Program Helps Frosh Find Success by Anne Dolan A pilot program that seeks to help minority freshman students succeed academically and adjust to campus life at a Midwestern, predominantly white university, is in its second year this fall with 30 participants. Patterned after the Freshman Honors Program, the Early Success Program serves African American, Hispanic and Native American freshmen, students from minority groups that statistically have low retention and graduation rates at Iowa State. Of the 44 freshmen in last fall's pilot program, 34 returned to campus this fall. Eleven of the 44 enrolled in summer school at Iowa State; several others took summer classes closer to their homes. "That (commitment to summer school) tells me that they're bonded to the university," said Liz Beck, director of the Honors Program. "I'm very, very pleased with the results in the first class." Beck said credit for much of the program's success belongs to peer leaders, junior and senior minority students who are succeeding at Iowa State. They serve as leaders for small teams of freshmen. The leaders run biweekly seminars, plan social activities and serve as the first line of help for freshmen. Graduate student Ronke Lattimore is coordinating the program for the second year. "You can't beat students teaching students, and we've had just a dynamite group of leaders," Beck said. "There's a special quality in a student who cares enough to take on this kind of responsibility." One modification made to the program this fall is that academic success is emphasized from the start. Last fall, Beck said the early emphasis was on helping students acclimate to the university and build a community. As a result, the fall 1994 academic performance of program participants mirrored that of all minority students. Beck said she, Lattimore and the student leaders expected it to be higher. "We found that our freshmen, like other students, simply weren't able to tell they were having academic difficulty. One or two poor test grades didn't alert them to a problem," Beck said. Last spring, student leaders emphasized the importance of academic success and gradepoint averages rose half a point, Beck said. Beck said she would like to see the program reach more minority freshmen, although as it's structured now, it can accommodate only about 40 students. This summer, all African American, Hispanic and Native American freshmen accepted to Iowa State were invited to participate in the program. Last year, funds for the Early Success Program came from special student retention funds in the President's Office. This year, the $25,000 program is funded through the Provost's Office. _____ contact: Anne Dolan, Internal Communications, (515) 294-7065 updated: updated: 9-15-95