Post on 28-Mar-2015
Office of Academic Student Instructional Support
-OASIS-
-Cheri Tillman, Pat Burns
THE CHALLENGE
• Student persistence is 65 percent after the first year, less than 50 percent after the second year of college.
• Less than 40 percent of the students that begin their freshman year at VSU will graduate.
• Projected lost revenues to VSU for ten students who do not persist beyond their first semester is $326,811.
WHY STUDENTS LEAVE
• Academic difficulty
• Adjustment difficulties
• Uncertain goals
• Weak Commitments
• Isolation
The Freshman Year Experience
PRE-ENTRY INSTITUTIONAL OUTCOME
ATTRIBUTES EXPERIENCES
FAMILY BACKGROUND
SKILLS &ABILITIES
PRIOR SCHOOLING
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
FACULTY/STAFFINTERACTIONS
EXTRA-CURRICULARACTIVITIES
PEER GROUPINTERACTIONS
ACADEMICINTEGRATION
SOCIALINTEGRATION
The Freshman Year ExperienceThe Freshman Year Experience
“.....it is the education of students, their social and intellectual growth, that is the proper goal of retention efforts. It is essential that we recognize the centrality of education to the process of student retention.”
Vincent Tinto - Leaving College
…...OF SPECIAL NOTE…...
…….though the intentions and commitment with which individuals enter college matter, what goes on after entry matters more. It is the daily interaction of the student with other members of the college in both formal and informal academic and social domains that in large measure determine staying or leaving.
- Vincent Tinto
The Freshman Year Experience
VISION STATEMENT
• The office of Academic Student Instructional Support (OASIS) will provide an exceptional educational experience dedicated to achieving the highest level of excellence within our academic community. In doing so, we will advance a philosophy of teamwork and cooperation throughout VSU.
The Freshman Year ExperienceOASIS CORE VALUES
We will foster an atmosphere for learning that is non-threatening, encourages creative thinking and questioning, and respects diversity.
We will encourage learning communities in which each individual is potentially both a teacher and learner.
As educators, we will maintain the highest professional standards of teaching excellence.
We will exemplify professionalism, charity, and civility in all our working relationships to infuse the spirit of our work into the university culture.
The Freshman Year Experience
PROGRAM GOAL
The goal of the Freshman Year Experience is to maximize every student’s potential to achieve academic success and to adjust responsibly to the individual and interpersonal challenges presented by collegiate life.
The Freshman Year Experience
FYE Program Components
• Freshman Seminar• Learning Communities & Linked
Courses• Faculty Advising & Mentoring• Peer Tutoring
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE PERSISTENCE
• Academic skills development
• Intrusive advising & mentoring
• Frequent contact with faculty & staff
• Tutoring and supplemental instruction
• Involvement in extracurricular activities clubs, and organizations
The Freshman Year ExperienceFreshman Seminar I
• This course is an introduction to lifelong learning with emphasis on college study skills.
• Topics include: learning styles, time management, learning and memory skills, learning from texts and lecture, note taking, objective and essay examinations, critical thinking skills, and a realistic assessment of future employment opportunities.
The Freshman Year Experience
• Learning
Cohorts
• Learning
Communities
• Career
Paper
The Freshman Year ExperienceFreshman Seminar II
• This course is a continuation of Freshman Seminar I with an emphasis on empowering students to make responsible choices in college and life. Includes practical and self-reflective exercises in promoting growth and change.
The Freshman Year ExperienceFreshman Seminar II
Topics:• Computer and Information Technology• Career Development
The Freshman Year ExperienceFreshman Seminar II
Topics:
• Personal and Leadership Development
The Freshman Year ExperienceFreshman Seminar II
Topics:
• Service-Learning Project
• Service-Learning Journal
HAVEN CHILDRENWild Adventures
SERVICE-LEARNING
The Freshman Year Experience
• Advising – Each faculty member has a cohort. These students are advised by that instructor.
• Mentoring – We take advising to a higher level by mentoring our students.
The Freshman Year ExperiencePeer Mentors
• Attends Freshman Seminar class
• Monitors student progress
• Coordinates Fall Explosion activities
• Provides instruction in study skills
• Develops study groups• Motivates students
toward academic success
The Freshman Year ExperienceSupplemental Instruction
• SI targets academic courses which are lecture classes and offers regularly scheduled review sessions.
SI Objectives• Increase student skills
in comprehension, analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving.
• Integrate review of course content with study skills and learning strategies.
The Freshman Year ExperienceSupplemental Instruction
Why SI Works• Students learn how to study.• Students use their study skills on the course content itself.• Students are involved in their own learning.
The Freshman Year Experience
It Works!
Year
LEP 1999 LEP 1998
Mea
n G
PA
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
.5
0.0
2.5
2.1
The quality of advice I received from my academic advisor was...
Very PoorPoorFairGoodVery Good
Pe
rce
nt
50
40
30
20
10
0
FYE_VSU
FYE
VSU
77
3435
18
6
14
33
46
NOTE: 78 FYE and 48 VSU 1101 students did not identify their major because they had not declared their major, or were undecided.
The quality of advice I received from my academic advisor was...
Very PoorPoorFairGoodVery Good
Perc
ent
50
40
30
20
10
0
College
CAS
Arts & Sciences
CBA
Business Admin
COE
Education
COA
Coll of the Arts
CON
Coll of Nursing
I enjoyed the freshman seminar (VSU 1101).
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Pe
rce
nt
50
40
30
20
10
0
FYE_VSU
FYE
VSU42
16
31
48
87
17
37
32
My academic advisor seemed to care about me.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Per
cent
50
40
30
20
10
0
FYEorVSU
FYE
VSU
8
11
27
32
23
4
12
35
48