Camp BearcatFirst-Year Leadership Retreat

Student Activities & Leadership Development

Presentation Outline• Introductions

• First-Year Theory/Historical Background

• What is Camp Bearcat

• Where are they now?

• Questions

Why focus on the FYE?

• Students coming to college w/ different levels of preparedness

• Retention• Student Involvement• Building sense of community• Academic Integration• Social Integration

Hunter, M. & Murry, K. 2007. New Frontiers for Student Affairs Professionals: Teaching the First-Year Experience. Wiley InterScience.

Research I Institutions

What are they doing?• New/Expanding

Programs• Tied to discipline/college• Learning communities• Teaching/learning

reexamined• Academic/Student Affairs

Partnerships• Evaluation/Assessment

Cutright, M. 2002. What are research universities doing for first-year students?

Why A Retreat?

Accelerated Learning

• Fundamental to quality leadership programs

• Students find retreats offer more profound impact on learning

• Off-campus retreats “essential” to learning

• Ropes courses offer challenges & community building Eich, D. 2009. Accelerating Learning and Development with

Student Leadership Retreats

Camp Bearcat History

• Developed in 2003

• Historical co-sponsorships include:– Proctor and Gamble– MasterCard Grant– University of Cincinnati Alumni Association– Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honorary– Student Activities & Leadership Development

Pillars

• Connections

• Academics

• Traditions

• Service

Omicron Delta Kappa Interaction with Participants

• Recruitment of first-year students

• Retreat Planning

• Mentor Program

• Facilitation of Pillars – Facilitation training coordinate

by SALD staff

• Panel Discussion

Scholarship, Leadership & Character

ScheduleCamp Bearcat 2008 Schedule

Saturday, October 25, 2008Welcome Activity 9:15 AMLeave for Camp Kern 10:00 AMCamp Kern Welcome/Mentor Matching 11:00 AMKeynote Speaker, TBA 11:30 AMLunch 12:00 PMKeynote Workshop, TBA 1:00 PMConnections Pillar (Low Ropes) 2:30 PMDinner 5:30 PMSession 1 6:30 PMBreak/Activity 7:30 PMSession 2 7:55 PMBonfire 9:15 PM

Sunday, October 26, 2008Breakfast 8:15 AMODK/Keynote Session 9:00 AMODK Panel 9:45 AMSession III 10:30 AMReflection Letter 11:30 AMLunch/Mentor Session 12:00 PMEvaluations 1:00 PMClosing Photos 1:30 PMBoard Busses 1:45 PMArrive at UC 2:45 PM

Budget Overview

Camp Bearcat BudgetLocation: Camp Kern $4,580Speaker: Carl Creasman, Jr. $5,000Other: Snacks $72.65Other: Copy Center $62.72Other: Speaker Gift $38.66Other: Supplies (Binders,etc) $100.00Transportation: Buses $1,055

Total: $10,909

Income (Registration Fee) $1,435

Total after Income: $9,474.03

Budget Concerns

• Growing interest of program

• Increasing lodging/meal/transportation costs– Value of being away from campus?– Value of overnight retreat?

• Speakers fees– Value of non-university affiliated speaker?

Evaluation Results (2008)(out of 5 possible points)

• Speaker: Carl Creasman, Jr: 4.85• Connections Pillar: 4.24• Academics Pillar: 4.57• Traditions Pillar: 4.58• Service Pillar: 4.25• Camp Fire: 4.80• Mentor/Mentee Program: 4.66• Reflection Letters: 4.26• Overall Camp Bearcat Experience: 4.70

Where are they now?

• 300 first-year students participated since 2003

• 98% matriculated to second quarter

• 97% matriculated to sophomore year

• 98% graduated in five years or less

Does your institution have a “Camp Bearcat”?

If so, what does it look like?

Similarities?

Differences?

Final Questions/Comments?

Thank you!

Please fill out evaluations!

Works CitedCutright, M. (2002). What are research universities doing for first-year students?

About Campus, September/October 2002, 16-20.

Eich, D. (2009). Accelerating learning and development with student leadership retreats. Student Affairs Leader, 37(2), 1-2.

Hunter, M. & Murry, K. (2007). New frontiers for student affairs professionals: teaching and the first-year experience. New Directions for Student Services, 117, 25-34.

Schrader, P. & Brown, S. (2008). Evaluating the first-year experience: Students knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Journal of Advanced Academics, 19, 310-343.

Wilcox, P., Winn, S., & Fyvie-Gauld, M. (2005). It was nothing to do with the university, it was just the people: the role of social support in the first-year experience of higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 30(6), 707-722.