TAP into Humber
Transition & Advising Program for
First Generation Students
AGENDA
•Definition
•Opportunity
•Characteristics
•Program Design
•Testimonials
•Statistics
•Successes & Challenges
•Lessons Learned & Next Steps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkbNPVcHYGY&feat
ure=youtu.be
DEFINITION
A student whose parent(s)/guardian(s)
has/have not attended a postsecondary
institution. If a sibling has attended a post
secondary institution but the
parent(s)/guardian(s) have not, they are
still considered a First Generation
Student.
OPPORTUNITY
•HEQCO- Parental education impacts
college participation
•41% versus 20%
•MTCU issued a call for Proposals in 2010
for First Generation Projects
•Goal- ↑ retention and graduation rates,
gain baseline and retention activity data.
•TAP (Transition and Advising Program)
launched in September 2010.
TRANSITION ISSUES
1. First Year Student
(Personal , Academic, Interpersonal
etc)
2. First Generation Student
CHARACTERISTICS
•Work full time or part time while
attending college
•Juggling multiple responsibilities
•Unfamiliar with college culture and what
it means to be a college student
•May be lacking skills needed for
academic success (study skills) and get
discouraged when struggling
CHARACTERISTICS con’t
•Reasons for attending Post secondary
differ (blend of personal/sociological vs
sociological as personal)
•Superficial understanding about collegeaffects choice of classes, major
•Imposter Phenomenon
PROGRAM DESIGN
•Modeled after the University of Toronto’s
FLC program
•12 Week Program
•Weekly Tutorial – 50 min
•Use a peer support model
•Students grouped by faculty
•Students registered on timetable
•Mix of social events and learning skills
development
PROGRAM DESIGN- YEAR 1
Semester 1 ( Fall 2010)
•Faculty of Business & Faculty of Health
•6 groups
•13 student leaders (working in pairs)
•Average weekly attendance- 20 students
Semester 2 ( Winter 2011)
•Added School of Applied Technology
•7 groups
•10 student leaders
•Average weekly attendance- 15
PROGRAM DESIGN- YEAR 2
Semester 3 ( Fall 2011)
•Added School of Social and Community Services
•9 groups
•18 student leaders (working in pairs)
•Average weekly attendance-32
Semester 4 ( Winter 2012)
•7 groups
•15 leaders
•Average weekly attendance- 32
RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES
•Lists obtained through registration office
•Postcards
•Incentives
•Orientation Week Breakfast
•Recognition- End of Semester Banquet
•Invited all FG students via email, postcard,
phone calls and classroom visits
WHO IS INVOLVED
•Student Success & Engagement
•Registration Office
•Faculty of Applied Technology, Business,
Health Sciences and Social and Community
Services
•Career Center, Peer Health Educators,
Librarians, Toastmasters
•Faculty- guest speakers
•Senior students ( 5 hrs/week)
SAMPLE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Week
Dates
Academic Calendar
Week 1
17-Jan
First Week of Classes
Week 2
24-Jan
Workshop - Personality Inventory/ Goal Setting completed
Week 3
31-Jan
Workshop- Time Management and Prioritizing
Week 4
7-Feb
Workshop - Career Development with Career Centre
Week 5
14-Feb
Week 6
21-Feb
Workshop - Exam Prep, Study Skills
OPTIONAL: Build your resume by participating in a
Volunteer Field Trip ( Habitat for Humanity)
Week 7
28-Feb
Workshop - Presentation Skills ( Toastmasters)
Week 8
7-Mar
Workshop - Presentation Skills Practice
Week 9
14-Mar
Social - Dress for Success & Dinner/ Business Etiquette
Week 10 21-Mar
Reading Week
March 25- Last Day to
Withdraw
Topics
Introductory Session: Team Builder, Meet & Greet, Setting
Up Group Expectations. Goal Setting.
Workshop - Budgeting- presented by Bus faculty member
Week 11 28-Mar
Workshop- Stress Management
Week 12 4-Apr
Social- End of term social event
SUCCESSES
•Students love the program! 97% would
recommend TAP to their peers
•198 students registered in Fall 2010
•94% of students who participated fully
felt that they were better prepared
academically
•90% of students who participated fully
successfully completed their academic
semester ( Fall 2010)
SUCCESSES - Retention Statistics
TAP Program
F10
Business School
Health Sciences
UNB Nursing
#Retained
% Retained
W11
F11
33
26
3
62
29
22
3
54
26
17
3
46
87%
74%
COHORT
F10
Business School
Health Sciences
UNB Nursing
# Retained
% Retained
W11
F11
757
376
80
1213
638
276
62
976
80%
480
207
57
744
61%
SUCCESSES – GPA’s
Business School
Fall 2010
Winter 2011
Fall 2011
Health Sciences
TAP
First Gen
Fall 2010
75.4
71.1
65.2
Winter 2011
74.3
72.2
68.3
Fall 2011
80.7
71.5
TAP
First Gen
69.8
65.1
72
71.7
TESTIMONIALS
“As a student returning to school after 25 years, I found
the TAP Program to be tremendously useful.”
Dorreth
“TAP has most definitely helped me stay successful
throughout this school year! It has helped me reach
goals that I used to think were unattainable. My
attitude is now so positive, and I have realized that with
a little bit of support anything is possible!!”
Jasmine
VIDEO TESTIMONIALS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBfOR_C5cpU&feature=youtube_gdata
CHALLENGES
•198 registered, however 89 students attended
TAP (44%)
•Of those 89 students, 59 regularly attended
(34%) (Attrition)
•Time commitment
•Recruiting leaders in Winter
•Many students still don’t know about or
understand the program
•Self Identification
•Scheduling
LESSONS LEARNED & NEXT STEPS
•Educate students and faculty
•Student voice is key- Focus groups with
First Gen students
•Address Time commitment concernsCreative Scheduling &Online Engagement
•Surge in attendance after midterms- Back
on Track Workshops
•Faculty connection is important- TAP on
the shoulder
LESSONS LEARNED & NEXT STEPS
•Students need help discovering their
leadership potential- Emerging Leadership
Workshop/Training
•Earlier we engage with students, the
better- Summer Prep Program- Gear up
with TAP/ Ready, Set, TAP into Humber
•Model is effective- Expand the model to
other marginalized groups
Questions
References and Resources
Cushman, K (2006). First in the Family: Advice about College from
First Generation Students. Your College Years. Providence, RI: Next
Generation Press.
Davis, J (2010). The First Generation Student Experience. Implications
for Campus Practice, and Strategies for Improving Persistence and
Success. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus.
Ender, S. C. & Newton, F.B. (2000) Students Helping Students : A
Guide for Peer Educators on College Campuses. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.
Feldman,R.S. (2009) P.O.W.E.R. Learning and Your Life: Essentials of
Student Success, 4th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
CONTACT
For more information:
humber.ca/tap
Melanie Chai
Manager, Peer Programs
melanie.chai@humber.ca