Jennifer Dessus-Assignment 3A by Jen Dessus

Program Evaluation: Running Start - A Pre-Collegiate Program for Incoming Students at Saint Joseph's University

jdessus — 2014-11-02 02:24:33 UTC

Introduction:

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Running Start (RS) is a program at Saint Joseph's University for incoming students, typically freshmen and a few transfer students who are identified as underrepresented students. The RS program is four-days of workshops, activities and interactions with upperclassmen, RS Ambassadors. It is an orientation type program that is meant to ease the transition into the University and provide mentorship throughout the first year of higher education.

The goals of the program, in keeping with the University's mission are:

(a) to provide a support service for underrepresented first year college students in order to foster a more inclusive campus,

(b) increase academic and personal success of the program participants, (c) build the program participants into future campus leaders, who can serve as the program’s ambassadors.

Key Focus Questions:

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1) What aspects of the program minimize academic barriers that impede the acclimation of underrepresented students?

2) How do students describe their experience in the Running Start program?

3a)On average, what on-campus support services, as suggested by the Running Start program, did program participants utilize and how often?

3b)What actions could the RS program take to increase the number of students who use the recommended services?

4) What are the retention and academic success (GPA) rates of Running Start students, in relation to underrepresented students who did not participate in the program?

Logic Model:

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Evaluation Rationale:

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The purpose of the evaluation is to identify if the program goal of acclimating incoming freshmen to the University leads to academic success and the likelihood that these students are retained until graduation. Additionally, the evaluation will determine any improvements needed, or if there is the need for the continuation of the Running Start program as an early move-in program for incoming students.

Concerns:

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-The cooperation of Running Start staff in the collection of data

-If the student data will be accurate enough to make comparisons between RS and non-RS students

-How to accurately display the findings and share it with stakeholders

Data Collection (Directly related to the key questions on the left):

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1) Collect archival data from the Running Start program (planning documents, yearly schedules, meeting minutes); Review post-program survey responses from program participants

2) Focus group of RS participants from the last three years (2012-2014); review post-program survey responses

3a) Create a RS participant survey related to the utilization of university student support resources
(See Attached Sample Electronic Survey )

3b) Interview RS staff (program administrator) and other university support staff (admission, retention, counseling)
4) Archival data (RS Program grade reports, University data related to the participants in the RS program, a sample of data collected for non-RS students who fit the same demographic as the RS student; Creation of an evaluation database to compare the RS and non-RS student grades and retention

jdessus — 2014-11-09 19:06:16 UTC