Deciphering Best Practices for Underprepared College Students

Deciphering Best Practices for Underprepared College Students Christine A. Vodicka, DirectorTutoring & Academic Success Center

The Tutoring & Academic Success Center (TASC)

• The “Tutoring Center” given new name, location, and management in Fall 2008.

• In the last 4 years, expanded services beyond 1:1 tutoring: • Walk-in tutoring• Writer’s Block • eTutoring • Supplemental Instruction (SI) • Structured Learning Assistance (SLA) • Viking Academic Boot Camp*• Success Coaching*

2008: staff of 12

2012: staff of 125+

(not all pictured)

From empty and dull to lively and

inviting!

TASC cont’d

The staff…

• Half undergraduate students and half graduate students.

• Minimum GPA 3.0. Average GPA is approx. 3.5.

• Tutors get certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)

The programs… • Each year TASC programs

serve over 5,000 students.• Students that attend SI or SLA

sessions tend to score one letter grade higher than non participants.

A CLOSER LOOK AT TWO TASC BEST PRACTICES:

Success Coaching &

Viking Academic Boot Camp

SUCCESS COACHING Meeting individual needs with:

What is Success Coaching?

Success coaches offer individualized sessions and customized workshops for programs on campus. Participants learn about the following:

Note-taking Studying Time management Goal setting Motivation Organization Test taking strategies Reading comprehension Stress/anxiety management

What do coaches do?• Coaches prepare personalized sessions for each of their

students (test taking, time management, studying, etc.)

• Coaches assist students in developing and following a “Success Action Plan.”

• Throughout each session, coaches encourage student self-reflection while helping students develop metacognitive skills.

• Coaches also act as a mentor to the student. Students realize they have someone to turn to.

Success Coaching is catching on…

Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 20120

20

40

60

80

100

120

Our Growth

Students

Coaches

Who attends Success Coaching?

66%

12%

8%

14%

Number of Success Coaching Students

Freshmen Sophomores

Juniors Seniors

In Spring of 2012, we assisted a total of 99 undergraduates.

30% male students70% were female

Success Coaching Intervention (SCI)

• Pilot program in Spring 2012• Designed to help freshmen on academic probation (GPA<2.0) boost their

GPA in order to be in good academic standing. • The Intervention was voluntary and included:

– 3 workshops designed to help the students with preparing for the start of classes, getting refocused and reorganized at midterm time, and finals preparation

– 1:1 Success Coaching (recommended six sessions minimum)– 347 first year students on academic probation after their first semester.

Approximately 100 participated in the intervention.

Preliminary Findings

• Students who attend Success Coaching on average improve their GPA by over 1.0.

• One student recently on probation that participated in ongoing coaching went from 1.2 term GPA to a 3.36 term GPA in one semester!

VIKING ACADEMIC BOOT CAMP Hard work pays off with the…

• Intensive 7-week summer program• Offered to incoming freshmen and current students that place into

developmental math and/or English • Program components:

– Math and English classes– Structured Learning Assistance (SLA)– Success Coaching– Team/Community Building – “Bridge” to College Life– Accessible fees

Semester Course/Textbook Cost VABC cost

English $760 $100

Math $1550 $100 Possible

savings:

$2,100

What is VABC?

• Designed for students with multiple risk factors: first generation, low income, minority status

• Opportunity to pass developmental courses at reduced rate of $100!

PURPOSE GROWTH

Math English05

1015202530354045

200920102011

Number of students enrolled

VABC: The Beginning

Each Friday:

• 11:00-2:00 • Success Coaching • Team Building/ Campus

Exploration • Guest speakers• FREE LUNCH!

Purpose:

• Learn self-management skills, goal setting, note-taking, studying, etc.

• Become acclimated and engaged with the university

• Bond with other students and VABC staff

VABC: Victory Days

VABC: Success

Average pass rates for developmental courses

VABC pass rates!

Math: 41% - 53%

English: 49% - 63%

Math: 88% in summer 2011

(up from 75% in summer 2010)

English: 100% in summer 2011

(up from 81% in summer 2010)

The Recipe for Success

• Supportive and positive faculty• Embedded support (faculty + 2 SLA Leaders per each

of 2 math courses and the 1 English course)• Attendance policy; students cannot miss more than two

days or they lose their spot in the program• Success Coaching Workshops• Team building and campus exploration

“Bootcamp was the best option & I would refer anyone to this

program.”

“They make me

look at college in new way.”

“Now that I’ve taken

this course I am

excited for math.”

VABC: Testimonials

Thank you.

Christine Vodicka

Director, Tutoring & Academic Success Ctr.

(216) 523-7366

c.vodicka@csuohio.edu

TASC information packets are available.