RAPPlications!

The way we take applications to RAPP - or RAPPlications as someone cleverly called them yesterday - is a multi-step process:

• People contact us for information/application.  Last year we had over 170 people contact us for this.  The response is a somewhat long email that gives the person lots of information.  It covers the basics of what RAPP is and does, the commitment we ask for, and the application process.
• People fill out a written application.  The application is attached to the informational email and takes people about five to ten minutes to complete.  People can return them several ways - by email, fax, mail, or in person.  We just ask that it's return before or at the interview.
• People take an interview.  The word interview is a bit formal for what this is intended - it's really a time where the applicant gets to ask all the questions they can think of and we ask a few back to explore what they're interested in and get their thoughts on RAPP things like confidentiality and commitment.
• RAPPers get a phone call!  Actually, all applicants get emails and phone calls on Friday, October 8th.  That's when we announce who got in, which group they're in, who's on the waiting list, and how the waiting list works.

We've got 70 spots for students between the two groups!  Last year we had over 170 people contact us for applications.  About 78 of them continued on in the application process and all but a few were placed.

We're accepting applications through October 1st!  Help us spread the word!  If you know someone who's interested, you can always send them to the "Join RAPP!" page online!

Interviews and Workshops

Despite the expected calm of summer, life's been pretty busy around the RAPP office these days. Here's why:

Inter views!
In the past two weeks, I've been conducting both regular RAPP interviews for spots in RAPP XXVI as well as interviews of nine Public Allies finalists who are seeking a position here with RAPP for the 2010-2011 Public Ally class.

Both kinds of interviews have been great! We should know by early next week (if not sooner) who our Public Ally will be for the year. All of the candidates were great, providing thoughtful responses to an assigned reading as well as insightful reflections on the interview questions. I am confident all of them will be great wherever they end up!

Workshops!
Not actually the leading of them this time, but preparation for them. We'll be doing a workshop with 100 (100!) Leadership Scholars volunteers tomorrow morning. RAPP's just been booked for convocation at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Plus each evening SALD staff and many a RAPPer are hosting the Commuter Session for incoming new student orientation.


Also keeping me busy is preparation for this year's RAPPORT. Let '10-'11 be called The Year of RAPPORT!

Coming Up This Summer

Today is the last day of classes for students here on the quarter system. For many, that means they'll soon be taking a few months off of classes to work, relax, or do whatever else they do with their summer break.

In the RAPP office, it means a shift in focus rather than a break. Here are a few things we'll be focusing on this summer (which you'll get regular updates on through this blog):

• Recruiting RAPP XXVI! New to us this year is a student leadership position for recruitment. Jojo of RAPP XXIV and Brice of RAPP XXV will be working together to coordinate our recruitment efforts, including keeping our usual efforts going and innovating new means for connecting with potential RAPPers.
• Interviewing RAPP XXVI! For our second year, we'll be offering interviews over the summer. We already have one lined up for next week and hope to have a steady flow of interviews throughout the summer.
• Finding the rest of RAPP! The search for RAPPers will kick into full gear over the summer. We hope to find the names of all who have graduated RAPP and contact information for those still around. This is partly for the intrinsic benefit of knowing who we are, but also as a lead up to...
• Planning the RAPP 25 Year Reunion! The RAPP Reunion Committee has already been working on this and our "save the date" mailers will start coming out in the next few weeks. Still, there is much to do to get ready for this amazing coming together of RAPPers!
• Mini-Reunions! RAPPs XXII-XXIV have been talking about their desire to reconnect, so we're working together to plan "mini-reunions" for the summer.
• On-going community outreach! While UC groups need less of us during the summer, we'll still be offering workshops. Already scheduled are workshops with Student Orientation Leaders, Leadership Scholars, and Upward Bound at the College of Mt. St. Joseph.
• Hiring our newest facilitator! RAPP hopes to employ a Public Ally for the coming year, so we'll be working with them to find the best new facilitator we can!
• RAPPORT! At the last RAPPORT meeting of the school year, many members said they'll be around over the summer and don't want to lose the connections they've made. So, we'll be having RAPPORT meetings and hopefully community service throughout the summer.
• Lots of randomness! There will be many other random things that come up throughout the summer - hopefully you'll keep reading up here to find out what they are! :)

A Few Thoughts on This Year So Far

At the end of the quarter, I spend a lot of time looking at feedback from our members and the few numbers I have about our group. This year I found something exciting in our retention rates that I want to reflect on openly.

Retention rates in RAPP are something I have limited data on. We know some limited numbers on RAPP XVIII through XXII and more thorough information on RAPP XXIII through now.

There are three numbers we keep track of nowadays:

• Acceptance - How many people we have on our roster at the first meeting.
• Commitment - How many people continue after the second meeting (meaning, they could come to the first two meetings to try us out, but we consider them committed if they attend retreats/meetings after that).
• Completion - How many people participate all the way through to the end of the schoolyear.

We calculate retention by dividing the commitment number by the completion number.

Given that RAPP is a time-intensive, energy-intensive co-curricular, my goal is a retention rate of 80% - which can be a challenge to reach. The years that we do have data for our retention rate has ranged from ~50% to 80%.

Part of why we calculate from commitment rather than acceptance is that it can take folks those first two meetings to figure out if they can make the commitment of time and energy in a co-curricular way. There's a natural drop in numbers after the first meeting or two every year. From there people continue to withdraw their commitment as academic and personal demands may pull them away.

Here's why I tell you all of this: RAPP XXV is currently at 100% retention. This is amazing, and in some ways absurd! It's a pleasant surprise, to say the least. We accepted 71 people into RAPP XXV and 68 committed. From there, so far we've kept all 68 - not something we have a precedent for.

I don't really know why this is as it is at this point. I'm going to throw out a few ideas I'm starting with:

• We have an amazing group of committed individuals! It's shown true to me so far. During their interviews, we explored issues of commitment and group development and why they wanted to be in RAPP. To a tee, folks were able to give well thought answers, demonstrating an understanding of what they were getting into and what it took to be successful.
• We have an amazing team of Peer Leaders and facilitators! DeVorah, Emma, Krystal, Nancy, and Tad have been doing amazing work supporting RAPP XXV members - they challenge them to think in new ways, they support them through the difficult times, and they bring a lot of fun and friendliness. Sarvani and Tar have been blowing me away with their insight, facilitation skills, and planning of interactive sessions.
• We have an amazing group of committed individuals! People have been doing their best to demonstrate commitment through attendance and engagement. Communication has been key, with folks communicating clearly why they're there and why they're not when they're not.
• We're a bit exclusive! We accepted 71 people - which in the end left several people still on a waiting list to get in. For me, this seems like it's a bit of incentive to make sure that I demonstrate my commitment - I know that my spot was wanted by someone who didn't get the opportunity to participate.

I've got more information to wade through because our evaluations from members came in this week. I'll hopefully have more insight into why our group is rockin' awesome soon!

(pic - RAPP XXV Wednesday folk at fall retreat)
-Rebecca

Much is Owed Our Interviewers

Interviews this year's RAPP group were conducted from July through this week. Considering we had over 70 people complete interviews, it was a lot of time talking with folks! We never could've gotten through so many interviews and had such a quality of conversations if it weren't for the many RAPPORT members and a RAPP friend who helped out conducting interviews and providing feedback on the candidates.

A great big thank you to the following folk who pitched in on interviews:

Jojo Brannon (RAPP XXIV)
Eddie Cancel (RAPP XXIII)
Nicole Cassini (RAPP XXIV)
Gabby Givens (RAPP XXIV)
Tad Miller (RAPP XXIV)
Jen Rush (Diversity Education GA)
Krystal Smith (RAPP XXIV)
Brenna Travis (RAPP XXII)

An extra big thanks to Jen (pictured above), who isn't even a RAPPer but stepped in as the Diversity Education GA and co-conducted the most interviews of our dedicated group!

-Rebecca

Getting to Know RAPP XXV

RAPP interviews are where we get to know the individuals who want to be a part of RAPP and develop a composite of the interests, identities, strengths, and needs of the upcoming group. They also give the candidates an opportunity to ask questions about RAPP and find out if we're something they want to commit to for the year.

Now in my third year of interviews, I still enjoy them! It's interesting to learn about the candidates and find out what questions and concerns they have about RAPP. We've spent the last two summers updating our interview process. We've got new applications, new questions, and better prepared interviewers.

This summer we're offering interviews before the quarter begins. Last week, we held our first three interviews for RAPP XXV! Even with school (mostly) out for the summer, we have several RAPPORT students who are volunteering their time to help with interviews.
(pic - Christie (right) was a superstar with RAPP XXIV interviews, Nicole (center) has already jumped in and been a huge help with the RAPP XXV interviews already)
-Rebecca