Life S.T.E.P.S. – Ivy Tech Community College (part of the TRIO program)

1. Life S.T.E.P.S. – Ivy Tech Community College (part of the TRIO program) • Objectives • Describe Life S.T.E.P.S., the TRIO program utilized at Ivy Tech Community College, East Central Region. • Describe how mentors, tutors, and other volunteers are recruited and trained to participate in this program. • Describe how mentors, tutors, and staff perceive the program’s success. • Describe the program’s overall effect as measured by student retention and graduation rates. • Evaluation Questions: • Does the TRIO Program affect the retention rates of participating students? • Does the Life S.T.E.P.S. program at Ivy Tech Community College, East Central Indiana Region affect the retention rates of participating students? • What are the perceptions of the Ivy Tech’s Life S.T.E.P.S. program among staff? • Federal TRIO Programs • Developed in response to the Higher Education Act of 1964. These programs provided support to low-income students, first-generation college students, or student with disabilities. The primary objective of these support programs was to increase postsecondary persistence and graduation rates. • Ivy Tech Community College, East Central Indiana Region (Muncie, Anderson, New Castle, and Marion campuses) applied for a grant to provide a TRIO program in 2001. The decision to provide this type of support program was based on the growing recognition that additional support programs were needed to improve retention and graduation rates for students from a disadvantaged background. • Life S.T.E.P.S. (Students Taking Effective Paths to Success) is the TRIO program offered at the East Indiana Region of Ivy Tech Community College. The primary purpose is to provide student services that promote retention, degree or certificate completion, and support students who will transfer to 4-year universities. • Services Offered • Personalized educational planning • Academic counseling • One-on-one tutoring • On-line communication • Extracurricular and cultural events • Personal mentoring • Workshop seminars • Computer loans • Quarterly E-newsletter • Early warning system • Program Eligibility • First-generation college student • Financial need • Physical or learning disability • Mentors and Tutors • There is only one tutor hired by Ivy Tech Community College who works with the Life S.T.E.P.S. program. • Staff are in the process of developing a new training program for Mentors which they plan to complete by the 2013 Fall semester. • Methodology: • Data was collected from previously submitted annual reports to the Department of Education. • Interviews were conducted with a select number of Ivy Tech Community College staff members who are involved with the Life S.T.E.P.S. program. • Results from personal interviews: • “It affords many underrepresented students the opportunity to attend college and be successful.” • “Good people, good program” • “I really enjoy working with the students in the program. It makes me feel good to be a part of such a great program” • “The LifeS.T.E.P.S. program has met all of its goals for this year. Staff work hard to make sure the students’ needs are met.” Fishers Building, Muncie