Comprehensive Academic Support Services at CARES Office

1. CARES Office for Institutional Diversity

2. CARES Staff Toni Thomas Director Kimberly Toomey Administrative Support Stephanie Mayberry Assistant Director/ Freshman Counselor Kahlil Baker Sophomore Counselor Miranda Scully Junior/Senior Counselor Vernida Emerson Learning Skills Specialist/ Tutor Coordinator

3. CARES Mission CARES provides a comprehensive academic support system and enrichment services to aid in increasing the retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students. Programs and activities assist students in achieving academic excellence and adjusting to student life at the University of Kentucky.

4. What Do We Do? CARES Services • ACADEMIC PLANNING (Academic Progress Sessions) • FREE TUTORING/STUDY GROUPS • STUDY SKILLS ASSISTANCE • ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES • HELP WITH PERSONAL ISSUES • COMPUTER LAB

5. Academic Progress Sessions (APS) Students attend 2 - 3 sessions based on classification. Topics discussed in the sessions include: • Classroom performance, i.e. quiz and test grades, homework, projects, class schedules • Strategies to improve grades as necessary • Major and career options • Internship, research and education abroad opportunities • Plans after graduation • Employment opportunities and graduate school • Establishing short and long-term goals for the semester, year and beyond • Personal matters if requested • Referral information

6. Individual Tutoring and Study Groups CARES provides individual tutoring, study group facilitation and/or information about tutoring offered by other departments on campus.

7. Study Skills The Learning Skills Specialist/Tutor Coordinator conducts individual and group sessions to assist students with study skills, i.e. note-taking, time management, test-taking.

8. Enrichment Programs Enrichment programs and activities are focused on student classification and pertinent issues as they transition through each classification from freshman to senior year, i.e. Critical First Year Program for freshmen, Path Finder Program for sophomores, and SOAR for juniors and seniors.

9. Help With Personal Issues We offer a friendly ear and advice when personal problems get in the way of studying and making good grades. If we cannot help, we will direct students to someone who can assist them.

10. Computer Lab Our UK sponsored computer lab is equipped with computers for use with research papers, blackboard assignments, WebClass for math homework and more.

11. How Do We Do What We Do?

12. Individual Tutoring • Students may request a tutor for any subject in which they are experiencing difficulty • CARES will pay for 1 hour of tutoring per week (exceptions are made if students need additional help)

13. Study Groups • Study groups are offered for first year students enrolled in most math and/or science courses • Study groups are organized as requested for sophomores, juniors and seniors • Study groups are led by tutors, i.e. undergraduate, master’s or doctoral students with demonstrated knowledge of the subject • Study groups meet a minimum of once a week, for at least 1 hour

14. First-Year Study Group Impact

15. How Do We Know That What We Do Works? • The number of study group sessions attended had a significant positive effect on the grade received. • Students who attended a greater number of study group sessions earned higher grades. • The effect remained significant after controlling for sex, race, course type, high school GPA and ACT. • Tutoring sessions helped participating students get better grades. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Critical First-Year Study Groups, 2006 - 2010, UK Office of Institutional Research, Dr. Helena Truszczynska, August 2010.

16. Math and Chemistry Exam Reviews • Exam reviews are held prior to each Math 109, Chemistry 105 and 107 exam • Refreshments are provided

17. Freshmen Programs/Activities • Freshman Summer Program (FSP) • Critical First Year Program • Peer Academic Coaching (PAC)

18. Freshman Summer Program (FSP) • Six-week residential summer program that provides an opportunity for students to earn up to six hours of college credit • All students enroll in a Math and English course, as well as participate in other academic/career activities, i.e. Study Skills Workshop, Career/Major Exploration Workshop, Shadowing Experience • Students are introduced to faculty and staff from various departments and learn about campus resources • Students participate in educational tours, recreational outings, cultural and social events

19. Freshman Summer Program Impact First-to-Second Year Retention

20. Freshman Summer Program Impact Graduation Results • FSP students had higher graduation rates for two of the three cohorts for which graduation rates were computed. • FSP student’s graduation rates ranged from 37.50% to 65.22% • Non-FSP six-year rates ranged from 37.24% to 43.60%.

21. 2011 FSP Students

22. Critical First Year Program The Critical First-Year Program is an academic support program for underrepresented students designed to assist in their successful transition from high school to college. The goal of the program is for students to earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of their freshman year.

23. Critical First Year Components • Multicultural First Year Focus Orientation • First Year Focus Seminars • Academic Progress Sessions (APS) • Study Groups/Tutoring • Mid-term Grade Check

24. Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) • The goal of PAC is to assist students in improving their academic standing. • Targeted to first year students who have a GPA of 2.2 or less at the end of the fall semester. • Students are teamed with a successful upperclassman that has a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and proven leadership experience. • Teams of approximately 5 – 8 students and the PAC coach meet on a weekly basis.

25. Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) Students have the opportunity to: • learn strategies and skills that will aid in addressing academic weaknesses • enhance their ability to navigate the university system • build their confidence as they make conscious and informed decisions about their education and life plans • develop a relationship that will provide a peer resource for participants as he/she works to enhance their academic standing and adjustment to college life

26. Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) Topics discussed include: • Where do we go from here? • Establish Contract for Academic Success • Distraction Exercise • Goal Setting • Time Management • Learning Styles Inventory • Academic Survival Skills • Review Resource Book (Question Behind the Question) • Test Taking • Review Midterm Performance (CARES Staff) • Fall Registration • Discuss Summer Plans • Preparing for Finals

27. Third Semester Freshmen/Sophomore Activities/Program • Academic Progress Sessions • Path Finder Program: Explore, Excel, Succeed

28. Path Finder Program • Designed to assist second year students to persist through to the third year and address issues associated with the sophomore slump. • Activities and programs focus on major exploration and career development.

29. Path FinderPrograms and Activities • Major Talks Series • Building Healthy Relationships • Time Management Workshop • Diversity Dialogues • Health Professions Information Sessions • Education Abroad Fair • Self-Care Workshops • Take the Lead Leadership Conference

30. Junior and Senior Activities/Program • Academic Progress Sessions • SOAR

31. SOAR SOAR focuses on professional and leadership development that enhances the career preparedness for juniors and seniors entering the job market or attending graduate/professional school.

32. SOAR Components • Leadership Development • Career Preparation • Graduate and Professional School Preparation

33. SOAR Programs and Activities • Ready-to-Work Series • Real Life Series • Graduate & Professional School Showcase • Life After College Retreat • Harambee Celebration • Community Service Partnerships • Social Networking Opportunities • Graduate & Professional School Information Sessions

34. William C. Parker ScholarshipAcademic Student Contract Requirements

35. William C. Parker ScholarshipAcademic Student Contract Requirements Freshmen Fall SemesterSpring Semester Enroll/Successfully Complete UK 101 3 Academic Progress Sessions 3 Academic Progress Sessions 2 First Year Focus Seminars 2 First Year Focus Seminars Study groups (math and/or science)/ Study groups (math and/or science)/ Monitored Study Monitored Study Students are exempt from the second individual meeting if they do not have any academic deficiencies (less than a C) at midterm of the semester.

36. William C. Parker ScholarshipAcademic Student Contract Requirements Third Semester Freshmen/Sophomores 3 Academic Progress Sessions, (1 group and 2 individual), 2 Path Finder Activities Students are exempt from the second individual meeting if they do not have any academic deficiencies (less than a C) at midterm.

37. William C. Parker ScholarshipAcademic Student Contract Requirements Juniors 3.0 or higher: 2 Academic Progress Sessions, 2 SOAR Activities 2.9 or lower: 3 Academic Progress Sessions, 2 SOAR Activities Seniors 3.0 or higher: 2 Academic Progress Sessions, 1 SOAR Activity 2.9 or lower: 3 Academic Progress Sessions, 1 SOAR Activity

38. CARES Academic Support Impact Spring 2011 GPA’s Scholarship Non-Scholarship Cum GPA Cum GPA *Freshmen 2.84 2.27 Sophomores 2.92 2.57 Juniors 3.15 2.61 Seniors 3.34 2.77 Students who meet with CARES Counselors and participate in CARES activities have higher GPA’s. *Freshman High School GPA’s: Scholarship 3.37; Non-Scholarship 3.22. ACT Scores: Scholarship 22; Non-Scholarship 22.

39. Questions