Shawnee Connect is one of six mentoring programs at Shawnee State University. In its two years at SSU, the program has become very successful.

The program focuses on first-generation incoming freshmen to help aid them in their transition to college because first-generation students are at 71% greater risk for leaving college than their non-first generation peers.

The program is in its second year of helping students, and according to statistics gathered from the participants, the program is working. In the program, students are paired with a mentor, someone who is part of the SSU faculty or staff.

During the first visit, students receive a welcome bag with items that the student may need to start the semester. Within the first month of school the SSU mentor invites the student to lunch to become acquainted. A grant funds the lunch.

Before finals, they will meet again for a lunch, to discuss how the semester went and how the student is doing. They will also meet twice during spring semester for lunch.

The program benefits both the student and the SSU mentor. The mentor has the benefit of helping a student while the student can make a connection with someone on campus that can ease their transition to college.

Some data from the 2008--09 school year:

· During the pilot year, 45

new freshmen

participated (2008-09):

· While 75% of SSU

freshmen returned to

college their second term,

the return rate was 84%

for Shawnee Connect

students.

· Shawnee Connect

students earned higher

first term GPA’s than

their peers.

End of year date for 2008-2009 revealed positive outcomes for retention:

· 72% return for Shawnee

Connect participants

versus a 58% rate for

non-participants.

· The difference in GPA

was a noticeable 2.60

GPA (participants) vs.

2.05 GPA

(non-participants control

group).

For more information on the Shawnee Connect Mentoring Program, contact Barbara Bradbury at (740) 351-3245.