Report Submission - ID: 17Admin104
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Report Submission - ID: 17Admin104 Author(s): Darlene Samson Unit of Analysis ID Number: 181 Sector: Provost Division : TRIO student Support Services Unit for Assessment: TRIO Student Support Services State the mission, objectives, and primary functions of this unit. : Mission: A. TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) at the University of Montana is a federally funded program (Dept. of Education) committed to increasing the rates of academic achievement, retention, and graduation of underrepresented students—first generation, low-income as well as those with disabilities. TRIO helps students overcome social, cultural, and academic barriers to succeed in higher education. TRIO SSS has been on campus since 1978 to serve 375 students/year; we are in our third year of five year funding. Under the Division of Academic Affairs, we report to the Office for Student Success (OSS). Objectives: (per proposal) 1. 80% of all participants will persist from one academic year to the beginning of next academic year, or, will have earned a bachelor’s degree... 2. 80% of all enrolled participants being served by TRIO SSS will meet the performance level required to stay in good academic standing. 3. 35% of new participants served each year will graduate from UM with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent within six (6) years. Primary Function-provide comprehensive, innovative and intensive academic and personal growth services to eligible students promoting academic success and ultimately moving students to graduate with a degree. We accomplish this by the following services: Instruction in C & I 160, Learning Strategies for Higher Education, 2 credit elective Professional academic advising Free Tutoring Peer Mentoring Academic success coaching Career and Major exploration and planning (closely with Career Services) Help with FAFSA completion and troubleshoot financial aid issues; scholarships Workshops Referral to campus and community resources Identify the primary users of the unit.: Internal: Primary users are enrolled students who are first-generation or, low-income or students with disabilities. Much of our student advocacy relies upon many collaborations we maintain with: Faculty-student advocacy, class presentations OSS – Advising Conversations and Certificate training administration; Undergraduate Advising Center-training, information, referral Writing Center-sub-contract to evaluate student’s writing in C & I classes American Indian Student Services-committees, student support Financial Aid – troubleshooting, FAFSA helps sessions; scholarships; Pell eligible students Registrar Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Business Services Curry Health – Stress Anxiety Seminar and referrals Enrollment Services – orientations; refer new students Admissions-transcript evaluations; generates lists of first-gen students UM Administration External: TRIO works with: Pre-admit students and parents; high school counselors; transfer students TRIO affiliates state-wide at two and four year institutions We are partners with the U.S. Department of Education as our funding source and grantee. Members of: o MT ASPIRE o MT College Access Network MCAN) o ASPIRE-regional association; o Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) o National Academic Association, (NACADA) o Montana Senators, Tester & Daines, and Representative Gianforte. Submit Organizational Chart : 17Admin104_SubmitOrganizationalChart_0926012423.pdf Complete the FTE Detail Excel spreadsheet provided in the link below.: 17Admin104_CompletetheFTEDetailExcelspreadsheetprovidedinthelinkbelow_0929054913.pdf Using the space below, address any issues with your FTE Detail Sheet.: TRIO's fiscal year runs September 1 to August 31st. I was able to decipher that FTE differences were most likely taken as a sanpchat to meet the universities fiscal year, July 1-June 30th. TRIO SSS has the following staff and FTE: Director - 1 FTE Program Coordinator - 1 FTE Advisor/Tutor Coordinator - 1 FTE Instructors (2) -.86 FTE Academic Success Coach - .4 FTE Advisor Coach - .36 FTE Clerical Wrok Study (2) -.36 FTE Tutors (7-10) - .20 Mentors - (7) -.20 Finance: Budget and Financial Planning,Purchasing/Procurement,Accounts Payable,Manage Student Accounts in Banner Research: Pre-award,Post-award Human Resources: Employee Training,Employee Hiring (recruitment through on-boarding),Payroll Processing Communications: Marketing and Communications,Website Maintenance/Development,Social Media,Event Planning Development: Fundraising Information Technology: Application Development/maintenance,Provide unit with server and desktop support. Student Services: Academic Advising,Admissions/recruitment,Career Service Advising,Financial Aid awarding Criteria 1. - Bullet 1.: TRIO SSS IS a campus partner for student success, supporting, and creating student services to increase student persistence, retention and graduation rates of underprivileged students. Leadership: TRIO staff hold numerous campus, community, state, regional and national leadership positions. Presently, TRIO Director is a board member of COE and president-elect of our regional association; staff has chaired DiverseU; held leadership roles in Staff Senate; Chair of MT College Access Network, Co-Chair of NACADA regional conference and more we present opportunities to students as well to gain leadership as TRIO Mentors and tutors. Engagement – TRIO educates students through instruction (C& I 160), excellent academic advising, and mentoring education and consistently evaluates services to ensure students not only gain knowledge but grow as individuals who engage in campus or community engagement. We believe in a growth mindset for our students, one that embraces the belief that students can learn more, and view challenges and failures as springboards to new opportunities. Diversity –We endeavor to celebrate the uniqueness of all cultures with appreciation and understanding and embrace as a unit that is inclusive. We appreciate and seek out opportunities which allow us to appreciate diversity through training, education, and work with people/students of all ethnic backgrounds. No boundaries exist in TRIO services. Sustainability – TRIO’s sustainability lies in continuation of meeting program goals, writing a high quality proposal every five years, and collaborations with campus, community and nationally (Congress) to preserve access to education for those who may not have a voice. Criteria 1. - Bullet 2.: Low-income students are being left behind. Only 38% of low-income high school seniors go straight to college as compared to 81% of their peers in higher income quartile. Once enrolled in college, low-income students earn bachelor’s degrees at the rate that is less than half of their high- income peers-21% as compared with 45%. Tremendous achievement gaps in educational attainment exist for students who may have talent and potential. TRIO is unique. No other program exists on campus, held in one location, to support a specific population. TRIO receives students where they are and guides them with essential services to succeed and engages with students to use their strengths and weaknesses as opportunities for growth. First generation students have difficulties navigating the many nuances of higher education from applying to college, seeking financial aid, understanding policies and procedures of higher education and learning. TRIO endeavors to circumvent problems before they happen through comprehensive services. With funding to serve 375 students, staff are able to provide more one-one and intensive services. In AY 2016-17, staff held 2,420 contacts with TRIO students. We utilize best practices; enhance programming constantly to ensure student success. Without TRIO SSS vulnerable students would more likely stop our or give up. Fortunately, we have benefitted by increases in funding in the past two years which have allowed us to increase personnel and enhance services. If loss of funding occurs, most likely part-time staff would be cut and services or resources would be reduced. Criteria 2. - Bullet 1.: We are funded to serve 375 students per year and always reach this goal and sometimes over. Prior to 2015, UM did not identify first-gen students. The application for admission now includes a question identifying students’ parental educational level. With this information, TRIO SSS is able to identify first-gen, low-income students who are eligible for the program. According to UM’s Spring Census Report, 2016 and 2017: Spring calculations of first-time freshmen who were first-generation: AY 2017 = 2,525 students AY 2016 = 2,610 Pell Eligible students: Common Data Sets- UM AY 2016-17 = 1,011 AY 2015-16 = 2,751 AY 2014-15 = 1,454 AY 2013-14 = 1,809 AY 2012-13 = 1,314 Students with disabilities: AY 2016-17 = 1,011 AY 2015-16 = 1,107 AY 2014-15 = 893 AY 2013-14 = No data AY 2012-14 = No data Considering likely overlap between first gen and Pell eligible students, trends fluctuate with enrollment but certainly indicate there is a demand that far outweighs the needs of students meeting TRIO SSS eligibility at the University of Montana Criteria 2. - Bullet 2.: Nationally, 1,071 SSS programs are located at colleges and universities. UM’s TRIO program is one of a few larger funded programs with average programs serving 250 students. Nationally: In FY 2015, the U.S. Department of Education allocated funding for SSS programs $297,256,676; funded 1,081 programs to serve 205,263 students. Average award was $274,983 to serve 190 students. TRIO SSS at UM