Career Pathways For First-Generation Students And Parents - Silver Linings In A Pandemic

Abstract

This presentation will emphasize projects which insured a successful transition during the pandemic to online services which included laptop and Hot Spot loan programs for low income students. RCSJ Cumberland received a Title V Las Vias grant in 2015, a Title III STEM Pathways grant in 2016 and a NSF Adelante Juntos grant in 2020. These programs enhanced Latinx student success to demonstrate increased Retention and Persistence, and college completion at remarkable rates. Based on the work of these programs, the institution was able to double its Latinx graduation rate within the past 5 years. Their work focuses on developing student persistence, resilience, and leadership for success. These programs collect and share rich data to inform decision making at the institution, and at with sister institutions at conferences. During this pandemic year the college has graduated Latinx students at the highest rates, and students have benefited from the strong, focused and strategic support provided by the Adelante Juntos, Title V Las Vias, and HSI STEM Pathways projects. In this presentation, project leaders will present key innovative interventions which have had the greatest impact on student success including: The Advising Syllabus, Summer Bridge Program, the Peer Mentor program, the Succeeding in College Math series, the use of Social Media to sustain, and enhance student engagement during a pandemic, the World Classroom, the successful transition to online services, online forms, Starfish Success Centers, Instagram Live, Las Vias Advisors Live and other Silver Lining Outcomes