Universities Awarded Funding

We are pleased to announce the addition of The University of Memphis and Washington State University as affiliates in the First Scholars™ program. 

They join our existing affiliate universities University of Kentucky, The University of Alabama, and University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale.

Our internal process expanded this year to include site visits to four finalists prior to selection.  Meetings with planning teams and senior administration confirmed that all the institutions are interested in increasing the graduation rate of first generation students on their campuses.  "The visits helped identify the universities committed to helping us refine components of the First Scholars program and our national model," said Eric Suder, President of The Suder Foundation. "In addition, the team members involved seem to have the heart that fits with what we're trying to accomplish."

Since 2009, we have invested nearly $1.7 million dollars in research, planning, operations, and financial support to students at our affiliate universities. 

The preliminary results for the 2010-2011 academic year are encouraging based on the relatively small sample size of the first two cohorts. We contracted with Career and Educational Consulting Services, LLC, to conduct an evaluation of the First Scholars program's effectiveness and outcomes. CECS reported that First Scholars participants "appear to be competitive with similar first generation students, demonstrate high levels of classroom engagement, have a clear sense of the resources available to them and report higher levels of persistence intentions" than their first generation peers.

First Scholars were matched with applicant non-scholars on the Academic Success Index of the Student Strengths Inventory™ to compare whether the First Scholars Program had a measurable impact on first year grades. First Scholars' grades at the end of the first year were not appreciably different from the grades of a closely matched group of non-scholars at each university.

However, the relation between SSI scale scores and academic outcomes were stronger for scholars compared to applicant non-scholars. At the University of Utah, scores on the Academic Engagement and Help-Seeking scales were the best predictors of academic performance. Interestingly, at the University of Kentucky the primary predictors of students GPA were Campus Engagement and Social Comfort. Although the existing sample sizes are too small to draw inferences from this first year of analysis, the data is suggestive of differences between scholars and applicant non-scholars that may be due to the influence of the First Scholars program.

First Scholars' participants reported high satisfaction with their program experience, particularly their program director and mentors. The next set of data points will be collected during the fall 2011 semester.

Recently, The University of Alabama program completed its planning year and is prepared to welcome its first cohort of Scholars later this month.  Over 100 students applied for the First Scholars Program. Twenty-four scholars were selected, with scholarships for 20 students funded by our foundation and 4 students supported by funds from The University of Alabama.  

During the past year, the planning team assisted Jessica Franks, the First Scholars Program Coordinator, in building necessary connections with critical campus partners such as support services, institutional research and Alabama First, a university initiative of the Dean of Students that offers programming and resources targeting first generation college students.

Jessica spent the past year developing program components including a common course, worskshops, learning community, and social activities. In addition, Jessica researched best practices in peer mentoring and contributed invaluable information toward the peer mentors handbook and training materials that will be used by all affiliates! 

 

Jessica Franks, First Scholars Coordinator, The University of Alabama

Jessica Franks received her B.A., cum laude, from The University of Alabama and J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law.  Prior to becoming the First Scholars Coordinator, she worked as a Career Consultant at The University of Alabama School of Law and as a Deputy District Attorney in the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office.  

 

Fast Facts:

 

Home Town:  Tuscaloosa, AL

Other campus activities:  Committee on First Generation Students, Foster Students Committee

Inside info:  Member of the Tuscaloosa Junior League; member of the Miss Tuscaloosa Pageant Board of Directors, member of the Alabama State Bar and Tuscaloosa County Bar Association.

Hobbies: Scuba diving, wakeboarding

Our fall newsletter will include an update on the beginning of the school year for our returning and incoming cohorts, our next funding opportunity, and more information about our affiliate universities!