank You & Contact Information Alpachino Hogue, Director of Educational Programs LINK Unlimited Scholars Khair Sadrud-Din, College Success Program Manager, LINK Unlimited Scholars

References  Great Jobs, Great Lives, The 2014 Gallup-Purdue Index Report  Foundations for Young Adult Success: A Developmental Framework, UCHICAGO CCSR Concept Paper, 2015  National Survey of Student Engagement, National Survey of Student Engagement (2015). Engagement Insights: Survey Findings on the Quality of Undergraduate Education—Annual Results Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research  Increasing College Opportunity for Low-Income Students (2014) Retrieved from” ege_opportunity_for_low-income_students.pdf” ege_opportunity_for_low-income_students.pdf  Guess, Andy (2008, May 20). Defining College Success. Retrieved from  The Price of Persistence: Barriers to Postsecondary Success for Low-Income and First- Generation Students Retrieved from  Harper, S. R. (2012). Black male student success in higher education: A report from the National Black Male College Achievement Study. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education.