Student Support and Success at Florida Atlantic University

1
Student Support and Success at Florida Atlantic
University

• What we are doing University-wide to serve our
  students

2
Retention at Florida Atlantic University The
Problem

• Approximately 1/3 of all entering freshmen (FTIC)
  each fall semester do not enroll for the
  following fall
• FAUs 6-year graduation rate for FTIC is 34-36
• Lowest in the SUS
• Approximately 15 of incoming freshmen report
  that they plan to leave FAU without receiving a
  degree
• (Entering Student Survey, 2001 and 2002)

3
What we Know About Retention at Florida Atlantic
University

• The problem is primarily lower division
• Those who leave fall into two categories
• Not academically prepared
• Reverse transfer to Community College
• Or lost as drop-outs
• Those performing well (heavily white male)
• Survey data indicates that they leave because
• Not challenged academically
• Want more of a traditional college experience
• Not making connections

4
What we Know About Retention at Florida Atlantic
University

• National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE,
  2001)
• FAU was significantly below our peers and all
  participants on the following areas
• Student engagement with faculty (time in and out
  of class)
• Freshman had a lower perception of faculty
  quality
• Saw academic support (advising, help with
  personal and academic problems) less favorably
• Upper division students however, show high regard
  for faculty (especially within the major courses)

5
Retention a nationwide problem

• The Policy Center for the First-Year of College,
  led by John N. Gardner, has made recommendations
  that we look beyond a programmatic response to
  increase retention
• We need more than single programs or classes to
  raise retention rates
• This approach has been done for 34 years and it
  hasnt worked - Schools still are having
  retention problems.
• Retention has reached a plateau through
  programmatic initiatives

6
Retention a nationwide problem

• We now must look at the first-year experience in
  a holistic sense creating an integrated,
  comprehensive response with high level leadership
• Ideally, we must motivate people BEYOND doing
  this to raise retention rates implement as basic
  improvements in undergraduate education

7
Retention a nationwide problem

• The Policy Center and the National Resource
  Center for The First-Year Experience and Students
  in Transition created the Foundations of
  Excellence in the First College Year project
• 219 institutions applied to be part of the
  project
• 24 were selected
• 400 institutions participated in the December
  2004 Teleconference to discuss the project
• Illustrates the tremendous scope of the issues
  related to retention that exist nationwide.

8
Collaboration and Discussion

• People are talking about the issues and
  possible solutions
• Strategic Planning
• John Gardner visit
• Title III committee
• Teaching and Learning Center group
• Other taskforces and working groups

• Collaborations
• Continuing
• Within Student Affairs
• Student Affairs and Academic Support
• New collaborations are developing
• Faculty and support areas
• Among faculty (TLC)

The stars are aligned
9
Purpose of this Presentation

• FAU is doing many things to promote student
  success however,
• The approach has been incremental, not holistic
• No central plan or authority
• Conducted by units on the periphery of academic
  life (Gardner)
• Not an obvious mission priority

10
Orientation

• Freshman Orientation Provides a comprehensive
  introduction to the policies and services at FAU.
  Orientation includes Academic Advising,
  Registration, and student-led small group
  sessions
• Parent Orientation Optional program offered
  during Orientation for freshmen. The program
  gives parents a comprehensive introduction to FAU
  policies and services and an introduction to
  their role as the parent of a college student.
• Orientation Follow-Up Campaign
• Hand-written postcard to students from their
  Orientation Leader
• Orientation Leaders call the students from their
  small groups during the first month of the fall
  semester to see how they are doing and find out
  if they have any questions or concerns.

11
Freshman Academic Advising Services

• Provides a broad array of services to aid
  freshmen in developing and implementing an
  appropriate and meaningful educational plan.
• SOAR summer bridge program for at-risk
  students
• Administer SLS learning strategies course
• Collect and distribute Freshman Warnings to
  students who are struggling at the start of their
  collegiate career
• Work with students on Warning or Probation
• A variety of advising methods (individual
  appointments, e-mail contacts, etc.) to best meet
  student needs

12
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

• Coordinates offices that work directly with
  undergraduate students to aid in their academic
  success
• Oversees academic-based initiatives
• Core curriculum and general education committee

13
Student Athlete Center for Academic Excellence
(SACAE)

• Provides programs to enhance retention and
  graduation rates for FAU student-athletes
• Individualized academic counseling
• Tutorial services
• Secondary Academic Advising
• Academic Progress Tracking
• Study Hall
• Life Skills Program

14
Student Retention

• Committed to retaining students by providing
  programs that assist in their academic success
• Promotes awareness of retention issues
• Newsletters, website, meetings and presentations
• Chairs University Retention Committee
• Coordinates learning community programs
• Initiatives to involve parents in student success
• Individual student counseling, referrals, and
  assistance as needed
• Title III Department of Education Grant

15
University Center for Excellence in Writing (UCEW)

• Three sites (2 in Boca, 1 in Davie) devoted to
  the support and promotion of writing for all
  members of the University community
• One-on-one consulting to help writers with a
  variety of writing and reading concerns
• Workshops on issues of academic and professional
  writing
• Manage the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)
  initiative
• 99 of writers who receive consultations report
  that they would visit again and that time was
  well spent.

16
University Scholars Program

• Lower Division Honors Program of the Boca Raton
  campus.
• Creates a cohesive learning community of high
  achieving students, socially and academically
• Small seminars provide personal interaction
  between the instructor and the students
• Academic recognition
• Freshman Seminars
• Serves only a small population of students

17

• Student Services/Student Life
• Vice President for Student Affairs
• Assistant VP for Student Affairs
• Dean of Students

18
Career Development Center

• Programs offered through the Center support
  retention as they encourage students to feel a
  connection to the university and sense of
  purpose
• Sessions for Undecided majors at orientation
  and through various workshops
• Career Counseling and assessments
• Presentations in classes for lower-division
  students
• Co-operative Education and Internship Program
• Annual Partnership Day to keep academic
  advisors informed

19
Counseling Center

• Many students who seek counseling or are referred
  to counseling are at risk to drop out of school.
  
• Services to alleviate risk include
• Individual and group counseling efforts
• Psychiatric Services
• Substance Abuse Program
• Student Success Seminars
• Relationships with academic departments to meet
  specific needs of students in those areas of
  study are aimed at aiding retention.
• Currently work with the Department of Music to
  assist students with performance stress

20
Housing and Residential Life

• Engages students through
• Participation/sponsorship in Weeks of Welcome
  Activities
• Opening Week and additional Floor Meetings
• Educational Programming to enhance students
  academic experiences
• Social Programming and Community Development to
  assist the student in the transition to college
• One-on-one interactions between student/
  professional staff and residents
• Resident involvement opportunities through
  Resident Student Association and the Community
  Councils

21
International Student and Scholar Services

• International student advisors give students
  accurate, timely, and consistent information
  about how to maintain their immigration status
  during their academic journey.
• Provide support, answer questions
• Coordinate programs that promote awareness of
  various cultures

22
Multicultural Affairs

• Academic Enhancement Program
• Tutoring services to help students increase
  comprehension and improve within the classroom
• FAU Connection Mentoring Program
• Allows students to establish personal
  relationships with FAU employees in order to
  connect and adjust to the FAU campus environment
• Book Loan Program
• Lowers educational expenses and provides access
  to books in order to respond properly to course
  assignments and prepare for exams.
• Is this the best way to provide these services
  for all students?

23
Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)

• The OSD provides accommodations to students with
  disabilities in order to allow them equal access
  to academic programs
• OSD counselors often meet with students to
  balance their schedules according to individual
  strengths and weaknesses.
• Assistive technology labassistance is provided
  through the use of technology to maximize chances
  for academic success.
• Offer an equipment loan program
• A study skills specialist meets weekly with
  students in need of special assistance (study
  skills, time management, and test taking
  strategies.
• Facilitate course substitutions and CLAST waivers
  
• Scholarship opportunities for students with
  disabilities

24
Student Development and Activities

• LEAD The Leadership Program (Leadership,
  Education, and Diversity) program provides
  workshops and retreats leading to a leadership
  certificate.
• This program gives students a chance to learn
  about and think about leadership outside of the
  classroom and keeps them involved.
• Student Clubs and Organizations (over 180 on
  the Boca Raton campus)
• Being involved in clubs helps students stay
  connected to the university. Students that are
  involved are more likely to stay and complete
  their degree.
• Various Student Activities and large scale events
  including Program Board, Homecoming, and more.
• These events gives students things to do to
  learn, unwind, and just have fun. Again, students
  that are involved are more likely to stay and
  complete their degree.

25
Student Health Wellness

• Student Health Services and Today and Beyond
  Wellness provide primary health care and health
  promotion services for students. 
• These services help students to enhance their
  health, stay in school and maintain their
  academic schedules. 
• When students become very ill or experience
  financial challenges from high healthcare
  bills, they may need to withdraw.
• Wellness programs assist and support students in
  making healthy lifestyle choices. 

26
Other Areas of the University that Promote
Retention
27
Athletics and Recreation

• Participation in intercollegiate sports gives a
  student an additional means of integrating within
  the University community
• Sense of belonging as part of a team
• Additional services provided for student athletes
• Supporting intercollegiate sports or attending
  sporting events gives students another method of
  getting involved on campus and feeling excited
  about being part of the University.
• Extra-curricular programs promote student
  involvement outside of the classroom

28
Ombudsman

• The University Ombudsman works to solve problems,
  to allay frustration, and to advise those
  requesting help, either before or after existing
  processes are used.
• The Ombudsman serves as a neutral problem-solver
• The Ombudsman provides information on processes,
  refers to appropriate offices, investigates,
  recommends and mediates.
• With knowledge gained as a result of this effort,
  the Ombudsman may recommend policy or procedure
  changes.

29
Colleges

• Each college has a Student Support Center with a
  variety of services to enhance the curricular
  experience of their students
• Examples include
• Advising and counseling services
• Tutoring services
• Scholarships
• Internships
• Math Labs
• Faculty Advising/Contacts

30
Large-Scale Collaborative Programs

• Weeks of Welcome
• Departments across several divisions coordinate a
  variety of programs to help students connect
  during the start of each fall term
• Parent and Family Weekend
• Departments across several divisions coordinate a
  variety of programs to involve families in the
  FAU experience

31
Assessment

• How do we know that the programs and services
  provided within these departments are working?
• Student Satisfaction and other Surveys
• Departmental annual assessment reports
• Departmental surveys
• It is difficult to measure the impact of an
  individual program or office on retention.
  Retention occurs from having a comprehensive,
  holistic approach to student success

32
How do we attract good students?

• The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is in the
  second year of a six-year plan to increase
  admission standards for new, incoming students.
• Students with strong academic profiles are more
  likely to succeed.
• The better our profile, the higher quality
  students we can attract.
• Meetings are held with high school and community
  college staff to keep them updated about changes
• Scholarships are used to attract academically
  talented minority students
• We need competitive scholarship dollars to
  compete with other institutions.
• Strong coordination with community colleges

33

• Everyone has a role. It is not someone elses
  job. Everything that goes on in the first year
  impacts student success.
• - Patrick Terenzini, 2004

34
Suggestions for Improvement Incremental Changes

• SLS 1503 course
• Expansion of Learning Communities
• Residential Learning Communities
• Innovative non-residential communities
• Supplemental Instruction
• Service Learning
• Student contacts and follow-up
• Mentoring and Advising academic warnings
  students on probation

35
Suggestions for Improvement University Support

• Comprehensive, University-wide retention plan
• Retention as a key component of the strategic
  plan
• Top administrative support for retention
  initiatives
• Expectations for faculty
• Expectations for students
• Budget construction according to strategic
  objectives
• Develop First-year Experience (FYE)
• Mission, structure
• Establish council

36
Suggestions for Improvement Faculty Engagement

• TEACHING LEARNING CENTER
• Instructional techniques for faculty
• Training for adjuncts and TAs
• Faculty orientation teaching expectations
• Expectations and Incentives for Faculty
  involvement with Freshmen

37
Suggestions for Improvement Student Engagement

• Academic Engagement
• Academic support (TLC)
• Core curriculum
• Service learning
• Increase existing engagement opportunities
• University Scholars and Learning Communities
• Traditions
• Freshman Convocation
• Freshman Reading assignment

38
Title III-A Grant

• Wrote and received a US Department of Education
  Title III-A Strengthening Institutional Programs
  planning grant
• 35,000 to develop a plan to strengthen the lower
  division at FAU
• PI- Mike Armstrong
• Tom Pusateri and Jennifer Bebergal (key writers)
• Assess problems with lower division and write
  development grant to create change

39
Title III-A Grant

• FAU has a grant committee working to
• Collect data
• What are we doing well
• Where can we improve
• What are other institutions doing that is working
• What do the experts say specifically about FAU
• Gardner visit (January 2005)
• Develop an improvement plan
• Submit grant application for Development grant in
  February 2006

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THANK YOU!

• Thank you all for your interest
• We look forward to your support in helping us to
  help students reach their educational goals
• Remember, there is no silver bullet. It takes
  many initiatives and a whole village to
  increase retention rates!
• Questions and Comments