Bridging the Gap for Students at Risk: A Data-Driven Case Management Approach

Coordinator of Academic Advising and Special Programs Janina DeHart Assistant Director Mentoring and Persistence to Success (MAPS) Jenny Stewart Coordinator of Academic Advising and Special Programs College of Education and Allied Professions Annie McCord Academic Advisor W. David Scales Psychology Professor

Academic Success Program ASP Provides an early start to facilitate a successful first year Conditional admission pathway Full year of support and accountability Learning Community Model with residential, academic, and co-curricular components

2016 Demographics Number of students enrolled: 202 Gender: 53% Male; 47% Female Ethnicity Caucasian/Non-Hispanic 74% African American/Non-Hispanic 14% Other (Multiracial, Other, Did not disclose) 12% Average HS GPA: 3.024 Average Unweighted HS GPA: 2.700 Average SAT CR: 451 Average SAT Math: 450 Average SAT (CR + M): 901 Average ACT Comp: 18 1,936 54% M; 46% F 78.9% 6.3% 14.8% 3.78 1018 22.5 WCU Demographics for Incoming Freshman Class 1936 students 54% Male; 46% Female Caucasian 78.9% Black 6.3% Other 14.8% Avg HS GPA 3.78 Average ACT 22.5 Avg SAT 1018

Students Perceived as “At-Risk” Talk about why we don’t like the term “at-risk.”

Admission is Competitive Fall 2016 Freshman Class Target: 1,750 Fall 2016 Final Counts Freshman Applications: 18,302 Freshman Class: 1,936

Admission Paths Fall Admission Standard Great Grades Honors Academic Success Program Admission Spring Entry Program Admission Refer to the two Admission handouts: Paths & Philosophy.

ASP Model

Academic Success Program Mission Western Carolina University offers the Academic Success Program (ASP) as an opportunity for students to begin their college experience early and to prepare them for success in college and beyond. This program is designed to provide a full year of support to facilitate a successful first-year experience and to help students develop skills to excel in their college career.

Summer Session WCU Orientation: June 23 – 24 Program Orientation: June 25 Summer classes begin: June 27 Summer session ends: July 30 Seven Hours of Course Credit: ENGL 190: First Year Seminar in Literature, 3 hr. Other Liberal Studies course, 3 hr. USI 130: University Experience, 1 hr. Academic Support & Residential Community Activities & Programs

Summer Components Summer Academic Theme Case Management Model Anthropology, General Psychology, and Health & Wellness Case Management Model Receive Peer Support Meet with Academic Advisor Live together in a community Participate in activities and trips, including a class field trip Engage in a service project Receive academic support

Successful Completion Complete all three courses with a grade of C or better ENGL 190 – A, B, C, U Other Liberal Studies Course & USI 130 – use regular +/- grades Earn a 2.5 GPA or higher Uphold the Code of Student Conduct

First-Year Components Live together as part of Western Carolina PEAKS Case Management continued Peer Support continues Meetings with Academic Advisor Take LEAD 160: Student Leadership & Academic Success (1 hr. credit) and participate in Leadership activities in the fall semester Review academic progress and receive support

Case Management Model

Residential Case Managers Case Management Model Intentional Multi-modal Support and Intervention Summer Weekly Team Meetings Fall Monthly Team Meetings Student Residential Case Managers Advising Instructors Peer Mentors ASP Program Personnel

Advising Components Summer Reports and Data (CSI) Case Management Mandatory Advising Meetings Fall Mandatory Advising Meetings (3 total) Progress Reporting (5th, 8th, 11th week) Reports and Data (MYSA) Spring Advising meeting at beginning of semester, then as needed College Student Inventory provides talking points/conversation starters. For example… What is the mid-year report called?

Partnerships Advising Admissions Residential Case Managers First-Year Experience NASPA interns Could we roll this slide into the Case Management slide?

Data & Analysis

College Student Inventory Mid-Year Student Assessment Advisor Reports Summary Reports Dropout Proneness Predicted Academic Difficulty Educational Stress Receptivity to Institutional Help Recommendations Get help with exam skills, study habits, writing skills, basic math skills Get tutoring

College Student Inventory Mid-Year Student Assessment CSI and MYSA Self Report Ratings: Ethnicity and Gender Attitudes toward educators Family emotional support Desire to finish college Financial security Confidence in verbal, math and science abilities Opinion tolerance Study habit GPA Predictors Gender CSI @ beginning of summer program – comfort level w/ subjects; likelihood to look for help;   influences decisions about topics covered in summer program (USI course) MYSA half way through Fall of first year – how is your experience (professors, campus, peers, resources); advising (what are your goals, choosing a major, etc.)   adjustments – peer mentors more available during summer

CSI CSI and MYSA Self Report Ratings Retention Predictors Ethnicity and Gender Attitudes toward educators Family emotional support Desire to finish college Financial security Confidence in verbal, math and science abilities Opinion tolerance Study habits Retention Predictors Attitude toward educators

MYSA Same scales as CSI GPA Predictors Retention Predictor Gender Family emotional support Study habits Math and science confidence Retention Predictor

Summer Performance Data Summer Cohort 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Number Enrolled 92 125 139 132 172 Summer Success Rate 83.7% 92% 97.8% 96.2% 95.3% Average GPA – summer 3.167 3.261 3.317 3.177 3.315 GPA - 4.0 5 21 17 9 20 GPA - 3.5-3.99 22 33 29 47 GPA – 3.0-3.49 32 65 66 71 GPA – 2.5-2.99 18 31 24 25 GPA - below 2.5 or did not make C’s in all classes 11 3 8

ASP Retention Information 2011-15 Note: Fall to Fall Retention rate for 2010 cohort = 62.6% Compared to WCU overall freshmen retention, currently 80%

Informing Practice Targeted Programming USI & LEAD classes (summer and fall) Workshop series Expected predictors of student success Stress level Family emotional support Study habits Unexpected Attitude toward educators you dont quit a job, you quit a boss

Questions?

CONTACT INFORMATION Janina DeHart jdehart@email.wcu.edu 828-227-3895 Jenny Stewart jstewart@email.wcu.edu 828-227-3836 Annie McCord amccord@email.wcu.edu 828-227-3755 W. David Scales wdscales@email.wcu.edu 828-227-2457