University of Idaho’s program to help new students develop academic and personal success is showing positive results

Vandal Gateway Program sets new students up for success

Like most freshmen, Jenna Partington left a lot behind when she first came to University of Idaho in fall 2023 – like her parents in Sacramento, California and her twin brother Patrick, who started college at San Francisco State University.

But she chose to attend college in Moscow for a reason – she felt the presence of past family members who attended U of I calling her to join the Vandal Family. 

“My mom, my aunt, my great-grandmother (Janice Wendler Batt ’65) and several cousins are all Vandals,” said Partington, who is also related to U of I attendee and former Idaho Governor Phil Batt. “Our family has a cabin in McCall we’ve had for 70 years. My mom’s dad grew hops in Wilder. I visited the campus during my junior year in high school and it felt like home.”

Our role is to enhance their student experience by getting to know them one-on-one while helping them develop strong academic support habits and learn how to be a successful college student. This is the third year of the program, and we’re seeing a lot of success. Brian Dulin, VGP coordinator

Partington is also one of the approximately 200 U of I students who have found a home in the Vandal Gateway Program (VGP), which is designed to assist new students by giving them access to expanded advising and academic support. 

VGP was created as a pilot program to admit students to U of I who fell below normal admissions standards and is housed under the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS).

“Our role is to enhance their student experience by getting to know them one-on-one while helping them develop strong academic support habits and learn how to be a successful college student,” said Program Coordinator Brian Dulin. “This is the third year of the program and we’re seeing a lot of success.”

Life lessons

Partington, who eventually wants to tell stories through studying film & television in CLASS, has an interesting story of her own. She and Patrick were born with cystinosis, a rare genetic disorder caused by the accumulation of amino acids cells throughout the body. 

One of the main problems this causes for Partington is extreme fatigue. Among the complications caused by nephropathic cystinosis, the type she and Patrick have, is kidney failure, which affects the amount of energy she has.

“I keep getting more and more tired as I get older,” she said. “I was able to play volleyball and swim when I was younger but now I can’t go a day without a nap.”

VGP helps students like Partington by offering more individual attention to each student. VGP students take most of their first-year general education classes, like English 101 and 102, in smaller, cohort-style classes. This gives students opportunities to ask questions or engage in group discussions while giving instructors extra time to ensure students are retaining the information.

“We’re able to offer more feedback because we have fewer students in the classroom,” said Kalynn Hanley, who teaches English, communication and anthropology for VGP. “We’re also able to take the time to see if a student has missed assignments or is missing days in class so we can work with them to get back on track.”

Partington, a member of Kappa Delta, appreciates that students can work directly with their instructor to determine what works best for them.

“They’re teaching us how to be independent,” she said. “You can ask for reminder emails about assignments when you need it, but you can also tell them if you don’t need it. It’s a great way to learn that life skill.” 

VGP’s main goal is to emphasize general student success rather than focusing on one track of study. Students admitted into VGP start off majoring in general studies but can change their major halfway through their second semester as long as they are in good academic standing. 

VGP students also receive advice from ambassadors – students who successfully navigated VGP and chose to stay at U of I.

“I help VGP students by sharing information I learned that helped me succeed during my first year of college,” said Kage Moore, a sophomore from Meridian majoring in advertising. “Time management and money management are very valuable tools I learned about so it’s nice to share that with newer students.”

Homecoming

Partington is taking this semester off from school but is hoping to return to Moscow for the spring 2025 semester after a kidney transplant scheduled for later this year. Not wanting to stay away from her friends for too long, she has visited campus twice this fall, including during Homecoming.

Partington’s parents, Kevin and Teresa ‘94, joined her in Moscow for Homecoming. They have also been instrumental in supporting Jenna and Patrick, creating Jenna & Patrick’s Foundation of Hope, a non-profit organization to support and promote research for finding a cure for cystinosis and to provide support for affected individuals and their families.

Research supported by the foundation has resulted in a promising treatment involving stem cell transplants, which is currently being tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, a kidney transplant must take place prior to this treatment.

Kevin is hoping to be approved shortly to donate one of his kidneys to Jenna. It is estimated Patrick will need a transplant within a year.

Partington is hoping for a quick recovery so she can come back up and reunite with her Vandal Family as soon as possible. Her VGP classmates, sorority sisters and friends can’t wait to see her smiling face.

“Jenna is just that person – always so positive and optimistic,” said Hanley. “There are people who come to class and always add that spark or light to the conversation – that’s Jenna. Even with all of her challenges, her enthusiasm has never wavered.” 

Article by David Jackson, University Communications and Marketing

Photos by Geoff Crimmins

Published in October 2024