Campus Connections Therapeutic Mentoring Lab
Our lab group focuses on the development and evaluation of effective preventive interventions to improve developmental outcomes of adolescents and college students.
The Campus Connections Research Program began in 2010 and continues to study aspects of mentoring, service-learning, and other relevant issues for youth and college students. Research to date has indicated positive outcomes for youth mentees, student mentors and mentor coaches.
Outcomes
Youth Mentee Outcomes
Results of our research indicate that youth mentees report:
- More regular school attendance
- Reduced alcohol and marijuana use
- Fewer problem behaviors
- Improved attitudes about substance use and problem behaviors
- Enhanced emotional well-being
Qualitative analysis of 87 individual interviews examining youth’s perceptions of Campus Connections revealed:
- 87% indicated Campus Connections helped them with some aspect of school improvement such as increasing attendance, improving grades, or improving understanding of schoolwork.
- 72% stated Campus Connections positively affected their relationships with others including peers, family members, and teachers.
- 54% reported improvements in feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem.
- 75% expressed improved attitudes about future plans regarding school and career.
- 76% felt they gained positive influence from mentorship in the area of delinquency.
Student Mentor Outcomes
CSU Institutional Research has identified that Campus Connections participation is associated with higher persistence rates, higher graduation rates, faster degree completion, and higher cumulative GPAs.
- Among graduates, 81.7% of Campus Connections participants graduate within four years while only 65.5% of nonparticipants graduate in four years.
- Campus Connections participation is associated with 0.32 to 0.57 points higher cumulative GPAs, depending on the year considered.
- Participation in Campus Connections is associated with nearly a 5 percentage point increase in persistence to the second fall and a 23 percentage point increase in four-year graduation rates.
- Prior studies have shown that CSU student participation in Campus Connections is associated with 63% lower odds of dropping out of CSU in any given year and 127% higher odds of graduating.
- These higher odds of persistence and graduation result in about 27 more students graduating within four years from each first-time, full-time cohort.
Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Student Outcomes
- Clinical experience in an alternate setting.
- Clinical hours toward degree.
- Improved professional clinical skills.
Awards and Recognitions
- 2019- K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award Western Region Winner from the Associations of Public Land-Grant Universities.
- 2019- Distinguished Engagement Scholarship Award from the CSU Office of Community Engagement
- 2018- National Award: Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award in the “Talent” category from the Associations of Public Land-Grant Universities.
- 2018- National Award: Excellence in Community Partner Engagement Award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium.
- 2015- High Impact Practice Award from the CSU Institute for Learning & Teaching
- 2014- Community Engagement Award from the CSU College of Health and Human Sciences
- 2013- Outstanding Engagement Award from the CSU College of Health and Human Sciences
- 2012- Exceptional Innovation in Service-Learning from the CSU Institute for Learning & Teaching
- 2012- National Service Impact Challenge Finalist- the Corporation for National & Community Service