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Research Meets Practice: Strategies and Interventions to Aid At-Risk Students To and Through College

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Date & Location:

Date: October 14, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 3pm (Lunch Included)
Location: Regent University, Classroom Building (CRB),
Rm 228
Directions: For Directions and Maps click here

Registrations close October 12, 2011

Presentation Description:

This seminar is designed for school counselors, teachers and administrators, community and university counselors, faculty, staff and administrators as well as community educators and agencies that are concerned with helping at risk students gain access to and graduate from college.

The focus of the seminar will be to demonstrate how educational research can be integrated with these students' unique real life experiences and challenges in order to positively affect the retention and graduation rates of this at-risk student population. Practical examples of research based retention programs, activities and counseling approaches specifically designed to help at-risk and minority students who aspire to attend college and those who are currently in college persisting towards graduation. Special attention will be paid to encouraging, helping and collaborating with community agencies to aid students in enrolling into the community college system as well as a discussion of the counseling/helping skills, interventions and activities that have been found to be effective in retaining this student population at the college and university level. Finally, information will be shared regarding retaining nontraditional aged students and minority males. The ultimate goal of the program is to support school, college and community members in their quest to assist this population in reaching their personal and academic goals.

Target Audience:

College and University Administrators and Counselors, Trio Program Staff (UpwardBound, ETS, Student Support Services, McNair Scholars), VirginiaCAN and EOC Staff, Counselors, Community Counselors, School Counselors, School Psychologists, Social Workers, Counseling, Psychology and Social Work Students.

Level:

Introductory

Workshop Objectives

The field of education and the individuals who assist this population are enhanced by a discussion of how to operationalize research based retention strategies so that educators and community advocates can positively affect these students’ retention and graduation rates. The workshop benefits the community by increasing the knowledge and proficiency of educators who work with this student population as well as providing information to key community advocates who interact with these students.

Participants will:

1. Be exposed to and develop an improved understanding of retention and the unique issues of at-risk college students.
2. Engage with each other in groups to analyze, discuss, and share retention interventions currently being used in educational and community institutions. 
3. Participate in and share results of case studies designed to spark conversations, discuss challenges and successes.
4. Receive an introduction to new and innovative research informed retention activities, strategies, and programs that promote the graduation of this high risk college student population.
5. Identify specific ways to create learning environments that encourage and promote student academic and personal success.
6. Identify potential partnerships to collaborate in working to ensure improvements in student recruitment, retention, and graduation.
7. Become aware of some of the research data identifying the challenges, responses, and model programs to successfully recruit, retain, and graduate these students.
8. Learn counseling and helping skills and interventions design to engage and assist at-risk students.

Learning Objectives:

This workshop is designed to help participants:

1. Identify the unique academic and interpersonal issues that affect first generation and low income students ability to persist and graduate from college.
2. Demonstrate and understanding and identify the academic, personal needs, and strengths of this population.
3. Acquire knowledge about retention interventions that are practical, applicable, and specific for this population as they advance through college.
4. Access the strengths of this population in order to learn how to integrate them into existing retention programs and interventions.

Relevant References:

This presentation will highlight current research and demonstrate how research findings can be operationalized to assist at-risk college students to reach their academic and personal potential in college. Below are research articles and resources that may further aid practitioners and community members in helping this population to gain access to and graduate from college.

• Housel, T, & Harvey, V. (2009). The invisibility factor: administrators and faculty reach out to first-generation college students. Boca Raton, Florida: Brown Walker Press.
• Pacchetti, E. A benefit-cost analysis of the Student Support Services program. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park, United States -- Maryland. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from Dissertations & Theses: Full Text.(Publication No. AAT 3391289).
• Tate, K., Williams, C.R., Harden, D. (2012). Finding Purpose in Pain: Using Logotherapy as a Method for Addressing Survivor Guilt in First Generation College Students. Journal of College Counselors
• Williams, C., Butler, S.K. (2010). A new retention variable: Hope and First Generation College Students, In G. R. Waltz, J.C. Bleuer, and R. Yep (Eds.), VISTAS: Ideas and Research you can use. (pp. 73-76). Alexander, VA: American Counseling Association.
• Yeh, T. (2010). Service-learning and persistence of low-income, first-generation college students: an exploratory study. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 16(2), 50-65.

Agenda:

8:30 AM - Registration/ Check-in Tables Open (Coffee provided)
8:50 AM - Welcome, Announcements, Introductions
9:00 AM – Session I

Research and student testimonies

• The needs, challenges and successes of at risk students
• Group discussion, sharing of retention activities, successes and struggles from the field
• Case study

10:20 AM – Questions & Answers
10:30 AM- Break
10:45 AM- Session II

Collaboration/Preparation/Partnerships

• Parents
• Community
• High School
• Educational Agencies
• Churches

11:15 AM - Recruitment and First year in college (needs, programs, activities)

• Counseling and helping at-risk students
• Retention, interventions, approaches, activities

12:00 PM - Lunch (Provided) - Lunch for this event will include an assortment of wraps, sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks. Wraps/sandwiches will include chicken salad, tuna salad, roast beef, buffalo chicken, & veggie.

1:15 PM - Session III

Experiential activities/ Case studies

2:00 PM - Retention and Special Populations

• Minority males
• Nontradional age students

3:00 - Dismiss

Presenters:

Dr. Cyrus Williams is an Assistant Professor in the Masters in Counseling Program at Regent University.  He received his Ph.D. in Counselor Education, and a Specialist Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida. He also holds Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Hartford.

Dr. Williams has worked in higher education as an administrator and counselor for twenty years, working specifically with at-risk, low income and first generation college students at the University of Florida, and University of Connecticut. He has also worked at two community colleges as an administrator. As a faculty member Dr. Williams' research interest centers on first generation and low income college students. Specifically he has written articles, book chapters and presented nationally and locally on issues such as the intersection of race, class and education as well as how to apply non-cognitive variables, such as hope, resilience and strength-based interventions to increase access, persistence, retention rates and the overall college experience for first-generation college students. Dr. Williams is a Nationally Certified Counselor and has worked for several years as a community counselor, working with individuals and families who struggle with addictions and those who were involved in the criminal justice system. Dr. Williams has been an active member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and divisions therein (AMCD, AACC), since 2005 and a member of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and American College Professionals Association (ACPA).

Outside of work Dr. Williams is very involved in his church, New Life Providence, where he serves as a Sunday school teacher and volunteers in many outreach ministries. He also volunteers, serves, and ministers to the homeless population of Virginia Beach, when he lived in Gainesville, Florida he created a mobile homeless ministry. In addition, Dr. Williams takes time to mentor young men, currently he at-risk male students at the Renaissance Academy in Virginia Beach. 

Dr. Williams was born and raised in New London, CT; he is the youngest of three and is happily married to Saranette Miles Williams. They have two children Hannah, 4 years old and Cyrus the forth 2 years old.

• Click for Additional Information on Cyrus Williams

  Education

  Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD) in Counselor Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Counselor Education
  
  Specialist in Education, (EdS.) in Higher Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  
  Master of Science, (M.S.) in Counseling, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT

  Publications

  Williams, C.R., (in progress). The college expectations of first year, first generation, African American college students.
  
  Williams, C.R., Meyer, (in progress). The Resilience of First Generation College Students
  
  Williams, C.R., Meyer, D. (in progress). Hope Theory and Academic Performance for First Generation college students.
  
  Williams, C., Tate, K. (in progress). Chaos theory and Career Development.

  Presentations

  Williams, C. (2010). Empowering students through small group teaching techniques: Spirituality and Career Counseling. Southern Association for Counselor Education Annual Conference. October 2010, Williamsburg, VA.
  
  Williams, C., Meyer, D. (2010). The Resilience Factor! First Generation College Students. Virginia Counseling Association Annual Conference. Williamsburg, VA. November 2010.
  
  Williams, C. (2010). Empowering students through small group teaching techniques: Spirituality and Career Counseling. Virginia Counseling Association. Williamsburg, VA. November 2010.
  
  Williams, C., Lachut, L., Ouimet, D. (2009). FYE + SSS = SUCCESS. Annual Conference, The FirstYear Experience, February 610, 2009 Orlando, Florida.
  
  Robinson, S., Indelicato, N., Williams, C. (2007). Enhancing the psychological wellbeing and academic success of first generation college students. Our Power and Responsibility to Shape Education. ACPA/NASPA Joint Meeting. March 2007, Orlando, FL
  
  Williams, C. (2006). First Generation College Students: Identifying and resolving their unique intrapersonal conflicts. Successful Counselors = Successful Lives. Florida Counseling Association. November, 2006, Orlando, FL
  
  Williams, C. (2006). First Generation College Students: Resolving their unique intrapersonal experiences "SACES 2006: A Magical Experience". Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervisors. September 2006, Orlando, FL.
  
  Conwill, W., Williams, C. (2006) Intersections of Gender, Race, Class and Nation: Towards Pedagogy for Counselors' SelfAwareness. "SACES 2006: A Magical Experience". Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervisors. September 2006, Orlando, FL.

Alfred L. Carter, Special Assistant to the Dean of Students at Capital Community College and education consultant, is an accomplished career educator, sociologist and humanist who has extensive experience and has been active in the field of higher education for approximately 40 years in various positions including: Student Leader, Academic Advisor, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Program Director, Division Director, Assistant Academic Dean, Dean of Students; and Educational Consultant. He has provided training in the areas of diversity, team building, stress management, leadership, communications, conflict management, mentoring / advising, managing change, and teaching effectiveness. He is a founding partner in Rodgers and Carter Educational Consulting. Since retiring from Dean of Students at Manchester Community College, he has continued participating in higher education, serving as Special Assistant to the Dean of Students at Capital Community College, training and speaking as well as continuing to mentor students and professionals who seek support and encouragement.This is important because as a result of being mentored and being a mentor, a shy, introvert became a student leader and professional leader; an individual with a low self-image became a confident professional; a "loner" evolved into a Teacher and educator.

He has a BS Degree in Social Science / Sociology & Education from Elizabeth City State University (NC); an MS Degree in Urban & Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY); and was a Mid-Career Fellow at Princeton University.

Alfred is proud of his role as a husband to Lauren Gibson-Carter. They are the proud parents of six children; eleven grandchildren; seven god-children; and father-figure to fifteen young and not-so-young men and women who have blessed my life with their presence.

Event Registration:

Professional Registration: $89.00 - Includes Training, Materials, Lunch, and Printable Professional and Continuing Education Certificate and 5 CE hours

Current Student Regent and CBN Faculty and Staff: $49.00. (ID Required at Event) - Includes Training, Materials, Morning Refreshments, Lunch

	Registration Fee	Register
Professional (Includes Training, Materials, Printable Professional and Continuing Education Certificate and 5 CE hours)	$89
Current Student / Regent and CBN Faculty and Staff - (ID REQUIRED)	$49

Payments Accepted:

You may pay by Credit/Debit card or by Check using an eCheck through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). (Please review our Returned eCheck policy).

Card Payments Accepted: Master Card, Visa, Discover, & Debit Cards backed by MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.

Professional and Continuing Education:

Regent University, School of Psychology and Counseling, is an NBCC-Approved Professional and Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program (Provider #4446). Regent University, School of Psychology of Counseling is also approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Regent University, School of Psychology of Counseling maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

This event meets or exceeds the requirements of continuing education for counselors. It does not meet the requirements for psychologists.

When Professional and Continuing Education hours are purchased, Professional and Continuing Education certificates of completion will be awarded to participants who attend the entire workshop. No partial credits are given.

Continuing education hours/certificates can be used for a variety of purposes including proof of training received, professional license renewal, employer reimbursement, and proof of attendance. For more information on continuing education hours for licensed psychologists and counselors please visit the CE information page.

Attendees are eligible for a Professional and Continuing Education Certificate with Professional and Continuing Education Credit Hours when purchased, provided the following is completed. Participants must attend the event in its entirety and sign in and sign out at the event. Certificates can be printed from a computer with Internet access once a participant has completed the event evaluation survey. Certificates are usually available for printing 10 business days after an event. For more information on certificates, please visit the FAQ page.

Lodging Information:

We understand that some seminar participants will be traveling to attend our events. To assist you in locating lodging information please click here.

Notice

Please be advised that this event is being taped/recorded for future use, including, but not limited to, broadcast via media (television, internet) for possible viewing by the public. Most workshop recordings are used for registrants of the School of Psychology and Counseling's online continuing education courses. Your participation in the event constitutes your consent to Regent University to such taping or recording and the use of your image and voice at this event for all purposes now or in the future. We do not provide access to workshop recordings to workshop attendees.