Four years ago, GateWay Community College developed a new type of program to help underrepresented and at-risk students to seamlessly transition into the college atmosphere from high school.
The Learn and Invest in your Future Training (LIFT) program is built from collaboration between different departments on campus to better assist the LIFT students with their success. Through a “high-touch” model, staff become heavily involved in the success of students. To achieve this, the program includes staff from advising, counseling, faculty and the Learning Center.
The LIFT program has continuously grown over the years from a way to retain students on campus to be a summer bridge program and long-term mentorship where students receive guidance to obtain an associate degree and transfer to a university.
The program launched with 16 students who came from Cesar Chavez High School through a program called Elevate.
“When we first started, we really focused on retention of those 16 students at GateWay,” Frank Zamora, Counselor, said. “Mentoring was just a happenstance that became its own entity.”
Student get to interact with faculty and staff closely in LIFT and learn about all the resources available to them at GateWay that can help them be successful on their path to an associate degree.
Within the group, Frank Zamora represents counseling; Lily Lough, advising; Kyoko Olson, Learning Center; Shannon Ruth, Math Faculty; and Chris Mims, Communication Faculty. The five work closely with each other to ensure none of the LIFT students fall between the cracks.
“There is such a collaboration, I talk with my colleagues almost every day,” said Ruth. If I have a student in my math class I am worried about that is a LIFT student, Lily will know about it. There is such a network between us. It is amazing.”
Students who participate in the LIFT program start the summer after their high school graduation. They meet regularly with their mentors, take a college success course and participate in Power Math Camp.
The Power Math Camp is a 12-day Math refresher course. The camp has been proven to assist students to perform better on placement tests.
“We have seen students test into higher-level mathematics and skip the remedial courses after participating in Power Math Camp. It is saving them both time and money,” Ruth shared.
The program has been able to grow because of the success.
In 2013, the program grew to include Camelback High School along with Cesar Chavez. This year it is being expanded to include all of Phoenix Union High School District’s high schools.
For Summer 2015, LIFT will accept 100 applicants.
The numbers did not just grow in students, but also with funding. LIFT was awarded two grants during the Spring semester that are helping to contribute to the expansion of the program.
They were awarded a STEM grant through the State of Arizona as well as the Leadership Innovation Fund from GateWay Community College.
They also received the John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award by the League for Innovation, which celebrates outstanding contributions and leadership by community college faculty and staff.
With these grants, the LIFT faculty and staff have set funds aside to help support the new Math Club on campus.
“We will be able to take our students to conferences, bring in guest speakers and do hands-on activities,” Lough said.
She explained that the club would give students an opportunity to experience growth and networking opportunities before they get into a university or professional setting. The club is also another way for students to feel connected to GateWay.
LIFT has already helped students feel connected to the college and get involved in other ways, like employment.
“Overall we have about 45 percent of our students that are not only enrolled full time at GateWay but are also working on campus,” Lough said.
These students can be found in departments all around campus she shared.
“Not only are we here to support them academically but also to help them build the skills they are going to need for the workforce later on,” Lough said.
LIFT students have also responded positively to the program.
“A 93 percent retention rate is unheard of, and that is not for one year. We are talking in excess of three years,” Zamora said.
He believes the success with retention comes from how the LIFT team really utilizes each other’s strengths to help students. In return those students stay at GateWay because they feel welcomed and supported.
“They feel as though someone cares about them and they think that is important,” Zamora added. “When someone cares about you and gives you resources and gives ways to get to the other side, how can you not succeed?”
The program has been very innovative for GateWay due to the increased collaboration among disciplines focused around students. To learn more about the program, please contact Lily Lough