THE E.O.P. THE E.O.P. ACADEMYACADEMY

Increasing retention for low-Increasing retention for low-income, first generation income, first generation

studentsstudents

Our EOP StudentsOur EOP Students Are historically low income and the first Are historically low income and the first

in their family to go to a four-year in their family to go to a four-year universityuniversity

Represent the entire state of CARepresent the entire state of CAClass of 2008 :Class of 2008 : 29%29% from Sonoma County, from Sonoma County, 25%25% from Northern CA, from Northern CA, 18%18% from Southern CA from Southern CA 17%17% from the S.F. Bay area, and from the S.F. Bay area, and15%15% from Sacramento and the Inland Valley from Sacramento and the Inland Valley

Come from a wide range of Come from a wide range of ethnicitiesethnicities51%51% Mexican-American Mexican-American21%21% Caucasian Caucasian12.5%12.5% Other Latino Other Latino7.5%7.5% African American African American5.5%5.5% Asian and Pacific Islander, and Asian and Pacific Islander, and 2.5%2.5% Native American Native American

Have a mean high school G.P.A. of Have a mean high school G.P.A. of 3.083.08

History of Summer Bridge History of Summer Bridge at SSUat SSU

Summer Bridge was an academic readiness Summer Bridge was an academic readiness program, developing remedial skills in math program, developing remedial skills in math and English.and English.

EOP Students placed in remedial classes EOP Students placed in remedial classes were the only ones to attend (approximately were the only ones to attend (approximately 65% of our Freshmen).65% of our Freshmen).

Academic skills improved, but students had Academic skills improved, but students had no contact with nearly half of our EOP no contact with nearly half of our EOP Freshman class.Freshman class.

Budget cuts reduced Summer Bridge from Budget cuts reduced Summer Bridge from eight weeks to six weeks to three weeks.eight weeks to six weeks to three weeks.

We could no longer run a viable academic We could no longer run a viable academic skills development programskills development program

Too little time was spent on issues effecting Too little time was spent on issues effecting social transition to college.social transition to college.

Summer Bridge was changed, and the EOP Summer Bridge was changed, and the EOP Academy was introduced in 2001.Academy was introduced in 2001.

Objectives of Summer Objectives of Summer BridgeBridge

Form a sense of community between Form a sense of community between Summer Bridge students, Peer Summer Bridge students, Peer Leaders, and StaffLeaders, and Staff

Gain a realistic understanding of the Gain a realistic understanding of the university culture and environmentuniversity culture and environment

Develop a relationship with an EOP Develop a relationship with an EOP AdvisorAdvisor

Academic advising and class selectionAcademic advising and class selection

Take care of any financial aid or Take care of any financial aid or housing problemshousing problems

Experience a week of living on Experience a week of living on campuscampus

Current ProgramCurrent Program Summer Bridge was changed Summer Bridge was changed

from an academic support from an academic support program to a social transition program to a social transition program.program.

It now lasts one week, and is It now lasts one week, and is required of all incoming EOP required of all incoming EOP FTF.FTF.

Purpose is to help smooth the Purpose is to help smooth the transition from high school to transition from high school to college, and begin developing a college, and begin developing a learning community among our learning community among our students.students.

They attend Summer Bridge for They attend Summer Bridge for one week, and then become part one week, and then become part of the EOP Academy in the Fallof the EOP Academy in the Fall. .

Objectives of the EOP Objectives of the EOP AcademyAcademy

IncreaseIncrease academic academic success of EOP FTFsuccess of EOP FTF

IncreaseIncrease both 1 year both 1 year and 2 year EOP and 2 year EOP retention ratesretention rates

Increase Increase overall EOP overall EOP Freshman retention Freshman retention rate to be comparable rate to be comparable to that of all SSU FTFto that of all SSU FTF

EOP Academy ModelEOP Academy Model During Summer Bridge, 15-20 EOP During Summer Bridge, 15-20 EOP

FTF live together with two student FTF live together with two student Peer Mentors.Peer Mentors.

They receive advising from their They receive advising from their EOP Advisor, who becomes a EOP Advisor, who becomes a mentor for them throughout their mentor for them throughout their career at SSU.career at SSU.

They attend a series of workshops They attend a series of workshops dealing with subjects such as dealing with subjects such as financial aid, academic financial aid, academic expectations, finding a job, and expectations, finding a job, and balancing school with home. balancing school with home.

Each group forms a cohort that will Each group forms a cohort that will take classes together in the Fall.take classes together in the Fall.

Fall SemesterFall Semester Student cohorts take English, Student cohorts take English,

Freshman Seminar, and a G.E. class, Freshman Seminar, and a G.E. class, or English support courses, togetheror English support courses, together

Cohorts are developed based on Cohorts are developed based on English placement scoresEnglish placement scores

They work with a faculty instructor They work with a faculty instructor in Freshman Seminar and with their in Freshman Seminar and with their EOP AdvisorEOP Advisor

Their Peer Mentor at Summer Their Peer Mentor at Summer Bridge continues that relationship in Bridge continues that relationship in Freshman SeminarFreshman Seminar

Students take nine units in EOP Students take nine units in EOP Academy classes and six units or Academy classes and six units or more in other university classesmore in other university classes

Spring SemesterSpring Semester Students move out of their Students move out of their

cohorts and take nine units cohorts and take nine units of classes with other EOP of classes with other EOP FTF. FTF.

These include their next These include their next level English class, G.E. level English class, G.E. courses, and electives.courses, and electives.

They take nine units in EOP They take nine units in EOP Academy classes; six or Academy classes; six or more units in other more units in other university classes.university classes.

They maintain their advising They maintain their advising relationship with their EOP relationship with their EOP Advisor throughout the time Advisor throughout the time they are at SSU.they are at SSU.

Academic Department Academic Department InvolvementInvolvement

The EOP Academy offers courses The EOP Academy offers courses from:from: American Multicultural American Multicultural

StudiesStudies EnglishEnglish EducationEducation Learning Skills ServicesLearning Skills Services MathematicsMathematics PhilosophyPhilosophy SociologySociology University StudiesUniversity Studies

All courses are part of theAll courses are part of theregular university, and areregular university, and aresupported through the supported through the General Fund.General Fund.

How Are We Doing?How Are We Doing?

Changes in EOP Changes in EOP RetentionRetention

1991-2000 1 year rate = 1991-2000 1 year rate = 74.45%74.45%

1991-2000 2 year rate = 1991-2000 2 year rate = 57.44%57.44%

2001-2004 1 year rate = 2001-2004 1 year rate = 83.50%83.50%

2001-2004 2 year rate = 2001-2004 2 year rate = 63.70%63.70%

2005-2006 1 year rate = 2005-2006 1 year rate = 75.30%75.30%

2005-2006 2 year rate = 2005-2006 2 year rate = 67.90%67.90%

2007 1 year rate = 2007 1 year rate = 73.30%73.30%0.00

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60.00

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1991-2000 2001-2004 2005-2006 2007

Changes in EOP Retention

1 year

2 years

1 Year Retention: 1 Year Retention: EOP vs. all EOP vs. all SSU FTFSSU FTF

1991-2000 EOP 1991-2000 EOP = = 74.45%74.45% 1991-2000 SSU FTF 1991-2000 SSU FTF = = 81.50%81.50%

2001-2004 EOP 2001-2004 EOP = = 83.50%83.50% 2001-2004 SSU FTF 2001-2004 SSU FTF = = 81.50%81.50%

2005-2005 EOP 2005-2005 EOP = = 75.30%75.30% 2005-2006 SSU FTF 2005-2006 SSU FTF = = 75.80%75.80%

2007 EOP 2007 EOP = = 73.30%73.30% 2007 SSU FTF 2007 SSU FTF = = 74.00%74.00%

2008 (Fall) EOP 2008 (Fall) EOP = = 92.70%92.70% 2008 (Fall) SSU FTF 2008 (Fall) SSU FTF = =

92.60%92.60%

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70.00

80.00

90.00

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1991-2000 2001-2004 2005-2006 2007 2008 (Fall sem)

1 year retention EOP and all SSU FTF

EOP

SSU

2 Year Retention: 2 Year Retention: EOP vs. all EOP vs. all

SSU FTFSSU FTF

1991-2000 EOP = 1991-2000 EOP = 57.44%57.44% 1991-2000 SSU = 1991-2000 SSU = 67.50%67.50%

2001-2004 EOP = 2001-2004 EOP = 67.50%67.50% 2001-2004 SSU = 2001-2004 SSU = 67.50%67.50%

2005-2006 EOP = 2005-2006 EOP = 67.90%67.90% 2005-2006 SSU = 2005-2006 SSU = 53.70%53.70%

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70.00

1991-2000 2001-2004 2005-2006

2 year retention EOP vs SSU FTF

EOP

SSU

ConclusionsConclusions 1 year and 2 year retention 1 year and 2 year retention

rates of EOP FTF have rates of EOP FTF have significantly increased since significantly increased since introduction of EOP introduction of EOP Academy.Academy.

1 year and 2 year retention 1 year and 2 year retention rates of EOP FTF are rates of EOP FTF are comparable to the rates of comparable to the rates of all SSU FTF since all SSU FTF since introduction of EOP introduction of EOP Academy.Academy.

We have great hopes that We have great hopes that these increased retention these increased retention rates will lead to increased rates will lead to increased graduation rates for our graduation rates for our EOP students.EOP students.

Questions RaisedQuestions Raised

Why the drop off in Why the drop off in retention the past retention the past few years?few years?

Economic realities for Economic realities for a residential campusa residential campus

Increased numbers Increased numbers and decreased and decreased supportsupport

Changes and ChallengesChanges and Challenges

CHANGES:CHANGES: Development of “student Development of “student

to student” coursesto student” courses Stronger emphasis on Stronger emphasis on

2nd Year and transfer 2nd Year and transfer studentsstudents

CHALLENGES:CHALLENGES: Maintaining retention in Maintaining retention in

difficult economic timesdifficult economic times Overcoming challenges of Overcoming challenges of

Unit 3/4 agreementUnit 3/4 agreement Potential reduction in Potential reduction in

support moniessupport monies

For more information on the EOP Academy,For more information on the EOP Academy,

please contact:please contact:

Bruce PetersonBruce Peterson

Associate Director of EOPAssociate Director of EOP

Advising, Career and EOP ServicesAdvising, Career and EOP Services

Sonoma State UniversitySonoma State University

(707) 664-3077(707) 664-3077

peterson@sonomapeterson@sonoma..eduedu

www.sonoma.edu/sas/eopwww.sonoma.edu/sas/eop