State grant supports academically at-risk students PASS program bolsters existing 'Finishing Strong' initative

Eastern Connecticut State University has received a three-year grant to support students who are on academic warning or probation. The Promoting Academically Successful Students (PASS) grant is funded from 2024-27 at $50,000 per year - $1,000 per PASS-enrolled student up to 50 students each year. Eastern is using the funds in part to support its existing Finishing Strong initiative; the grant is being administered by the University's Academic Success Center (ASC).

Eastern's PASS program offers a three-pronged intervention to support students at risk academically. Its goal is to enhance retention, persistence and graduation by addressing academic, personal, financial and social challenges. Key components include:

• Engagement with Existing Academic Probation Services: Students participate in the Academic Support and Assistance Program (ASAP), creating Academic Improvement Plans, attending one-on-one meetings, setting GPA goals and utilizing academic resources.

• One-on-One Meetings for Connection and Belonging: Personalized meetings foster trust, early issue identification, goal setting, customized support, self-advocacy and continuous improvement while offering emotional and social support.

• Enhanced Tailored Services: These include academic tutoring, skill-building interventions, counseling, peer mentoring and additional individualized support.

To stay in the program, students must have a 2.0 GPA or greater, complete two-thirds of their courses, and complete their degree within 150% of their degree requirements.

"Right now we have 22 participating students who meet PASS requirements," said Alison Whitcomb, director of the Academic Success Center, "with a total of 59 students involved in some way with the Finishing Strong program. In our 1-1 meetings with students, we review their academic transcript - what do we need to do to help them to successfully finish the semester? How can we set future goals and manage their academic trajectory?"

Participants also take advantage of other Academic Success Center services, including career development, tutoring, internships and more.

While the PASS grant targets students on academic warning or probation and is part of the state's Minority Advancement Program, which focuses on minority students, PASS participants also take part in the existing Finishing Strong program. Open to any Eastern student, Finishing Strong is a series of 21 breakfast and early-evening sessions each semester to bring together a cohort of students and provide them with support skills ranging from life-balancing skills to motivational strategies, to improving study habits.

Finishing Strong is sponsored by the Academic Support Center, the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Equity and Diversity, the Women's Center and the Pride Center. The sessions are run by Indira Petoskey, assistant dean of student affairs, who is assisted by student peer mentors Giovanni Otieno and Isabella Symington-St. John.

"By getting students to commit to attending our Finishing Strong events, we are building a community focused on attaining personal goals and helping each other," said Petoskey. "When you have to get up early to attend a 6:45 a.m. breakfast, you find you can get a lot of your work done in the morning. It motivates students to use their time wisely and they feel empowered by the results."

Funds from the PASS grant are being used to pay for the two student peer mentors, as well as teaching materials, academic planners and other study supplies, and food for students. "Food insecurity among students is an issue that we are keenly aware of," said Petoskey.

Peer Mentor Isabella Symington-St. John, a senior biology major, started attending Finishing Strong sessions during her first year at Eastern in 2020-21. "I wanted to be part of a community," she said. "I thank this program for helping me develop my organizational and interpersonal skills."

Symington-St. John sees the Finishing Strong program working as a support system beyond the morning breakfasts. "When I see familiar faces from the program in other classes or at events, it definitely feels like a community."

Giovanni Otieno, a senior double majoring in business administration and economics and the program's other peer mentor, also started attending Finishing Strong breakfasts in his first year. He recalled how a senior in the program at the time provided an emotional recap of how the program had helped her. "It touched my heart," he said, "seeing how much this program has helped other students. Being a mentor for other students has been a privilege for me. I learn from them just as I hope they are learning from me. Every student is unique. Sometimes they will share their concerns with me when they don't feel they can speak to faculty or staff."

Otieno and Symington-St. John share their own personal testimony to recruit Finishing Strong participants. "Once they attend, they are sold," said Otieno. "They see the benefit to themselves."

"I encourage people to come once to try it out. It is easy to convince someone to wake up early and create productive time for themselves," said Symington-St. John.

One student who has seen her grades improve during the past year of attending Finishing Strong sessions is Kairi Cobb. A philosophy major supported by a Hartford Promise scholarship, Cobb speaks highly of the program: "This program models how I want to live my life. I like being around people who are also working to achieve their goals. It inspires me to continue pursuing the path that I am on." Cobb hopes to graduate in 2026.

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