Supporting Student Success in First Year

Presented By: Martha Rogers and Auroosa Kazmi

Peer Mentorship in the Classroom

To demonstrate the intersection of theory and practice in a course peer mentorship program designed to support first year success in the classroom.

Objective

Theory Practice

It’s about YOU!• Please feel free to interrupt us, REALLY!• We want to hear from YOU!• Just raise your hand and we’ll call on you.

ConceptualModel

York University’s Demographics• 50,000 students• 95% of our students commute to campus• 50% of undergraduate students spend less than

5 hours on campus outside of class time1

Faculty of Health Demographics• 10,000 students• Four programs: Nursing, Kinesiology & Health

Science, Psychology and Health Studies

• In 2010, the Faculty of Health survey revealed:• Only 27% of students are engaged in clubs• Only 33% of students use academic advising

Institutional Climate• White Paper• University Academic Plan• Faculty of Health Student Caucus Proposal

Design Decision

Situate a first year success program in the classroom.

Student Success Literature

Student Development

Theory

Chickering; Lizzio; Wintre’s Student Life-

cycle; 5 Senses of Transition

Cognitive-Structural

Development Theory

Gilligan, Kohlberg, Cognitive Complexity such as moral/ethical

development, received vs created

knowing

Campus Environment

Theory

Kuh; Tinto; Astin,Retention,

persistence, NSSE

Design Decision• Program must address:• Academic transition• Social transition• Student engagement • Provide students with tools for their success

BUT HOW?What about peer mentorship?

Raise your hand if you:

• Know of a peer mentorship program at York

• Believe that peer mentorship results in higher levels of student success

• Have had a positive experience with peer mentoring

Peer Mentorship Literature• Anecdotal findings are positive• Empirical findings are equivocal

• 2 major criticisms1. Lack of clarity and consistency 2. Without structure, the effect is minimal/non-existent

Successful Peer Mentorship Programs• Highly structured• Intentional Recruitment• High quality training• Systematic Evaluation Process

Design DecisionClearly define the purpose of the HealthAid Network

Support Student Success in the First Year

Foster student engagement

Develop student leadership capacity

Design DecisionEstablish a clear structure on how purpose will be achieved

Senior Peer

Mentors

Peer Mentors

Class Reps

Students in core classes

Design DecisionEstablish nature and frequency of interaction:• Mentorship teams of 6• Biweekly meetings of 2 hours• Participate in leadership, student success and student

engagement activities• Make announcements in large core classes once a week

Leadership Literature• Kouzes and Posner: The 5 Practices of Exemplary

Leadership

• Dugan and Komives: Social Change Model (SCM)

• Kazmi (2012) found the following critical to leadership:• Mentorship• Socio-cultural discussions with peers • Membership in student organizations

ConceptualModel

Team Activities• Fosters academic success in first year

• Classroom Announcements• Site Visits• Mentorship Conversations

• Encourages student engagement• Rewards System• Site Visits

• Develops student leadership capacity• Goal Setting• Leadership Workshops• Facilitating team meetings

Recruitment and SelectionIntensive Recruitment Process with simulations and objective criteriaCriteria Agree Neutral Disagree

X was able to identify specific obstacles that are commonly faced by students

X was able to present specific strategies related to student success i.e. discussed HOW to read the textbook vs. read the textbook

X provided an equal opportunity for all participants to share and contribute to the discussion. i.e. did not interrupt, invited others to share

Training and DevelopmentHighly trained (20+ Hours) and ongoing development that is participatory

Program Evaluation2011/12: Comprehensive evaluation process• 950 surveys collected from students in core classes• 49 surveys collected from members• 800+ reflection forms collected from members

Students in Classes• 67% reported improved awareness of campus

resources

• 74% reported that class announcements helped them stay on track with important dates and deadlines

• 45% reported accessing one or more resources or having participated in a student life activity/event

Students in the Network – Student Engagement & Academic Success

80% to 90% of students reported:• Increased awareness of academic resources• Attainment of concrete skills• Interactions with new students• Feeling connected, supported and proud to be a

part of the HealthAid Network

Students in the Network – Leadership Development

80% to 90% of students felt that the following activities contributed strongly to their leadership development:• Participating in and facilitating leadership workshops • Presenting and developing classroom announcements• Managing group morale and keeping team members

motivated • Serving as a resource for peers• Interacting with staff and faculty

Testimonials“...I am in a position to make a difference in so many lives and in return making an impact in my life as well. It's an opportunity of a lifetime in which I am able to be involve in the academic as well as the social aspect of student life while preparing myself and others for a secure future building leadership skills, friendships, improving self-confidence and public speaking skills."

Sparking Innovation• Peer Mentor access on Moodle• Making Connections program• YU START New Student Transition pilot• Widespread use of Lizzio’s model of new student

transition across the University• Manual being developed for creating course-based

peer mentorship programs• International First Year Experience Conference

Summary• Design decisions should be based on theory and

practice• PM programs are most successful when they are

highly structured• Evaluation is key for ensuring success

Now we want to hear from you!• In a group of 3, please discuss and tell us:

• What type of Peer Mentorship programs exist at your individual institutions?

• What are the 3 most important lessons that you have learned from this presentation that you will take home with you?

• What are some recommendations for our program based on your institutions’ approach to peer mentorship?

Selected ReferencesAllen, T. and Eby, L. (2007). The Blackwell handbook of mentoring:A multiple perspectives approach. Malden, MA:Blackwell Publ.

Cox, D. Hardy and Strange, C. (2010). Achieving student success: Effective student services in Canadian higher education. Montreal & Kingston: McGill and Queen’s University Press.

Kazmi, A. (2012). Contextualizing Leadership: Where, When and How Do Leadership Values Develop? University of Toronto, Qualifying Research Paper.

Kuh, G., Kinzie, J., Schuh, J., Whitt, E. and Associates (2005). Student success in college: Creating conditions that matter. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons. Lizzio, A. (2006). Five senses of success: Designing effective orientation and engagement processes. Griffith University. Nguyen, A. et al (2010). Faculty of Health: Comprehensive peer mentoring feasibility study. Faculty of Health Student Caucus, York University, Toronto.

Selected ReferencesStrange, C. & Craney, C. (2010). Theoretical foundations of student success. In D. Cox & C. Strange (eds). Achieving Student Success: Effective student services in Canadian higher education. Montral & Kingston:McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Tieu, T, Pancer, S, Pratt, M., Wintre, M., Birnie-Lefcovitch, Polivy, J. and Adams, G (2010) Helping out or hanging out: the features of involvement and how it relates to university adjustment, Higher Education 60(3), 343-355, DOI: 10.1007/s10734-009-9303-0

Wiggers, R. & Arnold, C. (2011). Defining, measuring and achieving “student success” in Ontario colleges and universities. Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

Wintre, M. & Yaffe, M. (2000). First-Year students’ adjustment to university life as a function of relationships with parents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15 (1), 9-37.

Complete reference list available on request.

Thank You!For more information, please contact:Martha Rogers mrogers@yorku.ca Auroosa Kazmi akazmi@yorku.ca

Or visit:HealthAid Website http://healthaid.info.yorku.ca/