A BluePrint for Success: Case Studies of Successful - Educational ...

A Blueprint for Success
St. Louis University hosts the College Bound St. Louis Summer Institute, a four-week academic
program for rising high school juniors (6 hours/day) to ensure that students enter the school year
with greater proficiency in mathematics, especially Algebra II and Trigonometry, which are directly
related to college persistence. SLU also trained College Bound St. Louis staff in FAFSA completion
and provided access to their FAFSA explanation materials.
Washington University in St. Louis provides space on campus and trained student tutors who
work with and mentor College Bound St. Louis students every weekend during the school year. College
Bound St. Louis is the only high school program officially sanctioned by Washington University’s
Each One Teach One program.
University of Missouri – Columbia hosts the Audrey Walton Leadership Conference on their
University of Missouri campus, which College Bound St. Louis students attend. College Bound St.
Louis also has a strong partnership with the TRiO Student Support Services program.
University of Missouri – St. Louis hosts an annual summer Girls’ Leadership Camp and provides
College Bound St. Louis students with camp tuition waivers. The camp – Pathways to Leadership
– emphasizes real-world, practical learning experiences, including meeting and learning from
college students, faculty, staff and professional women across various occupations. UMSL also provides
space for ACT baseline and practice tests.
In addition to the partnerships mentioned above, CB-STL’s college counseling and persistence teams
continue to cultivate relationships with college and university partners that exhibit evidence of student
success after matriculation. To create program fidelity, CB-STL has begun developing criteria
upon which the organization can evaluate a school’s capacity to support students to degree completion.
These criteria, provide below, serve as a guide for CB-STL coaches to direct students and families
to schools whose services and mindset align with high graduation rates for non-traditional students:
Students/families accumulate $10,000 or less in debt per year
School provides support services for low-income, first generation students (e.g. TRiO SSS &
McNair Programs, Multicultural Centers, Bridge Programs, etc.)
Class sizes that give students the opportunity for recognition and class discussion
Intentional academic support as demonstrated by intrusive advising, early alert systems,
freshmen orientation, first year seminars, and defined interventions for students who are
struggling
Institutional retention policy – colleges that are explicitly concerned with retention and are
striving to close the gap between minority & majority graduation rates
High quality career centers and career counseling
GPA requirements tied to merit money that gradually increase over time, allowing students
to adjust to college academic rigor
Educational Policy Institute 36 www.educationalpolicy.org