The Summer Preparatory Academic Resource Camps (SPARC) program aims to support growth mindset among incoming first-year students and targeted populations of returning students, with particular emphasis on the mindset elements: Sense of Belonging and Purpose and value (see: https://motivatelab.org/publications-2/2018/5/15/help-students-navigate-lifes-transitions-with-a-mindset-gps).
SPARC was initiated in Summer 2021 and continued in its second iteration in Summer 2022. We plan to offer SPARC again in Summer 2023, though we plan to provide distinct sessions only for returning students, and for new students, we will integrate activities intentionally with other summer programming at the College in a more integrative way in collaboration with Student Affairs, Student Success, and Enrollment Management/Grizzly Orientation.
Evaluation Plan and measures: Post-event surveys of SPARC attendees; examining return rate (Fall to Spring), average GPA, and English and MATH performance of SPARC attendees. All data disaggregated to help us identify and address any equity gaps in SPARC program effectiveness.
Baseline measure: SPARC Summer 2021 results:
Total SPARC student attendees in Summer 2021 = 180.
Survey response rate of 42%.
Average overall program satisfaction rating (5-point scale) = 4.865.
Fall 2021-Spring 2022 return rate among SPARC attendees: 90% had returned to register for Spring 2022 classes, registering for an average of almost 13 credit hours.
Average GPA (end of Fall 2021 semester): 2.84.
We will provide a Summer 2022 SPARC update (which relies on Fall 2022 data still being processed) and 2023 SPARC data as it becomes available.
Goal or targets: SPARC Summer 2022 targets:
Survey response rate of 45%
Return rate: 91% will have returned to register for Spring 2023 classes, registering for an average of 13 credit hours.
Average GPA (end of Fall 2022 semester): 2.85 (note the intention to recruit further among students who placed into corequisite learning support courses).
Progress in SPARC Summer 2022 assessment as of this Report (November 2022):
Total SPARC student attendees in Summer 2022 = 239.
Survey response rate of 41% (4% short of target, but still significant response rate for assessment).
Average overall program satisfaction rating (5-point scale) = 4.728.
Fall 2022-Spring 2023 return rate among SPARC attendees: To be determined.
We will provide a Summer 2022 SPARC update (which relies on Fall 2022 data still being processed) and 2023 SPARC data as it becomes available.
Time period/duration: June-July each Summer. Summer 2021 was the inaugural SPARC program, with Summer 2022 SPARC sessions beginning on June 23, and the final SPARC session for 2022 on July 28. SPARC sessions for new first-year students were more coordinated with corresponding Grizzly Orientation dates in Summer 2022. This level of integration will be stepped up further for Summer 2023, as we shift to the new design of SPARC to focus on returning students, with new students addressed in a more integrative way in collaboration with Student Affairs, Student Success, and Enrollment Management/Grizzly Orientation.
We will provide a Summer 2022 SPARC update (which relies on Fall 2022 data still being processed) and 2023 SPARC information as it becomes available.
Summer 2021 SPARC feedback indicated strong levels of satisfaction from the attendees: About 90% of attendees responding to a post-event survey (with 42% response rate) indicated their questions were answered at SPARC; further, about 97% indicated either strong (84%) or moderate (13%) agreement with the value of the faculty-led Focus Area sessions for their own purpose and values. A similar response was observed for Summer 2022 SPARC, with approximately 96% of survey respondents indicating they valued the faculty-led breakout sessions and about 91% of survey respondents indicating their questions were answered at the closing “LIFT Off” information session.
SPARC Summer 2022 assessment:
Total SPARC student attendees in Summer 2022 = 239.
Survey response rate of 41% (4% short of target, but still significant response rate for assessment).
Average overall program satisfaction rating (5-point scale) = 4.728.
Fall 2022-Spring 2023 return rate among SPARC attendees:
- 70.7% of new first-year students who attended SPARC 22 returned to GGC in Spring 2023.
- 72.8% of continuing and transfer students who attended SPARC 22 returned to GGC in Spring 2023.
SPARC Summer 2023 update: For summer 2023, SPARC was limited to returning students. For new first-year students, their welcome was incorporated into an engaging new program called Grizzly Welcome and Grizzly Launch Day.
Total SPARC continuing student attendees in Summer 2023 = 103
Preliminary descriptives for SPARC 23 based on transactional data:
- 29% were juniors
- 29% were sophomores
- 21% were seniors
- 20% were continuing freshmen
- Average Overall GPA = 3.014
- 81% identified as female
- 27% self-identified as First Gen
- 45% identified as Black or African American
- 22% identified as Hispanic
- 22% Identified as White
- 11% identified as Asian
- 29 different majors, from all of GGC’s academic Schools, were represented
- Top majors were
- Psychology (20% of attendees)
- Health Science/Nursing (20%)
- Business (19%)
We will provide a Summer 2023 SPARC update, which relies on Fall 2023 data still being processed and upcoming Spring 2024 data, as it becomes available.
Beginning in Summer 2023, we provided SPARC for returning students only, with new student onboarding handled in a more integrative way in collaboration among Student Affairs, Student Success, and Enrollment Management/Grizzly Orientation.
Summer 2023 SPARC survey responses (22% of those registered) fell short of the target response rate. Responses indicated:
- 87% found the advising session helpful (agree or strongly agree)
- 83% had their questions answered at SPARC
- Average overall satisfaction (5-pt. Scale) = 4.65 (93% satisfaction score)
We will continue to more closely collaborate with Grizzly Orientation leadership, including by setting SPARC dates for new students in conjunction with GO dates. Also, in response to student feedback from SPARC 2021, SPARC 2022, and SPARC 2023, we will continue to prioritize more time and activities associated with the faculty-led Meta-major sessions. As noted above, SPARC 2023 focused on returning students, with new student needs handled in a more integrative way in collaboration among Student Affairs, Student Success, and Enrollment Management/Grizzly Orientation.
Also, for Summer 2024, we aim to provide more targeted SPARC sessions for transfer students, adult learners, and students interested in the HACER (Hispanic Achievers) Learning Community, among other student groups.
Cross-campus communication is required for SPARC implementation to be successful and for the program to scale up each summer. Also, while the demographic makeup of SPARC attendees in all three Summers has largely reflected the diversity of the campus, we were able to see more students in SPARC 2022 who had a learning support requirement, were first generation, and in other ways better represented the overall student population. This representation was more challenging in Summer 2023, noting the shift in the program design mentioned above.
One goal that will require additional support in Summer 2024 is to increase our reach with transfer-in students and adult learners. USG efforts to address the needs of these students can be helpful in support of these efforts.
