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Exciting Program Successes!
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An essential part of First Scholars is ongoing measurement of student success. Data from the 2011-2012 academic year demonstrate powerful results for scholars in key areas:
 "We are thrilled with the numbers and expect these successes to continue," said Eric Suder, President of The Suder Foundation. "The early results from our longitudinal study clearly show that the program is providing the extra support first generation students need to reach their potential."
Projected graduation rates reveal dramatic results when compared with recent historical graduation rates from First Scholars' institutions:
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First Scholars
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First Gen
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All Students
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4 Year Graduation
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80%
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25.18%
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30.23%
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6 Year Graduation
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85%
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36.4%
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55.06%
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Our ongoing program evaluation also ensures continuous improvement in the delivery of services to the scholars and the scholar experience. Scholars' comments from their 2012 year end survey are included in the sidebar to the right. |
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Fall 2012: Program Doubles in Size
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With the start of the fall 2012 semester, 171 First Scholars converged on the campuses of our five affiliates: The University of Memphis,Washington State University, The University of Alabama, Southern Illinois University, and University of Kentucky. Participating students more than doubled in number compared with the 84 scholars in the program last fall. What a difference a year makes!
Inaugural cohorts were welcomed to campus after many months of planning and anticipation by Alicia Castillo Shrestha at WSU and Shea Houze at U of M. Having the program "go live" when the scholars finally arrive is always a great feeling.
The program coordinators at SIU Carbondale, Christina Gilroy, and UA, Jessica Franks, now have freshman and sophomore cohorts to balance. UK's coordinator extraordinaire, Martina Martin, is juggling returning juniors and sophomores as well as a new crop of freshmen.
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| Fall Campus Visits | If it's Tuesday, it must be . . . Eric and Deb Suder might be feeling like touring musicians as they embark on whirlwind visits of our affiliate universities this fall! Action-packed days include meetings with university leadership and key administrators, fundraising events, and visits with the First Scholars participants. At this point, visits to the University of Memphis and Washington State University are wonderful memories with UK, SIU, and UA on the horizon. "Reconnecting with campus stakeholders at both Memphis and WSU and experiencing first-hand their energy and commitment to supporting the success of first generation students and our program was gratifying," said Eric Suder. "We're looking forward to more of the same as our visits continue this fall."
The Suders with First Scholars at the University of Memphis 
The Suders with First Scholars at Washington State University |
| First Scholars Research | |
The First Scholars approach to supporting our program participants was developed by researching the following elements:
1. Student success characteristics.
2. Tools to assess those traits.
3. Appropriate support strategies.
The initial steps led to designing an evidence-based process for selecting First Scholars participants by using the Student Strengths Inventory. A new report, First Scholars Research, highlights research that forms the foundation of strategies to support our program participants.
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| Meet our New Staff Member | |
Program Development Manager, Leslie Sans, joins the Suder Foundation with over 8 years of higher education experience at both private and public institutions. She has dedicated her career to ensuring college students succeed both in and outside the classroom. Prior to joining First Scholars, Leslie served as Assistant Director of Hilltop Leadership Development at St. Edward's University from 2008-2011, where she implemented innovative, award winning leadership programming for the campus community. Leslie focused on creating holistic programming founded on proven research, thereby preparing student leaders for success during college and beyond. She was selected as a Leadership Austin Emerge participant, a highly selective young professional's leadership program designed to emerge professionals in civic leadership within the Austin community. Leslie's experience also includes higher education consulting with Internship Builder Inc., presenting and facilitating leadership training for diverse audiences, and international program development. She holds a Masters of Education in Higher Education degree from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She is also a founder of Dallas Pets Alive!, an animal rescue group dedicated to saving the lives of Dallas' companion animals. |
| Sharing Best Practices at NACADA |  The foundation staff and campus program coordinators reconnected at the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) conference in Nashville, TN . This Music City-themed gathering allowed us to meet in person to share strategies for assisting students as well as clarify upcoming timelines. Matthew Deffendall, Director of First Gen Initiatives at the University of Kentucky and Jessica Franks, First Scholars Program Coordinator at The University of Alabama shared aspects of their campus First Scholars programs during their presentation entitled "Best New Artist: Empowering First Gen Students to Write Their Own Songs of Success."
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Enjoying the Gaylord Opryland!
From L-R: Jessica Franks, Martina Martin, Alicia Castillo Shrestha, Diane Schorr, Christina Gilroy, Shea Houze, Leslie Sans.
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| Stay tuned. . . |
Planning is underway to expand our network in 2013 by adding two more universities; details will be available in our next newsletter. Other internal fall activities include refining the scholars' experience and planning a revision to our website. During the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) annual conference, we'll explore with higher education policy experts and other independent scholarship providers whether our organizations can collect evidence of student academic engagement to improve learning outcomes.
Executive Director
The Suder Foundation
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About the First Scholars program
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First Scholars addresses the challenges first generation college students may face during their college experience.
Bridging the information, financial, social, and academic gaps of first-generation students levels their playing field. The First Scholars program further enhances participants' college experience by providing programming that enables a transformative journey of personal development based on the elements of self, success, and significance. The goal is for First Scholars to graduate as leaders empowered to live a fulfilled life--and make a difference in the world.
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| Scholars Say: | |
The following comments represent feedback from the 2012 spring scholar survey. The surveys are administered by CECS, the foundation's data consultants, and solicit anonymous feedback on program elements, staff and scholars commitment to the program:
"My contact with the First Scholars staff has been warm and welcoming."
Scholar at The University of Alabama
"I believe the program is doing well and is serving its purpose of helping first generation students transition to the college life."
Scholar at University of Kentucky
"First Scholars was a very helpful experience. My mentor was great!"
Scholar at Southern Illinois University
"Contacting the First Scholars staff was very easy. Whenever I needed to talk to them or meet with them, they were always available."
Scholar at University of Kentucky
"First Scholars has helped make college a great experience!"
Scholar at The University of Alabama
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