MAPS: Using Theory to Increase Student Engagement and Retention

Presented by:Eric C. Camarillo

The University of Houston-Victoria

CREATING CONNECTIONS ACROSS CAMPUSES: MOVING 4WARD

Outline

• Impetus• About UHV• Theory• Program Description• Program Implementation• Program Results• Conclusions

IMPETUS FOR MAPS

Closing the Gaps

• Increase participation in higher education• Increase success• Increase number of recognized programs• Increase research and development

obligations to Texas

Minority Male Initiative

• Program designed to increase participation of African American and Latino males

• A peer-to-peer or near-peer, evidence-based program for schools that serve high numbers of African American and Hispanic males.

National Enrollment Data

• Latinos– 19%

• African Americans– 14% (2012)

Texas Enrollment Data

• African American– 7.5% of AA population– 5.8% males– 9.2% females

• Latino– 5.2% of L/H population– 14% males– 19.4% females

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-VICTORIA

Basic Profile

• Downward expanded in 2010• Hispanic Serving Institution• Latinos enrolled in 2014: 29%• African Americans enrolled in 2014: 18%

Profile of Minority Males

• TSI incomplete status• Less likely to seek academic help• Lower GPAs on average• Lower retention rates• 37% first generation• Likelier to be low socioeconomic status (68%)

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT THEORY“…the most precious institutional resource may be time.”

Student Involvement Theory

• Alexander Astin– Student time as finite resource– Emphasizes involvement as a behavior– More engagement corresponds to higher rates of

persistence

Five Postulates

• Investment of physical and psychological energy in various objects

• Involvement occurs on a continuum• Has both quantitative and qualitative features• Student development is proportional to

involvement• Effectiveness of policies is related to capacity

to increase involvement

Competing for Time

• Rebekah Nathan– My Freshman Year

(2005)– “Good students have

learned a kind of Spartan efficiency” (121).

MAPS

Description

• Minority Male Advising Program for Persistence and Success

• 5 staff members from student affairs• Weekly meetings• Student Life events• Journals• Mentors

Participant Profile

• 8 in total• 87% H/L; 14% AA• 6 TSI complete; 2 TSI incomplete• All from metropolitan areas: San Antonio,

Dallas, and Houston• Majors: 3 computer science, 2 biology, 2

business administration, 1 creative writing• All lived on campus

Timeline

Implementation

• 9/1/2015 to 5/6/2016• Speakers and topics• Mentor involvement• Event requirements (5)• Meeting requirements

– Activities

Results

• GPA: 3.2/2.1• Persistence: 100%/84%• Credit completion: 100%• Event attendance: 21/8/5• Tutoring Attendance: 100%; avg. 6.4• Self-reported involvement

– On-campus employment– Student Government Association

CONCLUSIONS

Final Thoughts

• Mentoring feature• Cultural trips• Increased collaborative work• Possible incentives

Questions