The First Year Experience

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The First Year Experience

• Rappahannock Community College

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What is accreditation?

• A process that lets the college evaluate itself
  and that lets an outside group evaluate the
  college.
• Occurs every 10 years.
• Gives value to your diploma!

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Who evaluates RCC?

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Regional Accreditation Agency
• Commission on Colleges
• Process
• Compliance Report
• Quality Enhancement Plan
• Off-Site visit
• On- Site visit

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What is a QEP?

• Quality Enhancement Plan
• A broad-based process is used to identify the
  topic.
• Focus of Plan is on improving student learning.
• Institution must be capable of initiating,
  implementing and sustain the plan.
• Broad-based Involvement of the Community in
  planning and implementation.
• Assessment of the Plan the plan has goals that
  are measurable.

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The Quality Enhancement Plan

• outlines a course of action for institutional
  improvement. Improved student learning is at the
  heart of it.
• identifies one or more critical issues related
  to improving student learning.
• has a viable implementation plan.

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RCCs Timeline

• Jan. 31 QEP goals and management plan completed
  and posted to SACS website.
• Feb. 15 Final report introduction and literature
  review completed.
• February 28 QEP student learning outcomes and
  strategies for achievement developed and posted
  to SACS website.
• April 15 QEP implementation plan completed and
  posted to SACS website
• April 29- Campus Wide In-Service on the First
  Year Experience
•  May 31 QEP assessment plan completed and posted
  to SACS website
• June 15 Final edit for QEP and posted to SACS
  website.
• August 15 QEP implementation begins
• Late August Quality Enhancement Plan and Focused
  Reports Due  

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Where are we in the process?

• Focus groups in 2006-2007 school year identified
  The First Year Experience and Tutor/Learning
  Centers as two areas of need.
• RCC faculty and staff voted in Fall of 2007 and
  it was a tie.
• RCC QEP team chose the final topic The First
  Year Experience in October, 2007.
• Three committees formed in December of 2007-
  Writing, Implementation and Evaluation.
• Student focus group started Feb. 2008.

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Where are we going?

• Committees will be working this spring to develop
  the final plan.
• We will meet with you to get feedback on our plan
  as it is developed.

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What is the First Year Experience?
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FYE is

• The First Year Experience (FYE) is the
  combination of curricular and co-curricular
  activities and policies that support the academic
  success of students in the first year of college.
• The First Year Experience is based upon the
  belief that the provision of intentional
  resources, development and support in the first
  year will lead to greater future success.
• The First Year Experience is part of a movement
  that began with earnest during the early 70s, a
  time where there was a lot of social unrest,
  growing diversity on campuses and a general
  distrust in authority/administration.

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FYE Movement
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Students
Staff
Orientation (including registration)
Summer Reading
Convocation or other opening ceremony
Academic Advising (including registration)
Learning Assistance Services
(FYE ) FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE Curricular and
Co-curricular activities and policies that
students experience in the first year
Clubs and Organizations
Volunteer and/or Service Learning
Introductory Level Courses
Community Housing, Parking Lots
FYE Courses such as College 101
Policies Procedures
Cultural Events such as speakers, plays, concerts
Learning Communities
Budgets
Faculty
Administration
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RCC joins the FYE movement!
st Year College Experience
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The Four Pillars of Support

• Direction empowering students to be
• engaged citizens through goal setting
• and opportunities for personal growth and
  development
• Academic Skills providing resources and support
  systems that enable students to achieve their
  academic and professional goals
• Community creating an environment that fosters
  pride in the institution, engagement, and
  lifelong learning and
• Support Services providing access to services
  that remove barriers to student success.

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Community
Direction
Academic Skills
Support Services
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RCC needs You!

• Thank you for your being here today!