As Illinois State University’s student body becomes increasingly diverse with more first-generation students, a grassroots initiative to support the University’s newest Redbirds is taking flight in the Latin American and Latino/a Studies program.
Communities of Belonging and Success (COBAS), was established in 2021 by Dr. Maura Toro-Morn, director of the Latin American and Latino/a Studies program, and Dr. James Pancrazio, a professor of Spanish. Their initial goal was to “successify” the program’s general education courses that enroll first-year students.
“There is a huge transition between high school and that first semester in college, and academic success is a big part of that,” Pancrazio said. He proposed teaching and incorporating essential academic skills into first-year classes.
Through first-year curriculum, developed by COBAS, students learn how to take effective notes, manage assignments, how to ask their professors for extra help, and how to build community with their peers. They apply these skills to their work in Latin American and Latino/a Studies general education classes.
“It’s not just how to take notes, but how to take notes about something that interests you,” Toro-Morn said. “It’s how to think through some of these issues that matter to you where you see yourself connected.”
Although this personalized approach benefits everyone, Pancrazio said it’s particularly helpful for retaining students who are the first in their family to attend college.
“We want to develop a sense of connection, connected through content,” Toro-Morn said. “These are classes through the Latino Studies program, but any other class can be modeled for this. These are classes that connect to who students are, to their identities, to their families, to the histories, and where they see themselves in the curriculum.
“Once they get to ISU, our job is to help create a sense of community, a sense of belonging.”
Toro-Morn and Pancrazio have also established a partnership with Joliet West High School, which has a predominately Hispanic population, to bring high school students to the University for an engaging visit.
“What can we do on the ground to continue to develop the kinds of programs that are going to say to students, ‘We’ve got your back; you’re coming, and we’re going to work with you to make sure that you’ll graduate?’”
Dr. Maura Toro-Morn
Students tour the campus and meet with faculty and students. Melissa Ramirez-Osorio, an academic advisor and recruiter with the College of Education, shares the story of her personal college journey. And Interim President Aondover Tarhule even met with the high school students during their most recent visit.
“It’s about seeing yourself at ISU, and seeing yourself in a college environment,” Toro-Morn said. “And then you see how we have all of these pieces of this puzzle where, once you step into campus, you’re going to be part of it. You’re going to have a sense of community of belonging.”
The looming, nationwide college “enrollment cliff” caused by a dramatic drop in the college-age population within the next few years, creates a sense of urgency to recruit and support first-generation students from underrepresented groups, according to Toro-Morn.
“It’s not a cliff. It’s a demographic shift,” Toro-Morn said. “We have to think about how larger demographic trends are going to impact ISU. What can we do on the ground to continue to develop the kinds of programs that are going to say to students, ‘We’ve got your back; you’re coming, and we’re going to work with you to make sure that you’ll graduate?’”
Toro-Morn and Pancrazio have partnered with the Office of Admissions to translate some of their recruitment materials to Spanish, while also serving as a resource for connecting the University with prospective Latinx students and their families.
“We have a population of students who are eager to go to college,” Toro-Morn said.
She and Pancrazio are also focused on building a community of belonging for faculty. COBAS hosts an annual workshop that brings faculty together to consider strategies for collectively serving first-generation and Latinx students.
Although COBAS originated from the Latin American and Latino/a Studies program, Toro-Morn and Pancrazio said its principles can be easily applied to other areas across campus. One of COBAS’ primary functions—to create connections through individualized attention—fits naturally with Illinois State’s institutional identity.
“That personalized approach is the key,” Pancrazio said. “Knowing who students are and having that connection to them; that is the approach.”
