Developing and Assessing a Community College First-Year Experience Program David Ross Director, First-Year Experience Raritan Valley Community College
Today’s Outline • Overview of RVCC • Development of the First-Year Experience Program ▫ Title III Transition of activities ▫ Campus-Wide Involvement • First-Year Experience Program Components • Assessment Activities • Questions and Answers
Overview of Raritan Valley Community College • Located in Branchburg, NJ • Fall 2010 Enrollment – 8,308 • 27.9% increase in enrollment (3 years) • Mean age decrease from 28 to 25 (3 years) • 41.2% increase in full-time student population (3 years)
Development of the FYE Program • Initial components were developed under the RVCC Title III Grant (2005-2009) ▫ Early Alert and Intervention ▫ Student Tracking ▫ Re-designing Orientation Programs • Activities were transitioned as a foundation for FYE Program • Program launched – October 2009
Development of Program continued • Established campus-wide committee to help develop program components • Offices represented on the committee include: ▫ Admissions, Records and Registration ▫ Advising and Counseling Services ▫ Dean of Student Services ▫ Disability Services ▫ Educational Opportunity Fund Program ▫ Financial Aid ▫ First-Year Experience ▫ Student Life ▫ Testing Center ▫ Transfer and Career Services
Development of Program continued • Best Practices and Research used: ▫ Tinto ▫ Kuh ▫ Valencia ▫ Montclair State University ▫ Seidman ▫ Grand Rapids Community College
FYE Program Mission • The mission of the First Year Experience Office is to aid first-year, degree-seeking students in their transition to Raritan Valley Community College, to expose students to the broad range of educational opportunities, and to integrate new students into the college community in order to enrich their first year experience. The First-Year Experience works to: ▫ Provide an environment that is welcoming to students ▫ Identify and overcome obstacles that impede the success of first-year students ▫ Provide developmental activities and essential support programs for first-year students ▫ Create and implement innovative programming that meets the needs of entering students ▫ Support student learning and integrate students into the learning community ▫ Collaborate with the campus community to assist first-year students in achieving academic and personal success.
First-Year Experience Program Components • New Student Orientation • New Student Welcome/BBQ • First-Year Advising • Weeks of Welcome • Success Partner Program • Early Alert and Intervention • Student Programming • First-Year Seminar Course
New Student Orientation • ROARS (Raritan Orientation, Advising and Registration Session) ▫ Required of all first-time, full-time students Fall 2010 – 1500 students completed program ▫ Separate parent and family orientation ▫ Approximately 4 hours in length ▫ Students complete orientation, register for classes, receive their College ID and receive a free RVCC t- shirt.
New Student Welcome/BBQ • Late August event • Designed to help answer last/ minute questions and get students excited about their first semester • Expose students to campus life • Student Handbooks are distributed
First-Year Advising • All first-time students are assigned a first-year advisor • Students meet their advisor at the orientation session • Each advisor is required to keep in contact with their students • First-Year Advising Weeks
Weeks of Welcome • Campus Welcome Stations • President’s Welcome Programs ▫ Convocation (Fall only) ▫ Non-traditional student dinner ▫ First-time and new transfer student luncheon • Free Shows at the RVCC Planetarium • Campus Picnic (Fall only) • All Club Recruitment Day
Success Partner Program • Volunteers around campus (faculty and staff) • Students are matched with a Success Partner • Success Partners are encouraged to meet with their students at least 2 times a semester • Limited Success
Early Alert and Intervention • Takes place in the first few weeks of each part of term • Secure web-based form accessed via the Campus Portal • First-Year Advisors reach out to students based on alert information • Information is tracked in Student Information System
Success Programming • Themed Months initially ▫ September/January - Weeks of Welcome (WOW) ▫ October - Student Success Month ▫ November - Health & Wellness Month • Campus-wide calendar with components of each month • New Student Get Togethers
First-Year Seminar Course • STDV 100 – The College Experience ▫ 2 college-level credit course ▫ Currently not-required ▫ Specialized sections offered: Educational Opportunity Fund Program Athletes
Assessment (The Fun Stuff) • Two components of the program have been assessed: ▫ New Student Orientation/ROARS ▫ STDV 100 – The College Experience (partially) • Additional assessment measures
New Student Orientation Assessment • Program Assessment – CAS • Retention and Success Data
New Student Orientation CAS Assessment • Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) ▫ 14 Standards of Excellence ▫ http://www.cas.edu/index.html • 3-person Assessment Committee ▫ Faculty Advisor (participated in ROARS) ▫ Student (completed ROARS) ▫ Staff member
CAS Characteristics of Excellence CAS website: • Mission http://www.cas.edu/index.html • Program • Leadership • Human Resources • Ethics • Legal Responsibilities • Equity and Access • Diversity • Organization and Management • Campus and External Relations • Financial Resources • Technology • Facilities and Equipment • Assessment and Evaluation
New Student Orientation CAS Assessment • Assessment Process Steps ▫ Reviewed and Revised CAS Self-Assessment Guide ▫ Compiled Evidence for Assessment ▫ Selected Committee Members ▫ Assessment Kick-Off Meeting ▫ Committee Members Completed Assessment Individually ▫ Reviewed and Compiled Completed Assessments ▫ Completed Work Forms • Sample of Assessment Guide
Examples of Evidence • Outlines of program sessions • Program video • Retention data • Feedback from session evaluations • Department information (resume/CV, job descriptions) • Budget information
CAS Assessment Self-Assessment Guide Raritan Orientation, Advising, & Registration Session (R.O.A.R.S.) 2010 Guide Part 1. Mission The mission of the OP must include facilitating the transition of new students into the institution; preparing students for the institution ’s educational opportunities and student responsibilities; initiating the integration of new students into the intellectual, cultural, and social climate of the institution; and supporting the parents, partners, guardians, and children of the new student. Sample OP must develop, disseminate, implement, and regularly review their mission. Mission statements must be consistent with the mission of the institution and with professional standards. OP in higher education must enhance overall educational experiences by incorporating student learning and development outcomes in their mission. ND 1 2 3 4 NR • Committee Not Done Not Met Minimally Met Well Met Fully Met Not Rated DC DP WB Criterion Measures completed 1.1 ROARS develops, disseminates, and regularly reviews its mission. 2 4 4 1.2 ROARS implements its mission. 4 4 4 1.3 The mission statement is consistent with that of the host institution. 4 4 4 individually 1.4 The mission statement is consistent with professional standards. 3 4 4 1.5 ROARS incorporates learning and development outcome domains in the mission statement. 3 4 4 1.6 The mission statement includes: 4 4 1.6.1 facilitating the transition of new students into the institution 4 4 4 1.6.2 preparing students for educational opportunities and student responsibilities 3 4 4 1.6.3 initiating the integration of new students into all aspects of the institution 3 • Compiled ratings 4 1 1.6.4 supporting family members of new students. 1 4 4 1.6.5 registering new students for their first-semester courses 4 Part 1: Mission Overview Questions • Discrepancies and A. What is the program mission? Work Forms B. How does the mission embrace student learning and development? C. In what ways does the program mission complement the mission of the institution?
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