Advocates for Students A program developed by the University Diversity Action Council

What is an Advocate? Noun ˈadvəkət/ 1. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or person. synonyms: champion, upholder, supporter, backer, promoter, proponent, spokesperson, campaigner, fighter, crusader.

What is the Diversity Advocates for Students program? The University Diversity Action Council (UDAC) under the leadership of Dr. Alfreda Brown, Vice President for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), created a program to retain a diverse student body. This is a program designed to give students a personalized university experience and ensure they achieve personal, academic and social success at Kent State University Students are partnered with a faculty or staff member who will be their advocate. Via monthly meetings, the advocate and the student work together to ensure the student has a successful experience at KSU.

Advocate Responsibilities Keep in touch with students through the academic year Contact can be email, phone and in person A minimum of three contacts each semester Offer strategies/problem solving solutions for academic issues Recommending tutoring services, office hours and other self-advocating solutions

Advocate Responsibilities Complete the student contact form/survey and turn it in to the point office/person for your area. Departments will need to designate a contact person for their area who will coordinate all of their area’s forms/surveys. Questions or additional information should be routed to the following DEI staff members: (1st) Ken Ditlevson (kditlevs@kent.edu) (2nd) Gina Campana (gcampana@kent.edu)

Advocate Best Practices Do not share student information with anyone other than the point office/person and the DEI office (if necessary) Follow the KSU policy on sexual harassment and discrimination at all times

Advocate Best Practices Always exhibit professionalism in dress and manners When meeting students face-to face: Stay on campus or close to campus in a public area Do not meet at home or residence halls Do not provide transportation to the students

Compliance, Equal Opportunity- Affirmative Action (Kent Campus) INTERIM TITLE IX COORDINATOR DEPUTY COORDINATOR  (Athletic Gender Equity Issues) DEPUTY COORDINATOR Pamela Fitzgerald Manager, Compliance and EOAA pfitzge3@kent.edu 330-672-2521 Janet Kittell Deputy Director, Athletics jkittell@kent.edu 330-672-8461 Julie Di Biasio Assistant Director Student Accessibility Services jdibiasi@kent.edu 330-672-8033

Expectations You will be conducting a monthly interview with your assigned students as a group to access their experiences and needs. What is a standardized, open-ended interview? This is a process where respondents are free to choose how to answer the question, i.e., they don't select "yes" or "no" or provide a numeric rating, etc. Since you will be meeting with students as a group, they are asked the SAME questions at the same time.

Example Contact Interview Questionnaire Contact One – October (Return feedback by October 29th) Welcome to Kent, introduce self as advocate assigned. How is everything going? Financial aid set? Schedule set for classes? Is your class schedule working for you? Were you able to get all of your books? Have you visited the Academic Success Center? Contact Two – November (Return feedback by November 29th) How are classes? Do you feel you are doing well? How did you perform? How do you feel about Kent State mid-way through your first semester?

How to interview a student? Interviews take about 15-20 minutes If you are assigned more than one student, do a focus group interview to save time Ask one question at a time Probes are a MUST!! Get the students to expand on what they are talking about by asking: How did that go? Can you tell me more about that situation? How can I help you?

Example matrix for focus group interviewing Question Student Response Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4 How is everything going? Financial aid issues/books? Class schedule ok? Changes? Why? Visit Academic Success Center? Are you aware of program incentives for staying with advocates?

How to interview a student Always remain in control of the interview Stay neutral Don’t bombard the students with your thoughts. It’s all about them and their progress. It’s ok to take notes while you are interviewing Inform the students that you will be taking notes. Practice short hand writing.

Reporting on the contact meeting An online survey can be created to report student feedback if digital reporting is preferred Survey Monkey Zoho Surveynuts Kwiksurvey Google docs

How to adapt the advocate program for your area The title of the program can be altered but it is suggested that you maintain the word ADVOCATE at all times Ex. LGTBQ Student Center Advocates for Students Assign the point office/person who will be in charge of sustaining the program Attain the target group of students and invite them to be apart of the Advocates program

How to adapt the Advocate Program for your area Develop incentives for participating in the program Ex. Small book scholarship or Amazon gift card Get the administrators on board to help offer resources toward the incentives Set guidelines for students earning the incentives Questions asked during the interview must be tailored to your target students – MOST IMPORTANT

Practice being an advocate Ask: How was your day today? What did you accomplish today? Offer at least 2 Probes – such as Tell me more about…. What exactly did you mean by …? What are the pros and cons of your day?

More Information For more information about the Diversity Advocates for Students program please visit http://www.kent.edu/diversity/diversity- advocates-students If you have any questions please contact Ken Ditlevson at kditlevs@kent.edu or Gina Campana at gcampana@kent.edu