Providing Direction and Impacting Providing Direction and Impacting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Providing Direction and Impacting Providing Direction and Impacting Retention: Retention: GW's Guide to Personal Success (GPS) GW's Guide to Personal Success (GPS) Program Program

Brian F. Hamluk Brian F. Hamluk Director, Student and Academic Support Services Director, Student and Academic Support Services The George Washington University The George Washington University 29 29th

th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience

Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience Denver, Colorado Denver, Colorado February 12-16, 2010 February 12-16, 2010

GW’s Guide to Personal Success GW’s Guide to Personal Success Program Program Agenda Agenda



Setting the Stage: GW Background Setting the Stage: GW Background



Conception of GPS Program Conception of GPS Program



Implementation of GPS Program Implementation of GPS Program



Program Logistics Program Logistics



Trainings and Preparations Trainings and Preparations



Ongoing Support Network Ongoing Support Network



Tracking Trends and Information Tracking Trends and Information



Moving Forward Moving Forward



Questions and Answers Questions and Answers

Setting the Stage: GW Setting the Stage: GW Background Background

 GW Located in downtown Washington, DC

GW Located in downtown Washington, DC

 4 blocks from White House

4 blocks from White House

 Competitive student body: 37%

Competitive student body: 37% acceptance rate; over 65% from Top acceptance rate; over 65% from Top 10% of their class 10% of their class

 1870-2090 average SAT score (math and

1870-2090 average SAT score (math and verbal) verbal)

 Students from 50 states and over 125

Students from 50 states and over 125 foreign countries in the freshmen foreign countries in the freshmen class class

Conception of GPS Program Conception of GPS Program

 18 month assessment project of

18 month assessment project of division of Student and Academic division of Student and Academic Support Services (2007-2008) Support Services (2007-2008)

 Internal self-study combined with

Internal self-study combined with 13 site visits led to concept of 13 site visits led to concept of freshmen class wide ‘mentoring’ freshmen class wide ‘mentoring’ program program

 Transition to GW and Washington,

Transition to GW and Washington, DC: ‘dual’ transition has always DC: ‘dual’ transition has always been a challenge for students; GPS been a challenge for students; GPS program responds to this program responds to this

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program University Collaboration University Collaboration and Input and Input

 Vice Presidents & Staff

Vice Presidents & Staff Presentations Presentations

 Faculty and Associate Deans

Faculty and Associate Deans

 Student and Academic Support

Student and Academic Support Services Senior Staff & Management Services Senior Staff & Management

 Office of Alumni and Advancement

Office of Alumni and Advancement

 Office of General Counsel

Office of General Counsel

 Office of the Executive Vice

Office of the Executive Vice President and Treasurer President and Treasurer

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Student Collaboration and Input Student Collaboration and Input

 Student Focus Groups during 2007-2008

Student Focus Groups during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 and 2008-2009

 Summer meetings with SA President Vishal

Summer meetings with SA President Vishal Aswani Aswani

 Presentation to SA President’s Cabinet

Presentation to SA President’s Cabinet this summer this summer

 Ongoing support and collaboration with

Ongoing support and collaboration with President Vishal Aswani and Sophia President Vishal Aswani and Sophia Cahill, Director of Freshman Outreach Cahill, Director of Freshman Outreach

 Several Student Association Cabinet

Several Student Association Cabinet members serve as Guides members serve as Guides

Implementation of GPS Program Implementation of GPS Program

 Incoming Class of 2013’s 2,550+

Incoming Class of 2013’s 2,550+ members were assigned to a members were assigned to a University Guide at the beginning of University Guide at the beginning of the academic year the academic year

 600 Guides from across the

600 Guides from across the University were paired up with University were paired up with freshmen in an approximate 1:5 ratio freshmen in an approximate 1:5 ratio

 Guides focus on social, personal,

Guides focus on social, personal, and experiential aspect of the and experiential aspect of the student experience, thereby student experience, thereby supporting the academic mission of supporting the academic mission of the University the University

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program



All 2,550 incoming freshmen have been assigned a All 2,550 incoming freshmen have been assigned a University Guide University Guide



600 Participating Guides: 600 Participating Guides: – Office of the President Office of the President – Student and Academic Support Services Student and Academic Support Services – EVP&T EVP&T – Government, International, and Community Relations Government, International, and Community Relations – Human Resources Human Resources – General Counsel General Counsel – Communications Communications – Alumni and Advancement Alumni and Advancement – Academic Affairs Academic Affairs – Young Alumni Young Alumni – Student Leaders Student Leaders *all students have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and are in *all students have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and are in excellent standing with the University, including excellent standing with the University, including judicially. judicially.



Extensive training of Guides that spanned 3 days Extensive training of Guides that spanned 3 days (*videotaped for future Guides) (*videotaped for future Guides)

Program Logistics Program Logistics

 Combination of prescribed meetings

Combination of prescribed meetings for ‘touchpoints’ and informal for ‘touchpoints’ and informal gatherings and communications gatherings and communications

 1

1st

st meeting takes place within the

meeting takes place within the first week of school to begin first week of school to begin relationship, get acquainted, touch relationship, get acquainted, touch base on any first week difficulties, base on any first week difficulties, etc. etc.

 Lunch in October paid for by

Lunch in October paid for by University: Guides take out students University: Guides take out students individually as well as in groups to individually as well as in groups to facilitate social interaction among facilitate social interaction among new peers ($25 per student) new peers ($25 per student)

Program Logistics Program Logistics

 Third and final ‘prescribed’ meeting

Third and final ‘prescribed’ meeting takes place after Thanksgiving break takes place after Thanksgiving break right before final exams to check in right before final exams to check in with student, see how they are doing, with student, see how they are doing, provide resources before finals if provide resources before finals if need be, etc need be, etc

 2 meetings during Spring semester

2 meetings during Spring semester expected, one when students return expected, one when students return from Winter Break (discuss transition from Winter Break (discuss transition back, goals for 2 back, goals for 2nd

nd semester, etc) and

semester, etc) and

• ne after Spring Break and before
• ne after Spring Break and before

final exams begin final exams begin

Trainings and Preparations Trainings and Preparations

 All Guides went through

All Guides went through extensive three day summer extensive three day summer training prior to beginning training prior to beginning their Guide responsibilities their Guide responsibilities

 Core themes of training:

Core themes of training:

• Psychosocial and Behavioral
• Psychosocial and Behavioral
• Student Life and Engagement
• Student Life and Engagement
• Communication
• Communication

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Psychosocial and Behavioral Psychosocial and Behavioral Training Training

 University Counseling Center (UCC) and

University Counseling Center (UCC) and QPR Training (Question, Persuade, QPR Training (Question, Persuade, Refer: working with students in Refer: working with students in distress). QPR Training provided distress). QPR Training provided through UCC Grant. through UCC Grant.

 Center for Alcohol and other Drug

Center for Alcohol and other Drug Education Education

 Office of Student Judicial Services

Office of Student Judicial Services

 University Police Department

University Police Department

 Registrar: Family Educational Rights

Registrar: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Privacy Act

Guide to Personal Success Program Guide to Personal Success Program Student Life and Engagement Student Life and Engagement Training Training

 Student Activities Center

Student Activities Center

 Office of Community Service

Office of Community Service

 Colonial Central

Colonial Central

 Greek Life

Greek Life

 GW Housing Programs

GW Housing Programs

 Mount Vernon Campus

Mount Vernon Campus

 Multicultural Student Services

Multicultural Student Services Center Center

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Communication Communication Training Training

 How to begin relationship and

How to begin relationship and conversation with GPS students conversation with GPS students

 What information gets shared and

What information gets shared and what doesn’t get shared what doesn’t get shared

 FERPA and Privacy

FERPA and Privacy

 Online Student Interaction Form

Online Student Interaction Form

Trainings and Preparations Trainings and Preparations

 Mid Semester Training (Preparing

Mid Semester Training (Preparing Guides to work with freshmen Guides to work with freshmen transitioning to sophomores: transitioning to sophomores: study abroad, housing selection, study abroad, housing selection, internships/jobs/experiential internships/jobs/experiential learning, student leadership learning, student leadership (Student Activities Center), and (Student Activities Center), and academic support resources academic support resources (University Counseling Center (University Counseling Center and various departments) and various departments)

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Academic Training and Academic Training and Collaboration Collaboration

 6/12/2008: Council of Deans presentation and

6/12/2008: Council of Deans presentation and individual meetings with representatives from each individual meetings with representatives from each undergraduate school; ongoing communication with undergraduate school; ongoing communication with Deans Deans

 Cross-School collaboration for Academic Training

Cross-School collaboration for Academic Training

• Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
• Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
• Elliott School of International Affairs
• Elliott School of International Affairs
• School of Business
• School of Business
• School of Public Health and Health Sciences
• School of Public Health and Health Sciences
• School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Engineering and Applied Science

 Representatives from the Library, Registrar,

Representatives from the Library, Registrar, Undergraduate Fellowships and Research, and the Undergraduate Fellowships and Research, and the Writing Center also participated in training Writing Center also participated in training

Ongoing Support Ongoing Support

 Weekly email listserve that

Weekly email listserve that educates all Guides about current educates all Guides about current trends, current events, and trends, current events, and information impacting freshmen information impacting freshmen

 GPS website (gwired.gwu.edu/gps)

GPS website (gwired.gwu.edu/gps) contains important information, contains important information, important dates and campus important dates and campus events, additional resources, and events, additional resources, and compilation of year-long compilation of year-long documents and resources documents and resources

Tracking Trends and Information Tracking Trends and Information

 At the conclusion of each interaction

At the conclusion of each interaction (meeting, lunch, coffee, phone call), (meeting, lunch, coffee, phone call), Guides log interaction via online Guides log interaction via online form at: form at:

http://gwired.gwu.edu/gps/ForGuides/StudentInteractionForm/ http://gwired.gwu.edu/gps/ForGuides/StudentInteractionForm/

 Personally identifiable student

Personally identifiable student information is not required information is not required

 Our goal is to collect class-wide

Our goal is to collect class-wide information about trends that are information about trends that are taking place and experiences with taking place and experiences with service areas on campus. This allows service areas on campus. This allows

• ur campus service providers to
• ur campus service providers to

respond to trends and improve the respond to trends and improve the student experience student experience

Students with Students with Difficulties Difficulties

 If specific problems arise, Guides

If specific problems arise, Guides contact Director personally to contact Director personally to discuss course of action discuss course of action

• alcohol
• alcohol
• suicide
• suicide
• Health
• Health
• Academic
• Academic
• Finance
• Finance

Fall 2008 Guide/Student Interaction Fall 2008 Guide/Student Interaction Data Data

Out of the 7576 topics that were discussed during the Fall 2008 Semester, the percentage breakdown by topic is above.

Fall 2008 Student Involvement Data Fall 2008 Student Involvement Data

Of the 2,316 topics regarding Student Involvement that were discussed during the Fall 2008 Semester, the percentage

Fall 2008 Career Center Data Fall 2008 Career Center Data

Of the 810 topics discussed regarding the Career Center that were discussed during the Fall 2008 Semester, the percentage

Fall 2008 Residential Life Data Fall 2008 Residential Life Data

Of the 714 topics discussed regarding GW Housing Programs that were discussed during the Fall 2008 Semester, the p

Fall 2008 Freshmen Culture Data Fall 2008 Freshmen Culture Data

Of the 2075 topics discussed regarding Freshman Culture that were discussed during the Fall 2008 Semester, the percentage breakdown by topic is above.

Fall 2008 Academics Data Fall 2008 Academics Data

Of the 1021 topics discussed regarding Academics that were discussed during the Fall 2008

Moving Forward Moving Forward

 Intentional pairings for the 2

Intentional pairings for the 2nd

nd year

year (based on geography, undergraduate (based on geography, undergraduate major, interests, etc) major, interests, etc)

 Expansion of Guide numbers in order

Expansion of Guide numbers in order to help reduce ratio from 1:5 to 1:4 to help reduce ratio from 1:5 to 1:4 in year 2 to 1:3 in Year 3 (Still in year 2 to 1:3 in Year 3 (Still remains the goal; on target to be remains the goal; on target to be accomplished with targeted incoming accomplished with targeted incoming first-year class) first-year class)

 Veterans and Transfer Students

Veterans and Transfer Students

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Student Testimonials Student Testimonials

 "I really clicked with my GPS advisor and I

"I really clicked with my GPS advisor and I really think she will be a really useful really think she will be a really useful source throughout college." - Freshman source throughout college." - Freshman Morgan Haronian Morgan Haronian

 "It's nice having someone who you can ask

"It's nice having someone who you can ask any question to." - Freshman Erika Strehl any question to." - Freshman Erika Strehl

 “

“It's nice knowing there's someone else It's nice knowing there's someone else working at GW who can help with all the working at GW who can help with all the

• ther stuff besides strictly academics.” –
• ther stuff besides strictly academics.” –

Freshman Adam Katz Freshman Adam Katz

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Guide Testimonials Guide Testimonials

 “

“I love the fact that I am staying I love the fact that I am staying connected to GW and giving back in connected to GW and giving back in this way. Very proud to be this way. Very proud to be participating in this excellent participating in this excellent program.” – 2007 GW Alumni David program.” – 2007 GW Alumni David Henek Henek

 “

“I have really enjoyed being a part I have really enjoyed being a part

• f the GPS Program and have gotten a
• f the GPS Program and have gotten a

real charge out it.” – Jim Schrote, real charge out it.” – Jim Schrote, Director, Facilities Management Director, Facilities Management

Guide to Personal Success Guide to Personal Success Program Program Media Coverage Media Coverage



University Press Release (April 21, 2008) University Press Release (April 21, 2008)



GW Hatchet Article (June 13, 2008) GW Hatchet Article (June 13, 2008)



GW Hatchet Editorial (June 13, 2008) GW Hatchet Editorial (June 13, 2008)



GW BlogSpot (June 29, 2008) GW BlogSpot (June 29, 2008)



ByGeorge Article (September, 2008) ByGeorge Article (September, 2008)



GW Hatchet Article (September 18, 2008) GW Hatchet Article (September 18, 2008)



Richmond Times Dispatch (October 8, 2008) Richmond Times Dispatch (October 8, 2008)

Providing Direction for First-Year Providing Direction for First-Year Students: Students: GW's Guide to Personal Success (GPS) GW's Guide to Personal Success (GPS) Program Program

Brian F. Hamluk (hamluk@gwu.edu) Brian F. Hamluk (hamluk@gwu.edu)