The CATS Program
CATS is a program designed specifically for
first-year students
to enhance their academic and social integration into college. The
program
in the Spring semester deals directly with reinstatement students
whose first
semester at WSU has not been productive for one reason or another. In
this
program, students will investigate their transition to college
through both
workshops and team meetings. The development of peer support groups,
shown
to be the cornerstone to college success, is a foremost goal in the
team settings.
CATS is for those students who want help understanding university life, looking for a group of supportive friends who have similar questions about succeeding in college, and want extra information and resources for college success.
CATS students are required to commit approximately 15 hours of their time during the first half of the Spring semester to the program. Participants are asked to actively participate in group meetings and complete outside assignments. Group meetings begin during the second week of the Spring semester and continue through until Week 9; each group meeting is 50 minutes in length, commencing at 10 minutes past the hour (a.k.a. Cougar time).
The CATS program creates teams of students (5 per group) which, in turn, affords them the opportunity to connect with other students in the similar academic situations. CATS Teams provide their participants the chance to discuss and share with peers the struggles and achievements associated with adjusting to college life. CATS Teams are also an opportunity for first year students to interact with a more experienced and older student who receives ongoing training in facilitation of small groups. CATS Team Facilitators (CTFs) are chosen for their abilities to act as role models for new students and are trained in helping them adjust to the rigors of college. CTFs participate in a Peer Leadership class (EDAD 497) during the Fall semester prior to their employment; ongoing training occurs weekly throughout the duration of the program as well as after its completion. Also, in an effort to ensure the continued quality of the CATS Program, a syllabus of weekly objectives, questions, and activities is utilized by all CTFs as the basis for their interactions within the CATS Teams.
During their time within the group setting, those students participating in the CATS program will utilize weekly exercises from various college success textbooks to facilitate their success in college. Since this success is highly dependent upon the assuming of self-responsibility, the commitment to participate fully in CATS is necessary in order for students to reap the benefits of this program. Involvement in CATS is in essence an investment of a student’s energy and time in his or her own college success. Exercises have been chosen because of their relation to the college environment as experienced by first year students and the adaptability of the questions/objectives of each exercise for the 50 minute CATS team setting. Also, each exercise easily refers back to the overall goal of CATS: student success and retention at WSU.
Last updated January 2002, Bruce Fleming: wfleming@mail.wsu.edu