Beyond Orientation Week: Reconnecting Students at Critical Success Points 34 th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience
Presentation Overview • Institutional profile • Purpose and goals of Reconnect Program • Program design • Lessons learned • Questions and discussion
Missouri University of Science & Technology • Founded in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines • Became part of the University of Missouri System in 1964 • In 2008 University of Missouri-Rolla became Missouri S&T • Located along the I-44 corridor, 100 miles west of St. Louis
Campus Demographics 2002-2014 Missouri S&T Enrollment Trends 9000 2120 8000 1984 1804 1850 7000 1702 1610 1459 6000 1414 1343 1289 1370 1287 5000 1391 4000 6522 6146 5843 5672 5504 5205 3000 4912 4753 4515 4313 4089 4120 3849 2000 1000 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Graduate Students Undergraduate Students
Campus Demographics Fall Semester 2014 First Time Freshmen Enrollment: 1291 Average ACT: 28.4 Average HS GPA: 3.85 Gender: 23% Female, 77% Male Engineering & Computing Majors: 82% of undergraduate population Retention Rates 1 st -2 nd year (FS2013): 86% • up 3% from previous year 2 nd -3 rd year (FS2012): 73%
Retention Challenges Missouri S&T surveys students not planning to return to the university after their first year. Of those students surveyed, here are the top reasons for not returning: • Academic (challenging curriculum, low grades, lost scholarship, falling behind, repairing GPA) • Financial aid/price (lack of financial aid, cheaper at community college) • Closer to home (family) • Connection and Atmosphere (didn’t connect with people, socially awkward campus, small town, nothing to do) • Problems with faculty (lack of help, communication) • Unprepared (wasn’t ready, lack of confidence) • Lack of majors outside of engineering
University’s Strategic Plan Achieve Sustainable Growth To Ensure Best Return On Investment • Undergraduate student enrollment (Fall Semester 2012 Baseline: 5,843; Fall Semester 2020 Target: 6,343) • First-to-second year undergraduate student retention rate (2012 Baseline: 85%, 2020 Target: 88%)
Reconnection Program • Grounded in Astin’s (1984) Theory of Involvement, Tinto’s (1993) Integration Framework, and Pearson’s (1986) Social Support Model • Intended to supplement existing first year programs – Comprehensive Opening Week orientation program – Two year on-campus residency requirement – Campus lacks a common freshman curriculum – Retention data suggested a need for extended orientation programs • Aims to “Reconnect” students with resources introduced during Opening Week – “Just in time” learning (Marquardt, 2011)
Reconnection Program • Pilot program – New Student Programs – Undergraduate Studies – Undergraduate Advising – Residential Life – Student Diversity, Outreach, and Women’s Programs
Reconnection Program • Reconnection I – Scheduled during the fourth week of classes • Shortly after first exams to address academic resources • Two hour program – Meetings with Opening Week mentors • Small group facilitated discussions • Campus resources, time management, “checking in” with students – Students moved to a large group session featuring • Goal setting activity • Faculty and student success panels • “I Commit” Pledge
Reconnection Program • Reconnection I
Reconnection Program • Reconnection II – Scheduled near midterms • Address campus involvement and connections to the S&T community • Key offices/departments participate in the Resource Fair – “Conference Style” programming format • Students select two sessions (20 minutes each) • Career Center, stress management, faculty advice, student involvement panels, financial assistance, information to help them move forward to the next semester
Reconnection Program • Communication & Outreach – Student Success Programs – Greek Life – Residential Life – Parent & Family Programs – Athletics – Faculty – Student Life
Reconnection Program • Involvement of student mentors – Opening Week mentors • Support from other student mentors – Greek Life – Residential Life – Athletics – Student Diversity, Outreach, and Women’s Programs
Outcomes Average GPA of students who participated in Reconnection (First Time College) 4 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.16 3.15 3.078 3.05 3.066 3.04 3 2.98 2.967 2.95 3 2.81 2.79 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Reconnection I Reconnection II Reconnection I & II Did not attend Overall Average GPA Average GPA FS2012 Average GPA FS2013 Average GPA FS2014
Outcomes FTC First Semester to Second Semester Return Rate 100.0% 99.0% 99.0% 99.0% 98.6% 98.1% 98.0% 97.7% 97.7% 98.0% 97.3% 96.6% 96.4% 96.0% 95.5% 94.0% 2012 94.0% 92.9% 2013 2014* 92.0% 92.0% 90.0% 88.0% Reconnection 1 Reconnection 2 Both Did not attend Overall Total *2014 data is not confirmed until 4 th week. FTC Frist Semester to Second Semester Return Rate Total FTC FS2014 N=1291; Total FTC returning SP2015 N=1216 Total FTC FS2013 N=1263; Total FTC returning SP2014 N=1221 Total FTC FS2012 N=1119; Total FTC returning SP2013 N=1040
Outcomes RECONNECTION 1 - Student Success Secrets 2012, 2013, & 2014 comparison 2012 N=242; 2013 N= 366; 2014 N=455 Most Helpful or Helpful 100% 93% 92% 91% 89% 88% 90% 85% 83% 82% 77% 76% 80% 72% 71% 70% 68% 67% 66% 66% 66% 70% 60% 60% 60% 50% 2012 40% 2013 30% 2014 20% 10% 0% 0% Learned something Small group I enjoyed Large group Information was I know how to This event met my that will help me activities w/ connecting again activities (goal clear and easy to apply what I expectations be more mentor were with my mentor setting, panels) understand learned to my academically helpful group were helpful situation successful
Outcomes 2014 RECONNECTION 2 - Tools for Moving Forward Most Helpful or Helpful 100% 100% 98% 97% 97% 97% 97% 100% 96% 96% 95% 95% 94% 94% 91% 90% 89% 89% 89% 87% 90% 84% 82% 82% 80% 70% 63% 60% 50% 2012 40% 2013 30% 2014 20% 10% 0% Academic Student Registrar Break- Career Counseling and Information Faculty Panel Student Panel Resource Fair Financial Aid out Session Opportunities Disability Technology Break-out Break-out (n=39/38/73) Break-out (n=36/34/73) Break-out Support Break- break-out Session (n= Session Session Session out Session Session 47/35/47) (n=47/20/64) (n=30/12/50) (n=56/21/73) (n=27/11/30) (n=0/18/44)
Where We Are Today • Continue to reassess and evaluate the Reconnection program for improvement • Creation of a Student Success Center • Targeted “At Risk” student population • Piloted a “Sophomore Summit” in Fall 2014
Lessons Learned • Student involvement lends credibility to the program • “Just in time learning” is crucial • Embrace opportunities to normalize common freshman transition issues • Programming must support a culture of student success
References Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice (2 nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass . Marquardt, M. J. (2011). Building the learning organization: Achieving strategic advantage through a commitment to learning (3 rd ed.). Boston, MA: Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Pearson, J. E. (1986). The definition and measurement of social support. Journal of Counseling and Development, 64 , 390-395. Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2 nd ed.). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. Tinto, V. (2012). Completing college: Rethinking institutional action. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
Questions? Patty Frisbee Student Success Programs pfrisbee@mst.edu Rachel Morris Office of Undergraduate Studies rachelm@mst.edu Kristi Schulte Department of Residential Life schultek@mst.edu
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