Suder Scholars will be selected based on their results on the Student Strengths Inventory© (SSI), an evidence-based assessment measuring student attitudes toward education and other activities that are critical to college success. Areas assessed include academic engagement, academic self-efficacy, social comfort, resiliency, educational commitment, and campus engagement. Combined with cognitive measures of past academic achievement, the resulting scale scores and risk indices help identify at-risk students.
The SSI results will be used to develop and implement a comprehensive student support program based on individual identified needs. The scholars and their TSF advisor will monitor progress and update the plan to ensure that the scholars are engaged in appropriate activities or interventions to maximize their progress toward graduation.
Program elements include a cohort model, dedicated program director, special programming such as workshops or social activities, peer mentoring, tutoring, and a Pay-it-Forward component engaging the scholars to give back to incoming participants as they move through the program.
TSF will launch Centers at affiliated universities by providing start-up funding assistance, the TSF program model, and the resources to establish the TSF services and policies. Centers will have a physical presence on campus, and will act as a central clearinghouse and resource for all government, campus, and community programs available to assist Suder Scholars.
A data-driven, evidence-based program is an important component of the Suder Scholars program. A comprehensive assessment protocol, developed in cooperation with our initial program sites, will include institution data, scholars’ program engagement, scholars’ cognitive and non-cognitive data and other variables appropriate to unique institutional characteristics. These results will enable TSF to continually analyze, develop, expand, and enhance the Program’s performance at all levels as well as demonstrate its impact and outcomes.
TSF and its initial university affiliates are developing the program model including standards, tools, training, and support materials for scholars and staff. TSF provides seed funding for early-phase program development and scholarships. As the program matures at each university, ongoing operational funding will transition to the institution’s responsibility. Programs in the network will continue to receive program refinement standards and materials, performance and data tracking, and strategic and tactical oversight after the multi-year grants end. Utilizing data demonstrating program results, TSF will seek national funding for continued model refinement and network expansion.
DID YOU KNOW?
More than half (55%) of first-generation students expect that they will need a job to pay for college expenses.
• Scholars Program overview
(updated 02/15/2010)
