Evaluation of the Hooks Academic Achievement and Mentoring Initiative

The Center for Community Research and Evaluation (CCRE) conducted an evaluation of the Hooks Academic Achievement and Mentoring Initiative (HAAMI), an undergraduate student success initiative led by the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change.

Tracking outcomes for a cohort of 229 HAAMI participants from 2015 to 2024, CCRE leveraged data from the University's Office of Institutional Research to implement a rigorous quantitative evaluation designed to identify causal effects of the intervention. HAAMI participants were compared to a highly similar comparison group of non-participating University of Memphis students. The comparison group was identified by statistically matching students along 21 factors reflecting baseline levels of student achievement and engagement, as well as demographic factors.

The evaluation found that HAAMI effectively supported its target undergraduate population, promoting student persistence with positive findings on a battery of medium- and long-term outcomes. The evaluation found that HAAMI students were more likely than non-HAAMI students to:

• Remain on-track for graduation
• See improvement in grade point average
• Enroll in graduate school
• Receive a well-paying job later in life

In addition to the above statistically significant findings, there was promising evidence relating to degree attainment at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

• To review the major findings of the evaluation, click here.
  
• Click here to read the full report.
  

For questions on this evaluation, contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Jonathan Bennett. To learn more about HAAMI, contact Rorie Trammel, Associate Director of the Hooks Institute.