Wal-Mart College Success Awards

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Wal-Mart College Success Award Winners

Twenty institutions received $100,000 grants to build on demonstrated successes and develop further the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of first-generation college students.

Adrian College (Adrian, MI)—Building on the dramatic successes of a long-standing TRIO-funded program at the college, the Adrian College Educational Success Project (ACES) is designed to increase the success of first-generation college students by providing mentors for students from the ranks of faculty and staff members who were first-generation college students themselves. ACES will also provide a series of workshops on “habits of mind” (using the work of educators Art Costa and Bena Kallick) that are essential for college success. Students who successfully complete each semester of the ACES program will receive book vouchers to help defray the cost of course texts.

Bay Path College (Longmeadow, MA)—This project targets first-generation students’ transition from the first to second year of college. By strengthening and coordinating several successful programs already in place, the award will allow the college to forge stronger connections among first-generation students—who regularly comprise 70 percent or more of the student population—the college, and the surrounding community. Bay Path’s multifaceted approach includes a leadership course, discussion groups that focus on key academic skills (study habits, time management, writing, etc.), a peer tutoring program, a mentorship program, funding for study and travel abroad, community service activities, and a program that helps parents of these students better understand the value of a college education.

Bellarmine University (Louisville, KY)—Building on a well-established record of offering substantial scholarships and academic support to first-generation students, Bellarmine University will use the award to provide a new mentorship program for these students. The First-Generation Student Advisor—a new staff position modeled on the university’s very successful Academic Advisor for Athletes—will work with first-generation students individually and also coordinate services for them across the campus. In addition, 15 peer mentors will be trained to work with small groups of first-generation students in their first year and to help them excel academically and to become actively involved in the university’s co-curricular programs.

California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA)—The university’s initiative will specifically target first-generation transfer students by strengthening efforts to improve academic preparation and transition, integration into the university community, and exploration of career and graduate school options. The award will allow the university to include a new transfer cohort in the already successful Summer Bridge program and provide additional scholarship assistance to these students. In addition, a community college liaison will be appointed to improve relationships with local community colleges and increase recruitment of first-generation transfer students.

Carroll University (Waukesha, WI)—The First-Generation Student Success Program, based on the university’s highly successful nursing program for Hispanic students, consists of a multi-pronged approach to address the recruitment, retention, and graduation of first-generation students of Hispanic/Latino origin. The university will collaborate with the United Community Center in Milwaukee, WI, which operates an extraordinarily successful charter middle school with a student body that is 97 percent Hispanic, to expand their recruitment efforts. Carroll students will help these young students by serving as mentors, tutors, and advisors for the college application process as they move from middle school to high school. These students will also be brought to the campus for classes, workshops, and extracurricular activities. In addition, the award will be used to increase scholarship funds for first-generation students.

College of Idaho (Caldwell, ID)—Grant funds will make it possible for the college to expand current programs that target Hispanic/Latino students. Specifically, the award will be used to recruit and support first-generation Hispanic/Latino students from the local community. Scholarship support will be given to high- achieving first-generation students who also have significant financial need. The college will also devote resources to several new programs, including an orientation for first-generation students and their parents, follow-up outreach activities to families, career exploration field trips and internships, and an annual student leadership conference. Peer mentoring, tutoring, and financial assistance for books, supplies, and equipment will also be made available to these students.

College of Mount Saint Vincent (Riverdale, NY)—The CMSV Wal-Mart Scholars program will focus primarily on first-generation commuter students, a population with needs that differ from those of other first-generation students. Each student will be matched with a commuter assistant—a student who serves as a resource, role model, and peer advisor. Students will also participate in community-building and educational activities designed specifically for the commuter population. The college will help parents support these first-generation students by offering subsidized orientations, workshops, and regular mailings.

College of Saint Benedict (St. Joseph, MN)—The college will use a variety of approaches that have proven successful in the college’s Intercultural Leadership, Education, and Development Fellowship program in increasing the retention of first-generation students. The program will offer increased opportunities for students to interact with each other and with faculty members outside the classroom. Financial support will be provided to encourage students to participate in research projects, internships, study abroad, learning through hands-on experience, and community service during vacation periods. In addition, workshops will assist first-generation students in addressing problems with financial aid, personal budgeting, time management, note-taking, study skills, and stress management. The college will also create a newsletter for families so that they are aware of their students’ activities and will be in a better position to provide them valuable support and encouragement.

College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, MN)—Current first-generation students enrolled at the college will play a central role in recruiting and mentoring new first-generation students. The Wal-Mart Initiative for Success in Education (WISE) is designed to enhance the college’s already-successful efforts to help first-generation students succeed in college. The program will include pre-matriculation mentoring by current first-generation students and a two-day residential orientation program (the WISE College Launch). The program, held prior to the start of the fall semester, will be led by staff and assisted by upper-division first-generation students. Faculty mentors who were themselves first-generation students will also share information with the students about their own educational pursuits. WISE participants will return after completing their first year of college as peer mentors to a new cohort of first-generation students. All WISE students will work with a faculty mentor, receive early career assessment and counseling, and have the support of a trained upper-division first-generation student who can help them with study skills and serve as an academic resource. Information sessions for parents of WISE students will be included in the Launch program. Parents will continue to be informed through monthly parent newsletters and special sessions for first-generation families at the annual Parents’ Weekend. In addition, the award will enable the admissions staff to increase recruitment visits to high schools, career fairs, native reservations, and community agencies.

Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, FL)—First-generation students comprise 75 to 80 percent of the students at the university. Florida Memorial University will use the award to expand its Black Male College Explorers Program that has already proven successful in recruiting, retaining, and graduating first-generation black men. Over the past five years, the graduation rate for these students has held steady at 70 percent. Participants in the program—who take part in orientation activities and receive support in the form of academic assistance, mentoring, personal development seminars, and career counseling—have outperformed the university’s general student population in academic achievement, resulting in significantly improved retention rates. In addition to supporting increased enrollment in this program, the grant funds will allow the university to enhance counseling, mentoring, and support services for first-generation students and provide financial incentives to those who consistently make satisfactory academic progress, participate in all program activities, and demonstrate financial need.

Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL)—Building upon a significant upward trend in retention rates of first-generation students, Illinois College will use this award to support the newly-created Yates Fellowship Program, which will help first-generation students with their transition to college. The initiative includes a two-week summer bridge program that will focus on math and writing skills and encourage a sense of community among the participants. Fellows will return to campus two days before the spring semester begins to reconnect with other fellows in the program. During the academic year, each fellow will work individually with a mentor—an older, first-generation student. The fellows and their mentors will meet regularly throughout the year for service and leadership development activities. In addition, first-generation students and their parents will attend two events each year that celebrate the accomplishments of the students and the support of their families.

Juniata College (Huntingdon, PA)—Financial support will be provided to first-generation students to enable them to participate in the college’s successful pre-orientation program for first-year students. Students demonstrating financial need will receive free admission to the program and be given small grants to recover some of the lost wages they would have earned during that week. The program is designed to help students become accustomed to campus life and to get to know other students with similar interests through participation in a summer retreat of their choice. These first-generation students will also receive funds to help cover textbook and laboratory expenses during their first semester at Juniata.

Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, MI)—This program will provide internship and externship experiences to first-generation students as a way of providing students with income while enhancing their career exploration and professional networking opportunities. The college will extend its already successful internship and externship program to provide support specifically for first-generation students, who often make career choices based primarily on financial concerns. Students will explore internship/externship options through special events for first-generation students and proactive mentorship by staff members of the college’s Center for Career Development. Additional financial support will be given to students who complete either an internship or externship or choose to participate in the college’s service-learning program. Funds will also be used to create an on-campus meeting at the start of the academic year for first-generation students and their parents, during which they will learn about such topics as scholarships, internships/externships, and the academic expectations of the college. This meeting will also afford first-generation students and their parents the opportunity to make contacts with the other students and parents. During the academic year, parents will receive follow-up informational mailings.

Lesley University (Cambridge, MA)—Building on the success of expansive outreach activities already in place, the university will use the award to implement a recruitment and retention plan that introduces prospective first-generation college students currently in middle school and high school to the feasibility and value of an undergraduate degree through targeted outreach activities with area schools and after-school programs. University staff will work with parents to help them understand better the complexities of financial aid and scholarship opportunities, the college application process, and the importance of higher education to the students’ future. Faculty and staff members as well as student and alumni mentors who were themselves first-generation college students will engage new students in conversations, advising sessions, and other support activities. The university will also expand internships within the home communities of first-generation students to help them integrate their school, work, and family responsibilities.

Manchester College (North Manchester, IN)—The award will facilitate outreach to area high schools to identify and recruit more first-generation students and prepare those students to succeed in their first semester of college, which research suggests is the most difficult for most students. The college will connect the high school students with college student mentors and will develop workshops for students and their families to address academic expectations and preparation as well as financial aid and how they can afford a college education. Students will be able to take advantage of on-campus overnight visit programs. First-generation students who enroll at Manchester will be offered transition-to-college programming during their first semester, and they will continue to work with peer mentors. Participants in this program will receive scholarships upon successful completion of their first semester of college.

North Central College (Naperville, IL)—The Teach First Program will target first-generation students who wish to pursue careers in education. Students will receive academic and financial support and career counseling during their four years at the college and beyond. The award will provide funding for recruitment activities and scholarships to students who enroll in the program. Teach First students will be invited to participate in a well-established four-week program designed to help first-generation students with the transition into college. Students will work with the director of Teach First at the beginning of each year to create individualized learning plans that focus on content knowledge, hands-on learning, and expanding the students’ support network. The director of the program will also assist students in planning summer activities that include gaining work experience related to their future teaching careers. Teach First students will participate together in collaborative learning experiences and receive intensive career guidance. By helping first-generation students to succeed as teachers, a new generation of first-generation students will be provided with mentors and role models.

Ripon College (Ripon, WI)—First-generation college students and their parents often find it difficult to understand the value of a liberal arts degree in the work world. With the help of the Wal-Mart College Success Award, the college will first create a bridge program to help first-generation students prepare for college. Once the students are progressing academically at a satisfactory level, each will be placed in a paid professional internship in a field of their interest. These internships will increase students’ understanding of how an undergraduate degree prepares them for a career and, in some cases, leads to post-graduation employment opportunities. Need-based financial assistance will also be provided to the first-generation students in the form of book vouchers, travel vouchers for students who travel to college from distant states, and meal vouchers for students electing to remain on campus during vacations.

St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX)—The Wal-Mart College Success Award will enable the university, a Hispanic-serving institution, to implement a four-week Summer Bridge for First-Generation College Success. The program will focus on improving students’ writing in English, reading, math, and study skills. Intensive English language assistance will also be offered to the large percentage of Hispanic students who make up this population, many of whom are sons and daughters of migrant and seasonal farm workers. To offset lost wages during the four-week period, students will receive stipends upon completion of the program. Stipends will also be made available to students to cover travel expenses to and from campus for the summer program.

Wartburg College (Waverly, IA)—Generation Orange is a program designed to connect first-generation students with the wide array of support services already available at the college. A coordinator will work with each student individually and in groups to bolster their personal motivation to succeed and build connections with the campus, the local community, and their peers. These students will also be introduced to the basic elements of “control theory,” based on the work of psychiatrist William Glasser. An understanding of the theory will help students to recognize which things in their lives they can actually control, which they can influence, and which they cannot control. This tool will help them cope with the new challenges they will face as college students. Workshops on “control theory” will be offered to faculty advisors, work-study supervisors, student life representatives, and peer mentors so that they may work more effectively with the Generation Orange cohort.

Wiley College (Marshall, TX)—Approximately 65 percent of the students at Wiley College are first-generation students. Many of them arrive under-prepared and must enroll in developmental courses that prepare them for courses in the standard curriculum. The Wal-Mart College Success Award will allow the college to expand a linked courses project that has already been implemented with great success, but on a small scale. During the first semester, a cohort of under-prepared first-generation students will enroll in two sets of linked courses, one that is developmental and another that is a part of the general education curriculum. The pairs will be carefully coordinated according to pace, style, methodology, and approaches to assessment. This approach will allow students to undertake college-level courses upon matriculation rather than postpone core requirements until they complete developmental courses. The experience at Wiley College thus far suggests that linked first-year courses promote self-assurance, greater class participation, improved grades, and increased retention.

View the press release announcing the winners of the Wal-Mart College Success Awards.