Summer Reading Engaging Students: Admissions & Beyond - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Summer Reading Engaging Students: Admissions & Beyond ****************************** Catherine Andersen Judith T ermini Maria Waters Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

Gallaudet University The world’s only liberal arts university for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people Enrollment: 1500 undergraduates

What is Summer Reading? • Book chosen for all entering students • Faculty, stafg & extended community participate • Semester-long series of events that promote a common intellectual experience

Why should we have a Summer Reading Program? • Establishes a culture of readers • Orients new students to critical thinking & college level writing • Provides a springboard for faculty- student conversation • Establishes academic expectations before arrival • Connects to a larger mission

Step 1: Book Selection • Should reinforce a university goal or initiative Academic Afgairs Planning Committee and University Credo: • Strengthen, nurture & infuse academic culture into all aspects of Gallaudet community • Every person should be treated with civility… our community is strengthened by the diversity of its members

Where to look for possible selections • Electronic sources • Website http://sc.edu/fye/resources/fyr/reading/read.html • Listserv • Summerreading@listproc.appstate.edu • College First Year Homepages • College publications • Colleagues

Step 2: Reading the Possibilities •Read & narrow the choices – involve faculty & students in the selection – consider readability • Contact agents and colleagues – Author’s availability & cost – Author’s presentation style NOW CHOOSE YOUR BOOK!

Step 3: Preparation • Send letter & guided reading questions to newly admitted students • Update your website • Begin campus-wide advertising to engage faculty/stafg • Stock your bookstore • Plan coming semester events

Step 4: Activities & Events • New Student Orientation & Convocation • Semester events prior to author visit – Workshops – Panel Discussions – Essay Contest – Movie Night – Dorm Programs – Reading recognition buttons • Author visit to campus

Step 5 : Assessment • Do summer readings accomplish your goals ? • Use both quantitative and qualitative measures

Assessment Quantitative Qualitative • Numbers and • Student Percentages Perceptions • Head Counts • Faculty/stafg Perceptions • Academic Progress

Assessment Instruments • First Year Seminar evaluations • National surveys with questions related to your goals • Head counts at events • Academic progress in courses that use the book • Faculty/stafg/community feedback • Student papers and journals

Student survey results: • I read Tuesdays With Morrie 92% • I attended an event 61% • Summer reading is a good idea 76% • Reading this book made me want to read more 63% • I want more events like Tuesdays With Morrie 50%

Results, continued: • After reading T uesdays With Morrie I • Appreciated life more 63% • Appreciated friends more 49% • Appreciate family more 49% • Appreciated teachers more 40% • Was more focused on academics 22%

More results : Selected student journals • “My father had ALS... I never knew…” • “I am curious about last year’s book and what will you choose for next year?” • “Do you think Mitch follows his own message?”

More results : Faculty comments • “What have you chosen for next year?” • “Can you send me the guided questions?”

Contact Information Catherine.Andersen@gallaudet.edu Director First Year Experience Judith.T ermini@gallaudet.edu Coordinator First Year Experience Maria.Waters@gallaudet.edu Coordinator First Year Experience http://fye.gallaudet.edu

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