Our Assignment:

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Our Assignment

• Is to ensure that St. Petersburg Colleges
  philosophy statement regarding the first year of
  college experience is explicit and easily
  understood, consistent with the institutional
  mission, reflects a consensus of internal and
  external constituencies and is widely
  disseminated. We have to ensure that the
  philosophy statement is the basis for
  organizational policies, practices, structures,
  leadership and resource allocations to support
  the new student experience.

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• Philosophy Defined by Websters
  Dictionary
• The study of knowledge
• A fundamental principle
• A system of beliefs
• First Year Students Defined
• A Freshman entering college for the very first
  time
• Students enrolled in college with completion of
  30 or less credits
• Data Resources
• College Mission Statement
• Institutional Strategic Directions
• Student (77 questions) and Faculty/Staff (99
  questions) Surveys
• Team Strategies
• Review College Mission to site areas addressing
  first year students
• Identify Institutional Strategic Directions
• Reference survey items that deal with students
  affective experiences,
• perceptions, and expectations (as a new
  student)

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Student Surveys Four Factors

• 1. Focus on Diversity
• 523 respondents (41.7) shared that the
  institution was exposing them to
• different world cultures
• 519 respondents (37.6) shared that the
  institution was exposing them to
• different world religions
• 517 respondents (38.1) shared that the
  institution was exposing them to
• different issues related to social
  class/economic status, poverty vs. privilege
• 2. Interactions
• 506 respondents (33.8) shared that this college
  provided opportunities for
• interaction with individuals from differing
  backgrounds and culture (People
• outside of the college)
• 533 respondents (46.5) noted that this college
  provided opportunities for
• interaction with individuals from differing
  backgrounds and cultures (Faculty
• and Staff at this college)

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Student Surveys (Continued) Four Factors

• 3. Making Connections
• 548 respondents (39.2) shared that as a new
  student
• the college connected them to new students
• 539 respondents (36.5) shared that as a new
  student
• the college connected them to continuing
  students
• 542 respondents (38) shared that as new student
  the
• college connected them to faculty members
  outside of
• class
• 4. Out of Class Activities
• 527 respondents (32.3) shared that the college
• communicated the importance of out-of-class
  activities
• 521 respondents (33) shared that the college
  provided
• opportunities for involvement in out-of-class
  activities
• that interest them

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Faculty/Staff Surveys Four Factors

• 1. Learning Dimension (697 Respondents)
• 316 respondents (98.1) of faculty communicate
  their academic
• expectations to students
• 316 respondents (97.1) encourage students to
  ask questions in class
• 573 respondents (50.3) shared that they
  understood this institutions
• intended education goals for new students
• 2. Organizational Dimension (708 Respondents)
• 687 respondents (80) indicated that based on
  their organizational
• structure they can correctly refer students
  regarding questions about
• academic rules.
• 689 respondents (82) shared that they could
  directly refer students to
• administrative questions
• 647 respondents (31.5) noted that in terms of
  influence feel that they
• have a voice in decisions about new student
  issues

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Faculty/Staff Surveys (Continued) Four Factors

• 3. Roles and purpose Dimension (697 Respondents)
• 637 respondents (70.6) shared that the
  institution helps new student explore
• their motivation for getting a college
  education in terms of active engagement
• in the community
• 612 respondents (63.1) documented that the
  college help new student explore
• their motivation for getting college education
  in terms of achievement of their
• life goals
• 594 respondents (47) noted that the institution
  helps new students explore
• their motivation for getting a college
  education in terms of contributions to the
• betterment of society
• 4. Philosophy Theme (707 Respondents)
• 668 respondents (81) noted that a formalized
  institutional philosophy for
• working with new students is valuable
• 687 respondents (78) shared that they believed
  that this institution has a
• special commitment to the success of new
  students
• 615 respondents (46.2) believe that their
  department unit has a voice in
• decisions about new students

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Recommendations Faculty

• Expand SPD seminars/workshops to teach faculty
  the BOT rules, procedures and process in areas of
  academic advising, administrative/academic
  support and resources
• 2. Prepare an electronic data base of frequently
  asked questions that faculty can access to assist
  students needing pertinent information that would
  support their decision making.
• 3. Develop a referral tree with various college
  resources along with the people.place and
  telephone contact so that student can have
  immediate access to the services that are
  available to them.
• 4. Dedicate a portion of faculty meetings to
  discuss programs and projects that the college
  provides to students and residents in Pinellas
  County. Make a list of activities and the college
  is participating in and partnering with community
  organizations and/or businesses.

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Recommendations (Continued) Faculty

• At the Fall Faculty Opening event offer faculty
  and staff an opportunity to participate in
  storytelling and inspirational moments with
  student to share with their colleagues.
• Survey faculty to request the submission of a
  list of items they would like to have available
  to support and increase their ability to
  distribute correct information, resources and
  referrals to students
• 7. Each year, present a seminar on the college
  strategic directions/institutional objectives for
  faculty to discuss and to evaluate the progress
  of areas that are directly related to classroom
  instructions, educational tools and resources to
  help students succeed

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Recommendations Students

• Each term present forums on national issues that
  involve other cultures/social economic groups
  that will lead to discussion on how students can
  assist in improving the situation
• 2. Each term involve the student activity
  department in hosting one major student/faculty
  event that will add socialization to the first
  year in the college learning community
• 3. Each term offer international students an
  opportunity to speak with first year students
  about their country and culture
• 4. Partner with community organizations and
  businesses willing to provide community
  projects/service learning for the first year
  college students
• 5. Expand areas where students can gather for
  social interactions on campus
• 6. Include first year students in college wide
  committees to enhance their interactions with
  faculty and staff

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• ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
• Statement of Philosophy for the First-Year
  Experience
• St. Petersburg College is committed to the
  development of first-year-experience students and
  will endeavor to promote their connection to
  their academic peers, faculty, and staff. The
  college will enhance programs, resources, and
  services that are prescribed to help students
  make successful transitions from the learning
  community as they seek to establish their places
  in the world and in the workplace.

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• ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
• Statement of Philosophy for the First-Year
  Experience
• The first-year experience will build upon the
  following beliefs and principles
• Students will have opportunities to explore and
  create connections with other students, faculty,
  and staff as well as with the colleges resources
  and facilities.
• Students will be encouraged to take
  responsibility for learning to set career,
  personal goals as well as to develop a plan for
  achieving success.
• Students will have opportunities to encounter
  and understand new and diverse ideas, viewpoints,
  and people, and to evaluate opinions and values
  different from their own.
• Students will learn how to empower themselves
  through the engagement of intellectual
  experiences that will promote the foundation for
  life-long learning in pursuit of personal,
  intellectual, and career growth.
• Students will learn how to participate as
  informed and responsible citizens in solving in a
  variety of settings.
• Students will be provided with an involved,
  safe, and supportive community that will engender
  a sense of belonging.

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The single common denominator of men and women
who achieve great things is a sense of destiny.
Brian Tracey
Graphics by Mary Kennedy Web Instructional
Design Dept.