Title: Optimizing Social Performance in First-Year Undergraduate Students: A PEO-Guided Approach
Date: 2025-08-19
Author/Creator: Ross, Sophie
Abstract: St. Catherine University’s The Reflective Woman Lab is a First-Year Experience course that aims to support first-year students’ social and academic integration. Staff have reported low social participation within this population, particularly in class, exacerbated by COVID-19. This project aimed to increase First-Year Experience facilitators’ knowledge and confidence in implementing holistic, evidence-based strategies that support the social performance of first-year undergraduate students. The primary author utilized a mixed-methods, cross-sectional design in which five student mentors participated in a one-hour interaction PD training event and completed retrospective pre-post training surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, and thematic analysis was used to identify themes within qualitative data. Survey results demonstrated increases in average perceived knowledge and confidence across all facilitation strategy areas, with the most significant gains in environment-based strategies. Participants described the PD training event as engaging, practical, and relevant to their roles as student mentor facilitators. This project will build on audience members’ foundational knowledge of ecological theories, demonstrating the adaptability and feasibility of the PEO Model for innovation in non-traditional settings like higher education. Audience members will gain insight into social performance support strategies for first-year students as well as evidence-based guidelines for delivering engaging PD events.
Advisor: Darla Coss OTD,OTR/L, CHT
Department/School: Occupational Science/Occupational Therapy
Degree Name: Doctor of Occupational Therapy
