The Summer Bridge Program: A Successful Intervention Model for First-Year Students Michele J. Hansen, Ph.D., Director of Assessment, University College Gayle A. Williams, Ed.D., Assistant Dean, University College Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Presentation Overview • Summer Bridge at IUPUI (the Context) • Summer Bridge Theoretical Framework • Assessment • Recommended Strategies FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
IUPUI Context • Large urban, commuter, public university. • Large number of under-prepared first-year students (33% are admitted conditionally). • 59% of fall first-year students are first-generation college students (neither parent completed a four year college degree). • 30% of first-time, full-time students report that they plan to work more than 20 hours per week while attending school. • 76% commute to campus. FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
University College • Academic unit formed in 1998 • Houses numerous first-year programs • Serves Over 8000 students FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Essential Elements Of Summer Bridge • Two-week program for incoming freshmen held in August before fall classes begin • Open to students in specific majors • Students are divided into groups of 25 based on their interest in pursuing a particular major or in exploring various major options • Provides a collegiate-level curriculum • Creates communities of entering students • Offered free to participants • Required for all First Generation Scholarship award winners beginning fall 2006 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
First-Generation Scholars Fall 2006 • Admitted by March 1, 2006 • Minimum high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale • Minimum SAT (math and critical reasoning sections only) score of 1000 or a composite ACT score of 21 • First in their family of origin who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree • As a condition of their scholarship (which provides them with a $1,500 annual award for 4-years) they are required to attend the IUPUI Summer Academy Bridge Program FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
COMMUNITY around learning • Uses the powerful elements of learning communities • Builds strong peer connections • Provides opportunities for collaborative learning • Emphasizes multi-disciplinary perspectives • Incorporates positive interactions with faculty, advisors, and librarians • Provides individualized support for math • Connects students with a school and major FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Instructional Teams • Faculty • Advisor • Librarian • Student Mentor FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Participating Schools Business Education Engineering Liberal Arts Nursing Science University College FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Learning Outcomes • Develop a comprehensive perspective on higher education • Develop a community of learners • Develop communication skills • Develop critical thinking skills • Develop study skills • Develop college adjustment skills • Understand the demands and expectations of college • Understand and use university resources • Understand information technology FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Curriculum • Writing • Math • Communication Studies • Critical thinking • Transition skills • Study skills • Introduction to major FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Why Assess Summer Bridge Program • Demonstrate worth and value • Learn about impacts and goal achievement • Contribute to course development and improvement • Obtain student feedback FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Assessment Methods • Quantitative Analyses of Academic Success Outcomes: Retention and Grade Point Averages – Quasi-Experimental Designs – Examine participants compared to non-participants with regard to academic performance and retention while statistically controlling for background differences – Covariates: H.S percentile ranks, SAT scores, Units of H.S math, course load, gender, ethnicity, first- generation, campus housing, other program participation (seminars and Themed Learning Communities). – Linear Regression, Logistic Regression, Analyses of Covariance – Matched control groups established FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Characteristics of 2005 Cohort • 175 Students Participated • 70% Women • 9% African American • 53% First-Generation College Student • 18% First-Generation Scholars • 22% Admitted Conditionally • 1016 Average SAT Score • 69% Average High School Percentile Rank • 39% Campus Housing • 18-19 Primary Ages. Average=18.17 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Characteristics of Fall 2006 Two-Week Cohort • 209 Students Participated • 71% Women • 8% African American • 89% First-Generation College Student • 70% First-Generation Scholars • 7% Admitted Conditionally • 1000 Average SAT Score • 75% Average High School Percentile Rank • 27% Campus Housing • 18-19 Primary Ages. Average=18.75 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Characteristics of Fall 2007 Two-Week Cohort • 361 Students Participated • 72% Women • 7% African American • 91% First-Generation College Student • 78% First-Generation Scholars • 10% Admitted Conditionally • 982 Average SAT Score • 3.31 Average High School GPA • 34% Campus Housing • 18-19 Primary Ages. Average=18.77 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Impact of Participation 2005 Type of Summer N Fall GPA Adjusted Bridge Fall GPA Admit Participants 120 2.94 2.87 Regular Non- 858 2.65 2.68 Participants Overall 978 2.69 Participants 33 2.61 2.59 Conditional Non- 461 2.06 2.06 Participants Overall 494 2.09 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Impact of Participation 2005 Type of N Average Adjusted Admit Retention Participants 127 74% Non- 936 70% Regular Participants Overall 1263 (70%) Participants 32 77% Conditional Non- 480 56% Participants Overall 612 (57%) FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Two-Week Summer Bridge Participants Compared to Non-Bridge Participants: Conditional Admits Avg. Fall to Fall Predicted Avg. Fall % below Retention N GPA GPA Difference 2.0 GPA Rate IU 2005 Bridge 37 2.66 2.53 -0.12 27% 78% No Bridge 648 2.08 2.49 -0.40 41% 53% 2006 Bridge 15 2.40 1.58 -0.81 53% 40% No Bridge 713 2.08 2.26 -0.16 41% 53% 2007 Bridge 36 2.11 2.21 -0.06 29% n/a No Bridge 639 2.15 2.29 -0.14 37% n/a FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Conditional Admits Predicted vs. Actual GPAs 2005 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Conditional Admits Predicted vs. Actual GPAs 2006 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Conditional Admits Predicted vs. Actual GPAs 2007 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Impact of Participation in the Summer Bridge Program (First-Generation Scholars) FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
First Generation Scholars Summer Bridge vs. No Bridge FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Hierarchical Multiple Regression: 2007 Two Week Summer Bridge and GPA FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
2007 Bridge-Themed Learning Community Combination has Positive Effects N Avg. Fall Avg. Difference % below DFW GPA Predicted a 2.0 Rate GPA GPA Bridge- 200 2.96 2.86 0.11 11% 13.13% TLC TLC 354 2.71 2.69 0.03 16% 18.16% FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Summer Bridge Questionnaire • Designed to assess self-reported learning outcomes • Provides instructional teams with valuable feedback concerning students’ perceptions of course benefits • Reports display findings by instructional team and in the aggregate • Includes actual comments from students • Response rates high for 2004 (97%), 2005 (97%), 2006 (94%), 2007 (98%) FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Nine Constructs Emerged (PCA Analysis) 1. Critical Thinking 2. Academic Skills 3. Study Skills 4. Knowledge of Campus Resources 5. College Adjustment 6. Awareness of College Expectations 7. Instructional Team/Faculty Interactions 8. Social Integration/Sense of Community 9. Class Assignments and Activities FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Top Rated Benefits N Mean Std. Deviation Social 916 4.41 .55 Integration/Sense of Community Campus Resources 896 4.40 .44 College Adjustment 894 4.22 .53 Interactions with 899 4.17 .60 Instructional Team College Expectations 886 4.17 .56 Class Activities 923 4.16 .68 Study Skills 911 4.04 .64 Critical Thinking 908 4.01 .65 Academic Skills 909 3.92 .64 FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Factors that Significantly Predict Overall Satisfaction with Course • Course Activities • College Adjustment • Campus Resources • Interactions with Instructional Team Members adjusted R 2 =.215, F (9, 756)=23.97, p<.0001). FYE Dublin, Ireland – June 26, 2008
Recommend
More recommend
