Meeting & Agendas

A motion to approve the minutes as written was made by Soon Merz with a second by Cathy Angell. The minutes were approved as read.

The Student Success Mentoring Program pairs 2 mentors with a group of 4-6 students that are part of a Success Network Team. Mentors are matched for a semester and should spend at least 4 hours a month communicating with their mentees. Here are some frequently asked questions: Q1: What is the Student Success Mentoring Program? A: A college-supported program which matches all interested First Year students with mentors who serve as role models, advisors, guides, and friends and whose primary function is to help a new ACC student have a successful first year. Q2: What is the goal of the Student Success Mentoring Program? A: The goal of the program is to increase the academic success and retention of new ACC students. Q3: Who can be a Student Success Mentor (SSM)? A: SSC’s are staff and faculty who have been at ACC for at least two long semesters, have a working knowledge of the campus and its various resources, and have the desire to help new ACC students get adjusted to college life on our campuses. Q4: What is the format of the program? A: The Student Success Mentoring Program is structured to serve the new student populations at ACC. First year students that go through orientation and become part of a SNT are matched with staff or faculty Student Success Mentors. Q5: What kinds of things do SSCs and mentees/protégés do? A: Although each mentoring relationship is different, there are a variety of activities for mentees/protégés and mentors. Some go to lunch together; others visit at the mentor’s office; and some go to college events such as listening to guest speakers or theatrical presentations. Student Success Mentors are also involved in goal setting for the mentee/protégé, and referring mentees/protégés to campus resources when they cannot help in a situation. Also, the Student Success Mentoring Program office offers numerous programs throughout the year, such as, an annual holiday social in December, weekly mentoring sessions, and an End-of- the-Year Recognition Luncheon. Q6: What benefits do mentees/protégés receive? A: The greatest benefit of mentoring is that a mentee/protégé has an opportunity to meet and spend time with someone who cares about his/her well-being. It has also been proven that mentored freshmen have higher GPA’s and stay in school longer than the general student population. It’s also a great way to get involved on campus. Q7: What do I get out of being a Student Success Mentor? A: By assisting a new student to become better acquainted with our campuses and by expressing concern about a new student’s well-being, you become a valuable part of the retention initiative of ACC. You increase the prestige of the college through higher GPAs and higher satisfaction with our campus community. Remember that students with positive experiences will be more likely to make contributions of time and resources as alumni. Q8: How do I join the program as a mentee/protégé? A: Students must take the mandatory orientation course. During the course, they will be offered an opportunity to join a SNT group. (expand this) Q9: How do I join the program as a Student Success Mentor? A: You may sign up for the program anytime during the school year, but the best time is during the end of the Spring semester. You may contact the Student Life Office for a form to be mailed or emailed to you. (check where the forms will be coming from) Q10: How will I be paired with my Student Success Mentor? (NEED TO REVISE) A: You tell us about yourself so that we can appropriately match you. We do have places on the Mentee Application for you to fill in whether you would like someone of the same major/academic area of interest, gender, and/or race/ethnicity. You also can choose between a staff, faculty or peer student mentor. Q11: When will I know who my mentor is? A: We will match the Student Success Mentor to your SNT group between 5-10 days after your SNT group is created. Q12: When will I know who my SNT group mentees are? A: About 4 weeks into the fall semester, you will be notified who your SNT mentees will be.

Patty Salazar presented the report on the Latino Student Reception. The purpose of the reception was to connect Latino students and their families with ACC staff, faculty and administrators. With a theme of \'\'Plazas de las Americas\'\', the September 8, 2010 event had attendance of 129 students, and 26 staff, faculty, administrators and parents. The student feedback was amazing. Emma Moore presented the report on the Black Student Success Reception. Student attendance was 136 students with 50 ACC staff, faculty and administrators. The evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. The negative responses were too hot, too cold, location, time. Great feedback received from the evaluations. It is considered a terrific success.

Soon Merz gave a demonstration of the new data portal system called The Information Portal System (TIPS). TIPS offers interactive access to a variety of data including grades, withdrawals, and performance in course sequences, with much more data planned to be added. These data can be customized by the user through various parameters that are available through drop-down menus. TIPS provides access to some data for the general public with no login required and other data that are controlled through secured access that requires a login account.

The next meeting is February 11, 2011, HBC, Room 103.2.