Coyote First Step Program for Freshmen Launched at CSUSB

On Sunday, July 5, Cal State San Bernardino welcomed more than 800 freshmen to the first session of Coyote First STEP, or Student Transition Enhancement Program, CSUSB’s new enriched Early Start Math program. The second session, for 1,000 freshmen, will begin Aug. 9. Each session runs from three to four weeks. The program, which is part of the initiative to increase college readiness and graduation rates, consists of enrollment in an Early Start math class and peer-led tutoring. It also offers an “introduction to college-level writing,” which can also double as an Early Start English class for those students who must meet that requirement, and First STEP gives students the opportunity to take part in a wide array of evening and weekend co-curricular workshops. The workshops are designed to enhance social connections among students, forge a sense of belonging at CSUSB and help ensure students are on a solid footing for timely graduation. Every part of the program, including instruction, tutoring, housing, food and co-curricular workshops, is offered entirely free to the student. “This program is very important for our students,” said William L. Vanderburgh, associate vice president of academic affairs and dean of Undergraduate Studies. Fifty-one percent of CSUSB freshmen are admitted with an Early Start math requirement, but only 8 percent of our students who are not ready for college level math by the time they begin their first term in college graduate within four years.” “The summer before first enrollment is an ideal time to try to increase students’ readiness for college level math, and thereby help students increase their chances of timely graduation,” said Vanderburgh. The Coyote First STEP program is modeled after CSUSB’s highly successful Intensive Mathematics Program that has been taught on campus for several summers. According to CSUSB data, 90 percent of IMP students progressed at least one level toward college readiness in mathematics. “The other components of Coyote First STEP are based on national research and best practices for promoting college success,” said Alysson Satterlund, CSUSB’s associate vice president and dean of students. “To our knowledge, there is no other university in California or the nation that is doing such an extensive summer math program for such a large group of students.” The Chancellor’s Office is so impressed with CSUSB’s design for Coyote First STEP that it has committed $1.4 million toward the costs. In addition, high schools in the Moreno Valley and San Bernardino school districts have agreed to use their Local Control Funding to partially cover their own graduates who are required to attend Coyote First STEP, and several more districts are expected to contribute, according to Vanderburgh. “We are pursuing other opportunities with private funders as well,” he said. The program is the result of the collaboration of more than 100 staff, faculty and administrators from throughout the campus. Specifically, faculty in math and English, and colleagues in CSUSB’s Student Affairs, the College of Extended Learning, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Information Technology Services, Administration and Finance, Sodexo dining services, Special Events and Guest Services, the Office of Undergraduate Studies and many others, have been involved. In addition, more than 60 students have been employed as call center liaisons, tutors and student assistants. “The support of upper administration has been crucial to our ability take this project from concept to implementation in less than nine months,” said Vanderburgh. For more information about the Coyote First STEP, contact Bill Vanderburgh at 909-537-5032.