LEAD Scholars Program Leadership Excellence and

Academic Development

Erin Kimura-Walsh, Assistant Director

www.scu.edu

Purpose

The LEAD Scholars Program:

Fosters college success of first generation college students (those whose parents have not attended college)

Challenges participants academically while exposing them to university culture and community

Timeline

Established as “Bridge Program” in 2002 with James Irvine Foundation grant

30 students in the first Bridge Program 2003-2004

Housed in Drahmann Center

Transformed into the LEAD Scholars Program 2007

LEAD = Leadership Excellence and Academic Development

Housed in Office of Honors and Fellowships

Selection Process

60 first generation college students each year

– Financial need (FAFSA)– Receiving need-based and merit-based aid– Not participating in other University honors

programs– Distributed across demographic groups

Gender Race Geography Majors Academic performance

Participants by Race and Gender

Graduation year 2013 2014 2015 Eligible 2015Total Participants 53 60 59 175

RaceAsian American/Pacific Islander 9 (17%) 5 (8%) 6 (10%) 25 (14%)Black 15 (28%) 10 (17%) 6 (10%) 8 (5%)Hispanic 26 (49%) 31 (52%) 30 (51%) 58 (33%)Multiracial 0 0 9 (15%) 29 (17%)White 3 (6%) 4 (6%) 6 (10%) 45 (26%)Other/NSPEC 0 10 (17%) 2 (3%) 10 (6%)

SexMale 20 (37%) 25 (42%) 26 (44%) 77 (44%)Female 33 (62%) 35 (58%) 33 (56%) 98 (56%)

Program Components

Summer before first year– Orientation Sessions 2 & 3– LEAD Week

First year– LEAD CTW 1 & 2

LEAD Research Symposium– LEAD Seminars

LEAD 1, fall: Transition and Resources LEAD 2, winter: Leadership Exploration LEAD 10, spring: Optional ELSJ course, Creating College

Going Communities

All four years– Academic and professional development opportunities

LEAD Week Activities

CTW 1 and LEAD Week elective in Engineering, Chemistry,

Business, or Humanities/Social Sciences

Small mentoring groups and large group community building

LEAD Research Symposium

Persistence Rates

First to second year persistence (class of 2011 & 2012)– LEAD Scholars: 96%– Comparison Group: 90%

Second to third year persistence (class of 2011)– LEAD Scholars: 93%– Comparison Group: 79%

Future Developments

Increasing stability and continuity

Development of programming for 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students– Research seminar for juniors and seniors

Use of research to improve programming

Alumni outreach– Alumni network and panels

10th anniversary celebration (2013-2014)