Academic Success Workshops for students on probation: They work! Belinda ballew m.a., eD.s. Appalachian state university Nacada conference, 2017 st. louis Missouri

OUR GOALS TODAY About Appalachian State University Theoretical underpinnings How we keep it positive Logistics Assessment

ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY 18,811 Totals students in fall 2017 Carnegie Classification—Master’s – Larger Programs Predominately an undergraduate serving institution 89% persistence (2016-2017) 53% 4-year graduation rate 73% 6-year graduation rate Approximately 4% (600) on First Semester of probation during any academic year 2 semesters on probation ever 60% dismissal rate for Students on second semester probation Goal: keep students from reaching “Continued Probation” status

Academic success workshops Appreciative advising Appreciative Advising is the intentional collaborative practice of asking positive, open-ended questions that help students optimize their educational experiences and achieve their dreams, goals, and potentials. It is perhaps the best example of a fully student-centered approach to student development.  http://www.appreciativeadvising.net

Appreciative advising phases http://www.appreciativeadvising.net

Appreciative advising phases Disarm – Recognizing the importance of first impressions, create a safe, welcoming environment for students. Discover - Utilize positive open-ended questions to draw out what they enjoy doing, their strengths, and their passions. * Dream - Help students formulate a vision of what they might become, and then assist them in developing their life and career goals. Design – Help students devise concrete, incremental, and achievable goals Deliver – The student follows through on their plans. The advisor is there for them when they stumble, believing in them every step of the way and helping them continue to update and refine their dreams as they go. *Don’t Settle – The advisor challenges the student to proactively raise the student’s internal bar of self- expectation Jennifer L. Bloom, Ed.D. Clinical Associate Professor and Director University of South Carolina

Examples of Appreciative Advising?

Academic success workshops Focus on success Academic success workshop NOT a Probation Workshop Every admitted student Can do Well at Appalachian Good students go on probation for 1,001 reasons Workshop is to help Students get going in a good direction

Academic success workshops Focuses on success Not punitive Tips, Tricks, and tools for regaining good academic standing Obstacles: solution focused What are you doing well? What could you do better?

Logistics: who? Students First-semester probation students Professional staff and graduate assistants Partner with : Academic Advising & Orientation Center Student Learning Center

Logistics: when? First two weeks of the semester 1 ASW, 5 days per week – at least 10 workshops in first 2 weeks Third week of the semester and beyond 2 asws per week Approximately 40 scheduled workshops each semester Approximately 5 one-on-one workshops

Logistics: where? Reserve small rooms in the student union Personal Familiar space Neutral space

Logistics: how? Students are required to participate in an Asw if they wish to register for the next semester Workshops in first two weeks of term typically accommodate 30-40 students, per workshop We continue to offer workshops through the last week of the semester Workshops during the semester typically accommodate 1-15 students, per workshop Holds are placed just before early registration opens By this time, most students have completed their Asw

Logistics: what? 1.5 hour workshop Housekeeping (Welcome, swipe in, provide materials) Positive statements on front page Advisor contact information University Policy Mindset Self evaluations/reflection Exercises Study Skills Resources GPA Calculation tool

Students receive an email after the workshop Thank them for coming Include an electronic copy of the resources (with live links) contained in their packet.

Assessment tool In your packet, find the Green Academic Success Workshop Evaluation

Assessment 2016-2017 416 (73%) of students indicated they learned a lot 151 (27%) of students indicated they learned a little 3 (.5%) of students indicated they learned nothing

Assessment 55% - 60 % of students attend the ASW within the first two weeks of classes 158 (95%) of students served in fall 16 8 (5%) of students not served in fall 16 423 (95%) of “AP” students served in spring 17 23 (5%) of “AP” students not served in spring 17

Institutional research assessment and planning completed a study ASW participants’ GPAs and time to regaining good academic standing Compared to studends who did not participate in an ASW (pre Fall 2015) Participants had higher means for term and cumulative gpas Participants regained good academic standing more quickly Both outcomes were statistically significant with p < .05

Qualitative data DEATon: going into the workshop, I did not think it would be very helpful or informative but I was wrong because in the end, I knew where everything was. Matthew: Before attending I thought it would be a huge waste of time, but after participating, I was very surprised to find it very helpful. I started taking notes better, creating schedules for study times, and went to office hours more often. Sullen to involved

Qualitative data Jenna: The academic workshop really put me in the direction that I’m not stupid, I just chose the wrong classes. Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. - Albert Einstein

Questions?