Supporting Southeast Asian Student Success (SSASS)

1. Supporting Southeast Asian Student Success (SSASS) 2015 Action Research Project, Fresno State Presented by: Gena Lew Gong, Lecturer Asian American Studies, Dept. of Anthropology

2. Fresno State Student Profile

3. Fresno State Graduation Rates

4. Survey of AAPI students Survey conducted Spring 2014 • Research team designed and sent survey to all self-identified Southeast Asian students on campus (Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, Vietnamese); also sent survey to corresponding control group of the general student population • 400 responses from SEA students; similar number from control group • Survey addressed on-campus challenges such as relationships with faculty, staff, and other students; off-campus challenges such as family obligations and home/neighborhood environments

5. Findings: On-campus challenges Statistically significant differences between SEA students and White students, with SEA students: • Less likely to communicate with faculty about assignments or career plans • Less likely to communicate with students of different ethnicities • More likely to feel that faculty and other students are not supportive of their academic success

6. Academic challenges Open-ended questions asked what the major challenges are for SEA peers failing to graduate or dropping out of college. Reasons given: • Lack of motivation to study • Lack of career path/plan • Lack of role models

7. SSASS Project Fall 2014 With their survey results, the research team applied for and received a CSU Chancellor’s Office grant to conduct an action research project to test various approaches to improve SEA student success. The result: Supporting Southeast Asian Student Success (SSASS) pilot project, which took place Jan - Dec 2015. Hiromi Kubo Yoshiko Takahashi Gena Lew Gong Library Criminology Anthropology

8. SSASS Project Timeline January - March 2015 • Design and draft program materials, course curriculum, pre- and post-assessments, job descriptions, outreach strategies • Recruit and hire Peer Navigators (7) • Hire Program Assistant May - July 2015 • Recruit SSASS cohort (27) • Recruit SEA Community Advisory Committee SSASS Peer Navigators (l to r): Simara Vongthondy, Toua Yang, Mai Lee, Yang Xiong, Cheenou Xiong, Danny Yang, Paying Vang

9. SSASS Project Timeline (cont’d) August 2015 • Summer orientation • Parent workshop • Match peer navigators with student mentees • Campus tours September - December 2015 • University 20T writing course • Leadership trainings, workshops • Social activities (bowling, potluck, sports day) • Closing ceremony

10. Project limitations • Limited time: only one semester • Class time was too short and met only once per week • Only 27 students in cohort • 24 Hmong, 2 Hmong/Lao, 1 Lao; no Cambodian or Vietnamese • Marginal or no differences in leadership, cultural congruity, sense of belonging

11. Student interview outcomes • First felt inhibited by new environment, lack of preparation, size of campus, large student population and sense of competition • Realized need to change study habits and importance of forging relationships with professors • Highly valued their peer navigators and felt comfortable sharing concerns with them • Valued being part of SSASS to learn new leadership skills, learn about cultural values, meet new people

12. Peer navigator interview outcomes • Motivated by desire to improve own leadership skills and desire to help other students like themselves • Felt more assertive/confident after participating in program • Improved networking, public speaking, and leadership skills • Forged lasting relationships with students, other peer navigators, and faculty

13. Recommendations • Create a support system in the second semester and beyond • Create a physical space for students to meet • Provide more volunteer and internship opportunities • Expose the students to a larger culture (beyond Southeast Asian) • Conduct follow-up studies to examine retention and graduation rates of SSASS cohort