Partnership for Student Success
A Joint Initiative of the University of Mississippi and Northwest Mississippi
Community College
What is it?
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Alternative admission program for nonresident high school graduates who
qualified for deferred admission
Eases/“bridges” students into the transition from high school to college
One semester
15 hours: 12 at NWCC Oxford & 3 of EDHE 105
Live on UM campus, enjoy a full meal plan, participate in activities (no FS
Life), etc.
With successful completion, enroll full time for spring
Who can participate?
• Invitation only
• Waitlisted/deferred nonresident high school graduates
• No developmental reading/English
• Must go through full admissions process (i.e. application, nonresident
supplemental application, committee review, etc.)
Process
• Invitation
• Pay program fee
• Come to specific orientation
• Participate in programming
• Successfully complete program
Case by case if needed
• Enroll at UM full-time in spring
2014 Pilot cohort
• 29 students paid program fee
• 27 enrolled- 8 females 19 males
• Average ACT: 18.8
• Average SAT: 893
• Average HS GPA: 2.4 core
• Courses included: Writing/English, History, Sociology, Music Appreciation &
EDHE 105
• Lived in Northgate Apartments
Academic and Transitional Support Program Components:
• Group study sessions before major exams
• Oversight of major papers/projects for NWCC classes
• Utilization of one UM Writing Center consultant (provided consistency)
• Rebel Challenge Course
• Required monthly 1:1 meetings with each student
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Ongoing communication with parents (monthly e-mails, phone calls, etc.)
Ongoing communication with NWCC administrators and instructors
Extensive 1:1 advising/counseling
Successes
• 24/27 students full time UM students Spring 2015
3 left on own terms
• 26/27 finished Fall semester with over a 2.0 GPA
• Average cum GPA at midterm: 2.6
• Average cum GPA of 24 Spring 2015 full time students: 2.89
2015 cohort
• 1st mail out next week (250 invitations)
• 2.5 core GPA- no English/reading development
• 56 students
• Live in Hefley/Brown
Addressing The Needs of First-Generation
Students
Center for Student Success & First-Year Experience
350 Martindale
First-Gen Students At UM: “PIONEERS TO THEIR FAMILY”
2014-2015 Freshman Enrollment
411
- First Generation
Total Freshman- 3,763
3,352
Characteristics
 Female
 Members of an ethnic minority
 From low-income families
 Employed full-time
 Enrolled in few credit hours
 Hesitant to become integrated into the campus culture
Fall- Fall retention comparison
Common factors that predict 1st semester GPA
Did you hear my story?
 First-Generation College Student Survey (Summer 2012)
1, 286 surveys sent out
147 started
122 completed
FGS Experiences at Ole Miss
Question #1:
Did the resources offered to you at Ole Miss adequately address your needs as firstgeneration student?
FGS Experiences
Question #2:
What type of resources do you feel would have helped you be more successful
during your first year as a first-generation student at Ole Miss?
 Top 5 Responses:
1. Finances/Financial Aid/Financial Literary
2. More academic support (advisors, counselor, mentors)
3. Understanding the system
4. Class/programs for first-generation students
5. Study skills
FGS Experiences
Question #3:
Do you feel that your experiences at Ole Miss as first-generation college student are
similar to students who are not first-generation? Please explain.
FGS Experiences
Question 4:
Do you think that a program that introduces first-generation students to one
another and focuses specifically on issues (i.e. academics, career decision making,
establishing friends, managing work and school, etc.) that may affect them all would
be beneficial on our campus?
So, That Was There Story…
 We Listened
 We Took Action
 StudentsFIRST
Fall 2013
StudentsFIRST
 StudentsFIRST provides targeted programs and services for first-generation
students to foster an effective transition to the University and to promote
continued support through their journey to become first in their family to
earn a college degree
 Resources Offered
Access to information
Peer and professional mentoring
Establishing Friendships & healthy relationships
Exposure to diverse environments
Creating student professionalism
Preparation for career exploration
Overview
 Fall/Spring 2013-2015
StudentsFIRST provided support to 34 students (28 first-year, 6 sophomore
mentors)
StudentsFIRST invited campus representatives to host monthly meetings to
provide access to and information about various campus departments (i.e. Financial
Aid, Career Center, CETL, Dean of Students Office, etc.)
StudentsFIRST facilitated Peer Tutor and Mentor certification for 6 sophomore
mentors through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)’s
International Mentor through collaboration with the CETL.
First generation students created student organization: F.I.R.S.T (Freshmen
Interactively Reaching Success Together)
Future Goals
 Increase awareness and resources for FY first-generation population
at UM
 Increase student participation in StudentsFIRST
 Increase Fall-Fall retention for first-generation students at UM
 Continue to collect and analyze date pertaining to FY first-generation
students
 Acquire funding
Student Perspectives
 Rosaline Cruz
Sophomore
Biology/Pre-Med major
StudentsFIRST mentor
 Shunerla Wilson
Freshman
Biochemistry major
StudentsFIRST participant
StudentsFIRST
 For more information, please contact:
Crystal Dunn
Academic Advisor/ Coordinator of StudentsFIRST
cnarmstr@olemiss.edu
350 Martindale
662.915.2312