The Bobcat Summer Leadership Program (BSLP) is open to all first-time full-time freshmen planning to attend East Georgia State College immediately after high school. The program is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to build a strong academic foundation to ease the transition from high school to college. In addition to taking courses for credit toward their degree, the student will connect with support services and engage in a range of leadership development activities.
This is a 4-week residential program on the Swainsboro campus, but it is open to anyone who plans to attend EGSC at our other locations or online in the Fall.
Evaluation Plan and measures:
Participant data/KPIs will be collected at the end of summer semester and subsequent semesters.
KPIs:
- Summer to Fall retention for program participants
- Fall to Spring retention for participants
- Summer GPA for participants
- Fall GPA for participants
- Spring GPA for participants
- Summer Success rate for participants
- Fall Success rate for participants
- Spring Success rate for participants
- Two-year graduation rate for student participants enrolled in Associate degree programs
Baseline measure (for each KPI):
Retention rate:
| Academic Year 21-22 | Academic Year 22-23 | |
| Summer to Fall | 61%
(394/646 students) |
66.8%
(332/497 students) |
| Fall to Spring | 64.3%
(1313/2042 students) |
68.7%
(1303/1898 students) |
| Semester GPA: | 2022 | 2023 | Success rate: | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Summer | 2.64 | 2.40 |
Summer |
73.4% |
67.4% |
|
| Fall | 2.22 | 2.34 |
Fall |
61% |
65.8% |
|
| Spring | 2.35 | 2.36 |
Spring |
63.8% |
62.7% |
Two-year graduation rate:
| 2020 cohort | 2021 cohort | |
| Two-year graduation rate: | 7.8% (cohort size: 691 students) |
8.0% (cohort size: 671 students) |
Current/most recent data:
Limited data is currently available since this Summer Program will start in July 2024.
Retention rate:
|
Academic Year 23-24 |
|||
| BLSP students | Non BLSP students | All students | |
| Summer to Fall | 100% | 66.8% | 67.4% |
Semester GPA:
| 2024 | |||
| BLSP students | Non BLSP students | All students | |
| Summer | 3.57 | 2.39 | 2.41 |
Success rate:
| 2024 | |||
| BLSP students | Non BLSP students | All students | |
| Summer | 100% | 65.8% | 69.6% |
Goal or targets:
| KPI | Goal | Results |
| Summer to Fall retention | 90% | 100% |
| Fall to Spring retention | 90% | NA |
| Summer GPA | 2.8 | 3.57 |
| Fall GPA | 2.8 | NA |
| Spring GPA | 2.8 | NA |
| Summer success rate | 90% | 100% |
| Fall success rate | 90% | NA |
| Spring success rate | 90% | NA |
| Two-year graduation rate for student participants enrolled in Associate programs | 70% | NA |
The cohort of students involved in our pilot program has continued to keep in close contact with the faculty involved in the program. There are regular office visits, updates on course progress, questions about any hurdles they may face on campus and a general desire to regroup as a course cohort again in upcoming semesters. Recently, the students expressed an interest in participating in next summer’s BPSL as advanced members/leaders within the program. This cohort of students can frequently be found dining together, engaging with one another at campus events and maintaining close ties as the semester moves on.
Developing a timely marketing campaign. Enhancing the program experience (increase course offerings, higher number of participants, continuing to include faculty engagement through workshop activities outside of faculty teaching within the program.) We have talked about key members of the pilot cohort participating in future student outreach.
Cost is always a challenge. Field trips, meals, supplies, faculty/staff pay, marketing, etc add up.
Student commitment/early sign up can also be a challenge at an access institution.
Developing effective, targeted marketing for recruitment.
A grant to stimulate the program would be wonderful. The aid could be used for marketing, program experiences and student needs.
