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[DISCUSSION DRAFT]
81ST SESSION
2013-2014
S. RES. 81- ##
IN SUPPORT OF THE DEAN’S FUTURE SCHOLARS PROGRAM GETTING A PERMANENT
LOUNGE ON CAMPUS
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IN THE SENATE OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS
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OCTOBER 22, 2013
SUBMITTED BY SENATOR OLMOS TO THE COMMITTEE ON ACADEMICS
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A Resolution
In Support of the Dean’s Future Scholars Program Getting a Permanent Lounge on Campus
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Whereas, University of Nevada’s mission statement emphasizes four main points: (1) Prepares
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graduates to compete in a global environment; (2) Creates new knowledge; (3) Improves economic
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and social development; and (4) Respects and seeks the diversity of the citizens of Nevada.
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Whereas, Dean’s Future Scholars (DFS) “empowers low-income, first generation students to
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graduate high school and achieve higher education by fostering long-term relationships and
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equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and support in order for them to become responsible
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and productive citizens” (Dean’s Future Scholars, 2013).
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Whereas, Campbell and Campbell (1997) stated that students in a mentoring program were
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retained at a higher rate than students not in a mentoring program and Salinitiri (2005) found that
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participation in a mentoring program has a positive influence on at-risk student persistence;
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Whereas, the DFS program selects Washoe County School District (WCSD) students initially
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in the 6th grade and mentors them through middle and high school in hopes of each student
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enrolling into an institution of higher learning. This early intervention builds a long-term relationship
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between the students and the DFS staff creating a sense of family, loyalty, dedication, and a drive to
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achieve an advanced degree;
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Whereas, since 2000, DFS has encouraged over 650 low-income first generation students to
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challenge themselves and achieve their dreams, while building a successful track record of
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outperforming the overall WCSD high school graduation rates. For example, in 2012, DFS’s
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graduation rate was at 85%, compared to the WCSD’s graduation rate of 69%, of which the
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graduation rate for low-income WCSD students was only 56%;
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Whereas, “many first-generation students had no or low aspirations for going to college prior to
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participating in pre-college programs” (Engle et al., 2006), hence the DFS program intervenes with
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this student population at a young age so then those students know that college is a possibility;
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Whereas, Tinto (1993) argued that it was beneficial for students to engage in “anticipatory
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socialization” or preparation of integration into the college social system prior to entering college (p.
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98). Findings indicated that the “DFS program appeared to provide a wide array of pathways
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including mentoring, summer programs, and the lounge for transition” (Beattie, 2013, p. 115).
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Whereas, findings also indicated that the DFS lounge acts as “a safe haven for the reproduction
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of social and cultural capital on campus” (Beattie, 2013, p. 117). The lounge not only provides
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academic support, but it prides itself in which it acts as “a second home where students can eat,
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sleep, study, and interact with other DFS students and staff in a variety of ways” (Beattie, 2013, p.
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115)
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Whereas, the lounge was utilized for basic needs, academic help, and emotional support;
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however, as students persisted in college into the second semester of their sophomore year, usage of
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the lounge began to decrease indicating that students may have integrated into other aspects of
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college life.
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Whereas, academic outreach programs should provide a shared space on campus that can act as
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a second home for students upon college entrance (Beattie 2013), the DFS lounge keeps paving the
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way for numerous DFS students to pursue the opportunities of student engagement at the
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University of Nevada such as clubs and organizations, Greek life, and student government.
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Whereas, the current DFS 1,500 square foot lounge space within the William Raggio Education
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building contains 16 computers that have access to internet, printing, and scanning, 24/7 student
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access to the lounge space, five couches, kitchenette, storage room, office space for professional
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staff, and sufficient room for DFS students;
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Whereas, the DFS lounge is crucial to the success of the DFS program while aiding the
University’s mission to increase persistence and graduate rates;
Whereas, the Child and Family Research Center will be temporarily relocated to the current
DFS lounge space;
Be it resolved by the Senate of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, that the DFS program
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must have a permanent and adequate space on campus to provide continuous support to their
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students.
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Be it further resolved that this resolution be sent to, Dr. Marc Johnson, President of the University
of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Shannon Ellis, Vice President of Student Services, Dr. Kevin Carmen,
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University Provost, Dr. Kevin Coll, Dean of the College of Education, Ms. Mariluz Garcia, Director
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of Dean’s Future Scholar, and Ms. Megan Ortiz, Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush.
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References
Campbell, T. A., & Campbell, D. E. (2012). Faculty / Student Mentor Program: Effects on Academic
Performance and Retention. Research in Higher Education, 38(6), 727–742.
Dean’s Future Scholars. (2013). About Us. Retrieved from
http://www.unr.edu/education/centers/dfs/about-us
Engle, J., Bermeo, A., & Obrian, C. (2006). Straight from the source: What works for first-generation college
students? Washington, D.C.: The Pell Institute of the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education.
Salinitri, G. (2012). The Effects of Formal Mentoring on the Retention Rates for First-Year, Low
Achieving Students, Canadian Journal of Education, 28(4).
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