Director for WSU’s new Student Support Services sees Benefit in Early Peer Review

Introduction / How it Works /   Peer Monitor Training /   One Program Director's Story / Resources

Never too soon!
    Ask Lucila Loera why she wants a peer review for Student Support Services (SSS) before the program can even celebrate its’ first year in operation and she will answer you with no reserve, "Why Not?"
     Just shy of one year after her SSS program was launched at Washington State University in Pullman, director Loera requested a peer review of the program.    
     The review, which consists of a two day evaluation (see sample agenda) and assessment process, allows for peer feedback on aspects that may be overlooked or in need of further development. For a program such as Student Support Services, a peer review will ensure that as the focus of the program, the students receive the highest level of guidance and support available.
     "Some colleagues asked me why I was scheduling a review so soon," shares Loera. "My answer is simply, 'Why not?' Our program is up and running. Why not benefit from some expert feedback early on?"
     As the Director of SSS, Loera learned about the opportunity for a peer review while attending a Directors' training in Portland last summer. "Since we were building our program from scratch, I didn't want to waste time doing something wrong," added Loera. "So I requested the audit. It is very reassuring!" Rather than establish guidelines and procedures that may not be fully inclusive or ultimately beneficial for the program, Loera used the peer review as an opportunity to gain an external and informed perspective from others with previous experience in heading new programs. Through her efforts and the support of her staff, Lucila Loera proves to be well on her way to ensure the success of SSS.

WSU's SSS Team
     With a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, Loera served as a Career Counselor at WSU for three years before she was hired to launch the brand new Student Support Services program at WSU.    
     By Fall 2002 she and her staff of three, pictured below, supported 160 students through programs including academic advising, mentoring, cultural enrichment activities, specific tutoring, career counseling, college orientation and study skills training. In efforts to assure that students remain the primary focus of the program, they hired a graduate student to help design a database for students, enabling Loera and staff to track student profiles, specific needs, and progress. The database also tracked the many other students resting in a pending status, eagerly awaiting acceptance in the SSS program. Finally, as the program rapidly expands and evolves, the staff meets weekly and continues to rate itself on areas covered by the official peer review.
 
WSU SSS staff includes, from right, director Lucila Loera, Norma Sandoval, undergraduate support, Tiffany DeMeerleer, senior secretary, and Vicki Trier, academic coordinator and retention specialist.

Review took two days and included meetings with WSU's Vice-President for Student Affairs and other top staff
     "Because we are new on campus, it was great to include the top university administrators, including the Vice-President for Student Affairs to this session, to help them better understand what we are doing and highlight the importance of further integrating SSS on campus," says Loera.
     While awaiting the review's written report, Loera confidently believed her program " benefited from the review primarily because of the opportunity to ask questions from people with years of experience in running TRiO programs. "In short, the review affirmed that we are on track with a brand new program."
     Loera asserts that another benefit of the review stemmed from the "stronger connection with the monitors who performed the review", including seasoned TRIO professionals including SSS Directors Meredyth Goodwin from the University of Idaho, Pat Clyde from Lewis-Clark State College, Sally Burge from Eastern Washington University, and also Scott Clyde, chair of the NASP Peer Review Committee.
     Once the review arrived in the hands of the SSS Team, Loera immediately worked to incorporate the peer suggestions in a way specific to the program at Washington State University. This proved to be a relatively simple task, since suggestions focused on procedures the team already had in mind.
     "One helpful suggestion was to track any contact hours with our students. Previously we had only tracked officially requested meetings with us, but we are advised to also report contacts and information shared during informal meetings on campus."

Other tips to new program directors
    Loera shares a few additional tips her team received to new and potential TRIO directors. 

"The good news for new directors like me," adds Loera, "is that we are not alone. There is a lot of great help out there in the TRiO community."

• Connect with other TRIO programs "from day one"
  Connect with other TRIO programs "from day one." After being enlisted, Loera wasted no time in visiting nearby SSS programs and learning first hand about their individual and specific practice.
    "I have learned that different directors have different opinions on what are the best practices for SSS and on how regulations are mandated. It is good to talk to several directors and learn about the variety of options."
       

• Partner with other TRIO programs on your campus for marketing, etc.
  Loera urges TRIO Directors to partner with other TRIO programs on your campus for marketing, etc. 
       WSU already had a McNair TRIO program established before Loera was hired to launch a Student Support Services Program.  "Their staff was great to work with. They helped me tremendously in knowing how to integrate the university system with our SSS goals and regulations, says Loera.
       "Our campus McNair leaders welcomed us to join them in advertising our services at student fairs and other campus events. They have provided a great help, and by working together we magnify our presence and impact on campus.

"The good news for new directors like me," adds Loera, "is that you are not alone. There is a lot of great help out there."

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Lucila Loera, director of Washington State University TRIO Student Support Services requested a review less than a year after she assumed leadership