PAWS: Research
Perseverance, Ambition, and the Will for Success (PAWS) Research
In the Spring of 2007 Shannon Beaver conducted an Evaluation of the Mentoring for Post-Secondary Education (PAWS) Program and Dan Lago supervised this research project. All available persons who participated in at least one PAWS meeting were surveyed and outcomes were evaluated. Dan and Shannon have worked hard to implement the findings and suggestions of the Evaluation into the program. This research was presented at the Penn State Altoona Undergraduate Research Fair Spring 2007 and at the Penn State Behrend-Sigma Xi: Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference Spring 2007. This research project earned second place at both conferences. Findings can be reviewed under the Evaluation of PAWS PowerPoint link located on this page, an abstract describing this research is also available.
Evaluation of the Perseverance, Ambition, and the Will for Success (PAWS) Program
Shannon Beaver, Penn State Altoona, School of Letters Arts and Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dan Lago, Penn State Altoona, School of Human Development and Family Studies
Mentoring for Post Secondary Education (PAWS) is a program that was developed as an outgrowth of a grant under US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUDCOPC-PA-04-630). PAWS has used student volunteers and local professionals to assist residents of a public housing project (Fairview Hills) to apply for college admission and obtain financial assistance over the past 18 months. Through this research we are refining this program to sustain it at the Altoona College and provide a model for other colleges. The author began this program in her role as a work-study student associated with this grant.
The researchers designed an evaluation that uses four simple standardized surveys to assess the opinions of participant groups, PSU Administrators, PSU Student Volunteers, Altoona Area School District Professional Staff, and Fairview Hills Residents. The participant groups were asked their opinions of the program during individual face-to-face interviews with the Principal Investigator. Attendance or participation activities were also summarized.
Results focus on success rates and reasons for not completing the program; refinements must emphasize more consistent personal relationship supports and frequent contact. Young adult women have been most successful in attending college based on our findings. Our revised program manual reflects these priorities. http://www.altoona.psu.edu/HUDCOPC/paws/docs/MEPSE.ppt
