Upward Bound: Climbing
The Collegiate Ladder—One Model at
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Presentation on October 2, 2010 at the Midwest Consortium Conference
by
Dr. Angela McKinney, Candice Howell, Evin
Lackore, and Dr. Mike McDonald
Objectives
•Raise awareness, attainment, and aspirations to enter higher
education among young people in Lincoln-area high schools
who are from disadvantaged groups.
•Use Social Media such as wikis and Blackboard to strengthen
outreach efforts and positively influence the decisions Upward
Bound participants make.
•Develop guidance counselor and school staff expectations and
awareness regarding young people from disadvantaged groups.
Objectives Continued
•
Develop leadership skills and strategies between LPS
mentees and NWU mentors
•
Develop content knowledge in the STEM areas.
•
Build parent engagement, aspirations, and expectations
for the participating children to pursue higher
education.
Collaboration
•
Collaboration between many groups:
•
AHEC---Southeast NE Area Health Education Center
•
UNL—University of NE-Lincoln Upward Bound
•
NWU---NE Wesleyan University:
•
•
•
Assistant to the Academic Affairs Provost for Student
Success and Diversity
Biology Department
Education Department
Program Websites
•
Upward Bound Websites
•
•
2008 through present
students.nebrwesleyan.edu/student_groups/upwardbound
/
•
Wikispace--nwuupwardbound.wikispaces.com
•
NWU Blackboard site—blackboard.nebrwesleyan.edu
(need official access)
Summer Program
•
July 6 – July 15
•
7 Courses (42 contact hours) offered to students
•
•
•
Googlicious, Psychics Demystified, Geocaching
CSI, Ceramics, Comparative Animal Locomotion
Math - Magic - and Psychology
•
8 Wesleyan students mentored/assisted in the classes
•
64 Upward Bound students participated
•
10 NWU faculty presented
Summer Program Schedule
STEM classes held in the PM; college preparatory sessions held
in the AM.
•Group 1 at 1:15 to 2:45
•Group 2 at 3:00 to 4:30
•*Rotated different groups every other day between sessions so
that students completed at least 6 hours with each instructor
and NWU student assistant/s.
Sample Class Overview
•
Crime Scene Investigation
•
Dr. Angela McKinney and Dr. Dan Strydom
•
Abstract:
• Student visited a “mock” crime scene and
collected evidence. Once the evidence was
collected, students took their samples back to
the laboratory and analyzed them. Based on the
result, students determined if the alleged crime
took place.
Second Example Class
•
Googlicious— sites.google.com/site/ubgooglicious
•
Dr. Mike McDonald
•
Abstract:
• Students learned to use the google site component
of google, while incorporating the use of
garageband and Animoto, to share about
themselves, what they’ve learned in Upward Bound
so far, and what they hope/d to learn in upcoming
sessions.
Summer Program Evaluations
•
Pre-evaluations completed by 52 of the 64 participants
•
Post-evaluations completed by 54 of the 64 participants
•
http://students.nebrwesleyan.edu/student_groups/up
wardbound/evaluation.html
Pre-eval (52 Students)
55
50
45
40
# of Students
35
Very Interested/Big Influence
30
Interested/Influence
25
20
Not Very Interested/A Small Influence
15
Not At All Interested/No Influence
10
5
No Answer
0
Math
Science
Technology Psychology
Ceramics
Attending
College
Mentoring
Program
Mentor
Influence
Attending
NWU
Post-eval (54 Students)
55
50
45
40
# of Students
35
Very Interested
30
Interested
Not Very Interested
25
Not At All Interested
No Answer
20
15
10
5
0
Math
Science
Technology
Psychology
Ceramics
Attending
College
Mentoring
Program
Attending NWU
Training and
Mentoring Structure
•
Mentee’s and Mentors meet two times a month (refer
to Course Syllabus)
•
Discuss leadership steps and multicultural awareness
•
Reflections posted on Blackboard
•
Group activities with all mentors and mentees
•
Full Schedule found on the website
•
http://students.nebrwesleyan.edu/student_groups/up
wardbound/schedule.html
Blackboard
•
Mentor response site
•
Includes:
•
•
•
Post of all mentors
Course syllabus
Schedule
•
Posts are monitored to gauge leadership growth
•
Site reviewed by Upward Bound Administrators
Example One of
Mentor Postings
•
Discussion of day
•
Leadership topic of goals
•
How to set good goals (ABC’s of goal setting)
•
Implementation of mentor-mentee training
Example Two of
Mentor Posting
X and I have met once this month. We weren’t able to meet
again since we both had breaks and she went to Chicago.
We discussed a lot of things. One of the most important
topics was her application to Wayne [State College]. X
visited a few schools and decided that the best place for
her is at Wayne. She just submitted her application 2
weeks ago and I am super excited for her!!! Also we have
been discussing some scholarships that apply to X.
Everything is going really well and we are a great match.
We don’t have any trouble talking with one another and we
e-mail each other on a consistent basis
Impact of Mentoring
•
Mentees’ Perspectives:
•
•
•
•
Great learning experience
Exposed to many different disciplines of study
Interaction with NWU students
Mentors’ Perspectives:
•
•
•
•
Chance to serve as teaching assistants and mentors
Exposure to more diverse backgrounds
Develop broader perspectives
Experiences working with individuals form different
backgrounds
Contacts
•
Candice Howell, Nebraska Wesleyan University,
choskins@nebrwesleyan.edu
•
Evin Lackore, NWU Mentor, Biology, Chemistry
elackore@nebrwesleyan.edu
•
Dr. Mike McDonald, Nebraska Wesleyan University,
mlm@nebrwesleyan.edu
•
Dr. Angela Mckinney, Nebraska Wesleyan University,
amckinne@nebrwesleyan.edu