Write On! SummerTIME program transitions

Since hosting the Write On! SummerTIME program in July 2005, the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis has continued to follow the participants in their first year of college. Twenty-one high-achieving students from urban, low-income high schools in the Los Angeles area participated in an extensive writing and college preparation summer program at the USC campus.

A primary program objective included monitoring students’ progress during their first year; students are contacted monthly through the academic year. To date, eighteen of the 21 students in the 2005 cohort enrolled at the institution they expected to attend at the onset of the SummerTIME program. The 2005 cohort was appreciative of the skills and knowledge they gained by participating in the program. During the October monthly check-in, students were asked to reflect upon the three main ways that SummerTIME affected their college transition. Students noted increased confidence in their writing abilitites and a greater willingness to participate in class discussion. Many students also said that they benefited from advice to meet with TAs and instructors outside of class. A majority of students cited time management and academic rigor in the classroom as main areas of first-year anxiety. Other students expressed concerns about finding the right work-study. However, because they had participated in the summer program, they acknowledged that they were better prepared to seek out appropriate resources to resolve these issues.

In January 2006, CHEPA hosted a reunion during the students' winter break featuring a time management workshop. About half of the 2005 SummerTIME cohort attended this event, meeting up with their colleagues to share stories from their first months in college. It is already clear that the 2005 “SummerTIMERs” are making their mark at their respective institutions--academically and beyond. After the conclusion of their first semester, the 2005 SummerTIME cohort’s average GPA is 3.2.

The upcoming summer 2006 program will include 60 students, additional instructors, and expanded recruitment efforts. Information will be available on our website: http://www.usc.edu/dept/chepa