Lessons Learned from Summer Scholars Successful Transitioning of First-Year Engineers

1. 32nd Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience February 26, 2013 Lessons Learned from Summer ScholarsSuccessful Transitioning of First-Year Engineers Michelle A. Adeoye Summer Scholars Director and Program Coordinator, Illinois Engineering First-Year Experience J Bruce Elliott-Litchfield Professor and Assistant Dean, College of Engineering; Director, Illinois Engineering First-Year Experience Luisa-Maria Rosu Research Associate, Illinois Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative

2. Summer ScholarsGet a head start on your college experience!

3. Summer Scholars gives first-year students the opportunity to have a successful transition from high school, get prepared for fall, join a community, and gain and develop leadership skills.

4. Students become full-time summer students by enrolling in Summer Session 2. • 7 ½ week program • Students enroll in 2-3 courses totaling 6-8 credits. • All students enroll in Projects course.

5. Projects

6. Students participated in academic, professional, and leadership workshops that gave them the tools to become a better student, peer, and potential employee. leadership skills. • Two workshops a week • Tuesday – Faculty/Staff led • Thursday – Industry led • Company tours • Two all-day leadership workshops

7. Timeline Summer 2012 Deadline to commit Finals Students receive emails/letters about program Program officially begins May 1 Early spring semester June 8 August 3-4 August 4 June 11 Mid/late April June 7 Deadline to submit application First day of classes Last day of classes and program Campus freshmen registration

8. Resident Project Advisors (RPAs) are community and project leaders for Summer Scholars. Duties include: • Resident advisor • Project advisor • Role model • Peer mentor • Tutor

9. Students live in the residence hall their fellow scholars and RPAs giving them a built-in network of support and mentoring.

10. Evaluation was done by I-STEM Education Initiative, an independent campus unit, to provide with high-quality, objective evaluation and assessment of the program.

11. What I learned in Summer Scholars will help me excel in my engineering major over the next two semesters n=15

12. On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) rate the level of communication/collaboration with Resident Project Advisors: n=15

13. Please rate your level of satisfaction with the Summer Scholars Program: n=15

14. In their own words… "The Summer Scholars Program was a greatdecision for me. It made the transition to college so much smoother and really let me enjoy the freedoms and rigor of college life, without all the craziness of 40,000 kids in the fall. It was great working in an environment with all like-minded engineers and I met some of my best friends through the program."

15. In their own words… “Looking back at the summer I spent on campus, I honestly would not have had it any other way. Beyond just the chance to get a jump-start on college life and get ahead on schoolwork, the summer for me was a great way to begin to develop friendship and start my network as a professional. I continue to talk to many of the people I met over the summer and I anticipate these friendships lasting me the rest of my life.”

16. There is always room for improvement. • Increase number of students • Provide scholarships • Increase corporate involvement • Increase diversity

17. Thank You!&Questions? Michelle Adeoye madeoye2@illinois.edu Bruce Elliott-Litchfield b-litch@illinois.edu