The First Year Seminar is a practical study designed to prepare the student for university life, aid in the development of skills for academic success, promote personal growth and responsibility, and encourage active involvement in the learning process from an individual college perspective.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants are automatically enrolled in this program if they meet eligibility requirements

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: University College

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Joanna Shaw at jshaw@tarleton.edu or 254-968-9087

For first-generation college students, adjusting to college can be difficult and may lead to lower graduation rates. Despite the availability of resources on-campus at St. Edward's University, there were obstacles that often prevented its first-generation college students from making the best use of resources. In response to this, in 2020, St. Edward's University implemented programming to remove barriers to success for students who are first in the family to go to college. Recognizing that there is financial need, little family background in higher education, and social and academic stress, First to GOat provides holistic programming that emphasizes mentoring, building community and belonging, leadership and character development, academic and career readiness, financial assistance and literacy, and personal health and wellness. First to GOat develops
and provides a supportive, inclusive community that values and celebrates their identity.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The average one-year retention rate for first-generation students at St. Edward's University is 77.5% for 2020-2022, exceeding national and state averages. In addition, the average fall-to-spring first-generation college students persistence is 92.5% for 2020-2023.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Sonia Briseno at sbriseno@stedwards.edu or 512-448-8625

Focus Forward is a first-year experience program designed for incoming freshmen. Focus Forward serves the incoming freshmen class as a student success campus community program with the goal of connecting the students to the campus as an active member of the community. Focus Forward is built on the foundation of three pillars, academic focus, university engagement, and personal responsibility. As with all things there is overlap, this overlap strengthens the student's connection to the campus and provides them with a successful experience. As an institution of higher education Schreiner University provides a service dedicated to the individual growth of each student by providing the opportunity to be successful.

Academic Focus. Students are given the opportunity to learn. In the first year a specific focus is dedicated to helping students establish a strong foundation of understanding about the academic rigor, expectations, self-discipline, and university support that is needed to be successful.

Personal Responsibility. Students are given the opportunity for personal growth. In the first year a specific focus is dedicated to helping students understand the responsibilities of a student within the Schreiner community. From their interactions with peers to their interactions with faculty and staff, they have opportunities to learn from experiences and grow in their personal responsibilities.

University Engagement. Students are given the opportunity to engage as an active member of the Schreiner University community. The university strives to provide opportunities for students to have a meaningful connection with the university that helps them in their success as a student.

Meaningful collaborations occur across campus to provide the overlapping support of these three pillars, including Freshmen studies IDST course, peer to peer mentoring, academic advising, tutoring services, co-curricular experiences, community engagement, and student leadership opportunities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: First Year Experience

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Matt Goodwyn at tmgoodwyn@schreiner.edu or 8307927330

Increasingly, students name food insecurity as a barrier to their success. St. Edward's University is committed to eliminating on-campus food insecurity. Through grant funding and donations from faculty, staff and alumni, we support peer-to-peer outreach about on-campus and community-based food resources, transporting students to nearby food resources, stocking the St. Edward's Monarchs Food Pantry, fulfilling weekly grocery requests, reducing food waste and providing emergency aid funds through HOOF (Hilltoppers Overcoming Obstacles Fund).

During the 2021-22 academic year, 750 St. Edward's students applied for emergency aid through the Hilltoppers Overcoming Obstacles Fund (HOOF); 95% of applicants cited food insecurity as the reason for their request. Additionally, the free, on-campus Monarchs Food Pantry is open every weekday afternoon. While open to the university community only, we anecdotally know that many of the students who access these resources do so to feed their families. Started by students for students, the Monarchs Food Pantry is maintained through Campus Ministry and supported through privately raised dollars and food donations. It is currently student volunteer-run with a paid student Food Pantry Operations Intern supervising. Additionally, St. Edward's has formal partnerships with two South Austin food pantries: St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church and Foundation Communities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Dean of Students Office and Campus Ministry

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Connie Rey Rodriguez at connierr@stedwards.edu or 512-448-8408

Foster Homeless Adopted Resources (FHAR) is a component of UTEP's holistic advising model designed to provide comprehensive academic and social wellness services to students who were adopted or aged out of foster care or are experiencing housing insecurity.

FHAR staff members assess students needs for social wellness services, address basic needs insecurities (food, housing, and transportation), provide crisis intervention and connect students to appropriate resources on campus and in the community.

UTEP students in crisis must manage various challenges that conflict with academic responsibilities. The FHAR program facilitates immediate, holistic institutional support, to ensure these students persist through to degree completion.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 90

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Advising and Student Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Heather Smith at hsmith@utep.edu or 9157475668

FLP is committed to developing the strengths of humble and ambitious first year students, so that they persist at the institution and in making a difference on campus and in the world. Students will deeply understand and explore The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership and the Social Change Model of Leadership. Students explore and analyze varying leadership behaviors and articulate their own values and vision. Student participants also employ an appreciation for other points of view, advancing their own views that guide relationships and decisions while at the university. Students apply observation, conflict management, dialogue and active listening techniques as a means of understanding and engaging with others. This semester-long exploratory cohort-based program consists of 14 workshops students attend as well as a day long leadership retreat. Students must attend the retreat as well as 5 of these core workshops in addition to 10 exploratory events outlined in the syllabus to expose them to the different co-curricular offerings at the institution. Students that successfully complete the program are honored at the end of the year.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Nicholas Hudson, Ed.D. at nicholas.hudson@tamiu.edu or 9563262280

Freshmen Leaders On Campus (FLOC) strives to promote freshmen involvement, community service, and campus pride and represent freshmen in Student Governance and other leadership roles at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). FLOC is open to all first-time-in-college first year students. The goals of FLOC are: to promote leadership development and skills building; to increase student confidence in themselves and their leadership abilities; to connect students to on-campus involvement opportunities; and to create camaraderie and strong relationships among participants to enhance social well-being.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 50

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: https://mavorgs.campuslabs.com/engage/submitter/form/start/544292

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally and externally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Follett Student Leadership Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Becka Shetty at becka.shetty@uta.edu or 817-272-3211

Many college students are required to take at least one developmental math course, but as many as half of them fail to complete their developmental math requirements and never matriculate into college-level courses. To address this issue, the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin created the Dana Center Mathematics Pathways (DCMP) to help colleges implement math pathways aligned with students’ programs of study in both developmental and college-level courses, accelerate students’ progress to and through college-level math, develop strategies to support students as learners, and integrate evidence-based practices in instruction. The Dana Center also created curricula the colleges used for three course pathways (focused on statistical reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and algebra/calculus).

This study looks at how four Texas community colleges implemented DCMP and how instruction in DCMP courses compares with traditional developmental and college-level math courses. Through a randomized controlled trial involving 1,422 students who entered the study from fall 2015 through spring 2017, the researchers examined the impact of DCMP on student outcomes for up to four semesters. The study also considers student perspectives on the reforms and the start-up and ongoing costs of DCMP to the colleges.

Researchers found that the colleges were successful in revising pre-existing policies, curricula, and pedagogy in order to launch and then scale DCMP courses to reach more students. They also found that instruction in DCMP courses looked very different from instruction in colleges’ standard developmental course offerings and college-level algebra courses. Finally, researchers found that DCMP students enrolled in and passed college-level math at higher rates than non-DCMP students, indicating that DCMP played a part in helping them overcome some of the pitfalls of developmental education and reach a crucial milestone.

Gator Gateway is an interactive multi-day interactive program held on-campus designed to help students become more comfortable with their transition to UHD. The campus community collectively develops programming that provides students with campus resources to ensure their first-year is successful. Students learn how to be successful, interact with faculty and staff from your intended major, hear more about student activities, connect with other new students, and engage in classroom activities. Additional programming includes:
-participate in interactive activities that will help them become acclimated to the university
-interact with a peer mentor that serves as their guide during the experience
-get an inside look at UHD classes through classroom experiences
-meet and interact with other new students as well as UHD faculty and staff
-hear from UHD leadership and alumni
-learn tips for success and see first-hand all of the academic support programs and services UHD provides; discover more about financial literacy and how to pay for college
-explore campus on student-led tours and activities
-participate in conference-style sessions where students can choose to attend presentations from departments they want to learn more about

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

HOW TO ENROLL: Students must attend Part one of Orientation, Gator Ready

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Transitions

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Courtney Lundgren at lundgrenc@uhd.edu or 713-221-8097

Recognizing the importance of STEM education in preparing the increasingly diverse generations that will make up the American workforce, this project strives to generate STEM student success at Texas State University (TXST) for Hispanic and Low Income (HLI) students who will become our next scientific and technical professionals. There are four primary activities designed to address persistent challenges in STEM education and career attainment for HLI students. Activity 1 will create a Peer Education Program with Success Coaches that will serve all incoming HLI freshman and transfer students in their first year at TXST who are identified through a predictive analytics factor-specific model as needing high-support during their transition to college. Activity 2 will improve the transfer navigation process and increase transfer matriculation to TXST through creation of a Transfer Articulation and Navigation Center. Center staff will initiate new transfer articulation agreements with 2-year HSIs, produce an online repository of course equivalency guides and other information pertinent for transfer students, and provide direct student transfer advising to facilitate the transfer process. Activity 3 will create a STEM Workforce Advisory Council to build collaborations with STEM employers leading to expanded Co-Op and work-based experiences for HLI STEM students; additionally, a new Work-based Experience Preparatory program will be implemented to provide targeted students with professional development improving their competitiveness for employment upon graduation. Activity 4 will provide professional development in culturally responsive teaching methods for STEM faculty teaching core courses that will enable faculty to make lasting changes to their instructional methods to improve HLI students' success.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Generación STEM

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Carolyn T. Chang at carolyn.chang@txstate.edu or 512-245-3150

GenJacks is a program for first-generation college students, those whose parents or guardians didn't graduate from a four-year university. GenJacks is an extended learning community that provides support and resources to help first-generation students be successful and stay in college.

The GenJacks program provides mentorship, student success courses, academic support resources, career planning, and experiential learning beyond the classroom through internships and community-based projects.

Students who participate in the program have enhanced faculty and professional academic advisor support, higher GPAs, a cohesive curriculum with linked courses in the cohorts, a higher level of student engagement and social belonging, and higher satisfaction with their college experience.

Students in the GenJacks program must:

-attend the Summer Leadership Academy
-participate in the academic learning community and take SFAS 1101 (The New
Lumberjack Experience, a first-year experience course)
-complete career and professional development through SFAS 1110 and SFAS
2150
-and meet monthly with mentors.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: Data shows that the GenJacks program increases retention and graduation rates by providing transformational experiences.

The one-year retention rate of GenJacks students is 87% compared to 72% for other first-gen students and 81% for students who are not first-generation.

The 6-year graduation rate of GenJacks students is 76% compared to 51% for first-generation students not supported by the program and 59% for students who are not first-generation.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Raquel Skidmore at skidmorerr@sfasu.edu or 936-468-6232

Get to the Finish Line was developed to benefit students that are currently attending or have attended Laredo College within the past two years. Students who were forced to suspend their academic coursework due to financial adversity would be targeted beneficiaries of this program. In order to reach a higher number of participants, we encourage students from any major to be part of our program. While many students have exhausted their financial aid awards due to reaching the maximum allowable hours by federal regulations, other students may not qualify for any type of need-based assistance due to their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), but still be financially unable to cover the cost of their classes. These aspects of the federal financial aid regulations do not allow students to complete their education. The funds made available by this program will facilitate the assistance of a minimum of 120 students for one year. The Laredo College Financial Aid Office as well as the Laredo College Student Success Center will play an integral role in this program’s success.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 46

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants are automatically enrolled in this program if they meet eligibility requirements

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally and externally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Laredo College Economic Development Center, Laredo College Financial Aid Center, Laredo College Advising & Career Transfer Center, and Laredo College Tutoring Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Salvador Sciaraffa III at salvador.sciaraffa@laredo.edu or 956-764-5994

This resource contains activity handouts and considerations for facilitators. This resource is part of the Teaching Excellence Toolkit to help accomplish the College Readiness Goal: I want students to feel like they belong in the course.Activity Description:Send a brief survey to students near the beginning of the term that asks them to share a little bit about past and current experiences, as well as their future aspirations. 

Our award winning global programs provide students with access to affordable education abroad opportunities in Cape Town, SA; Beijing, China; Mexico City, Mexico; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Over 80% of our students identify as Black (55%) and Latino (25%), thus creating an opportunity to engage international learning with other students of color in some of the most rapidly changing cities in the world.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 600

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: https://diversity.utexas.edu/globalleadership/

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Devin Walker at devinwalker@austin.utexas.edu

GradCast is a career placement service utilized by Vernon College for graduates of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. This service is free to qualifying students and provides for 1000 free resumes sent anywhere in the United States among over 600,000 employers in over 30 career and technical education programs of study. Student directory information (permissible under FERPA law) released to GradCast upon graduation includes name, address, graduation date, type of award, phone number, email address, and program of study. GradCast will contact the graduates through a series of automated emails, text messages, and/or phone calls to initiate this career placement service.

Gradcast tracks students to see if they are in the field in which they went to school for. We provide this service as a graduation gift to our CTE graduates. For Spring 2022, Vernon College's response rate was 75%. Students can be tracked at any length of time.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is online only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Instructional Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Shana Drury at sdrury@vernoncollege.edu or 940-552-6291

GradUP is our commitment to the success of every Lone Star College-University Park student from the time they apply to the time they graduate. We invest in student success by continuously improving our student services, launching innovative, student-focused initiatives, and prioritizing professional development and training opportunities for our faculty and staff. Our message to students is: “You commit, We commit, You graduate”. LSC-University Park is empowered to accomplish our GradUP goals; our faculty, staff and administration are committed to advancing graduation rates to 50% for our first-time in college (FTIC), full time students. It’s our culture to provide all students with access to support and resources to help them overcome barriers and achieve success and completion. By focusing and measuring results on smaller groups, the college can ensure that its plans and actions will lead to growth and success for all students.GradUP promotes the value of earning an associate degree or certificate, including a shorter and less expensive academic journey, and seamless transfer of credits to four-year institutions. In addition, the program communicates the value of alternative academic schedules – like the 3x20 degree plan, which allows students to take 20 hours annually for three years to earn their associate degree. GradUP has become a guidepost for the college’s dedicated administration, faculty, staff and, most important, students. Ingrained in the very culture of LSC-University Park, GradUP continues to grow and push the needle on student success.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 500

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants are automatically enrolled in this program if they meet eligibility requirements

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally and externally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Lone Star College-University Park college-wide program

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Keri Porter at Keri.M.Porter@lonestar.edu or 281-401-5364

The Graduation Help Desk helps ensure every student graduates. Any member of the UTA community can contact the Graduation Help Desk to assist students. The Academic Success Center staff supports all students by addressing complex academic and non-academic issues that hinder students' academic performance or path to graduation. The Graduation Help Desk has impacted both practice and procedure at the University of Texas at Arlington. Practice and procedure have been impacted through routine partnership with academic departments and the advising community to begin preparing students for timely degree completion earlier in their academic career. Partnerships with the Office of the Registrar, Office of Financial Aid, Student Money Management Center have also contributed to an increase in degree progression and completion.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is online only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Academic Success Center/Division of Student Success

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Melissa Smith at Melissa.Smith@uta.edu or 8172720317

Grayson Cares is an umbrella program in the Counseling and Social Services Department that addresses the holistic needs of all students. The student, counselor, and social worker intern work together to seek resources needed to overcome barriers to success. Staff assists students in connecting to resources available on campus and in the community. Students seek social services for many reasons. Reasons why a student may want to seek social services through Grayson Cares:
-campus food pantry
-food assistance for family
-childcare and transportation assistance
-emergency student aid
-gas voucher program
-off-campus housing
-utility assistance
-medication assistance
-personal counseling

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 500

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally and externally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Counseling and Social Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Molly Harris at harrism@grayson.edu or 903.463.8714

The Writing Center provides detailed, tailored support for academic and professional writing to Grayson College students. The Writing Center features two in-person locations in the Denison and Van Alstyne campuses. Students visiting the in-person locations have access to consultants, computers, and writing-specific programs designed to support their needs. The Writing Center also offers online support. Students can receive tailored feedback on their writing synchronously, through Zoom consultations with our tutors, as well as asynchronously, through detailed feedback on their submitted work. In all locations, students can receive support for their writing at any stage in the process. Our trained consultants ask open-ended questions and offer constructive feedback to improve students’ writing in a wide range of disciplines.
Moreover, the Writing Center also supports students’ writing through writing groups, workshops, and asynchronous support courses. The latter includes TSI Exam preparation and Plagiarism Prevention modules.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Arts and Humanities Pathway

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Aidan Holtan at holtana@grayson.edu or (903) 463-8697

All students are expected to select a Pathway and program map within their first semester. Students are monitored to stay on their path and take the course in the sequence prescribed such as taking college level math within the first semester. Career exploration is available to help students select a program if they don't know what they want to do. Student success coaches are assigned to students excluding dual credit students.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 7,000

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally and externally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Administrative Team

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Pamela Anglin at panglin@parisjc.edu or 903-782-0330