Overview of Undergraduate

EducationTA Orientation

August 18, 2015

Who We Are• Lauren Goodpaster,

Director, Office of New Student & Parent Programs, Division of Student Affairs

• Ben Withers, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

A Snapshot of Today’s Entering College Students

Student Data(from UK Institutional Research,The American FreshmanNational Survey, UK’s alcohol.edu, University Health, and VIP Center.)

Transition IssuesStudent Persistence

and Success FactorsWhat You Can Do to

Help Your Students Succeed

UK First-Year Students, Fall 2014Office of Admissions

• Total number of first-year students 5176(transfer students 1130)

• High School GPA 3.70• ACT Mean 25.5• Out-of-state 39%• Female 58%; Male 42%• Under-represented minority 18.2%• Retention Rate (first year to sophomore

year) for 2014 Cohort 82.5%

Transition Issues

Transition Issues-August

Homesickness; loneliness (leaving family, friends, boy/girlfriend, pets, all that is familiar)

Roommate conflicts Initial adjustment to

college life and academic environment

Values explorationFreedom and

independence adjustments

Transition Issues-August

New social life adjustments

Initial social rejections

Campus familiarization

Long-distance relationships

Financial adjustments

Transition Issues–September

Homesickness Roommate conflicts Disenchantment with

school Adjusting to new study

habits; first exams Dating anxieties Family problems Time management

frustrations Long-distance

relationships end

Transition Issues-October

Dating/non-dating relationships

Increased time management conflicts between social and academic

Academic stress of mid-term exams

Mid-term grades Financial strain“Freshman 15”

weight gain

Transition Issues–Nov./Dec.

“Holiday” homesickness or anxiety about going home; change in H.S. friendships

Financial Strain Final exams: preparing

for unknown Realization of poor

study habits; cramming Sleep deprivation Illness Depression

SO WHAT, WHO CARES?What helps student transition issues and persistence?

High and Clear Expectations Accompanied by Support Structures

• Academic Expectations • Academic Integrity• Campus Resources

Time on Task—Time Management and Study Strategies

• Goal Setting & Task Management

• Reworking Notes• Active Reading• Study Groups• Exam Preparation• Succeeding in Lecture

Class• Recommended

assignments

Time on Task—Time Management & Study Strategies

• 70% reported spending 5 or fewer hours on studying & homework during typical week as HS seniors.

• 76% rated their academic ability as above average or way above average compared to others.

Time on Task—Task Management & Study Strategies

• 24% reported spending 5 or fewer hours on studying or homework in typical week at UK.

• 55% reported studying 10 or fewer hours per week at UK.

• Only 20% reported being very successful in managing their time.

Academic Assistance

Succeed @ UK Student Resource Center

• One-stop shop for student resources at UK

• Online, interactive database• Features Academic Success

resources, guides to Financial Success, and everything you need Beyond the Classroom

• Interactive calendar of important dates for incoming students – can be added to electronic calendars with the click of a button

More information:

www.uky.edu/studentsuccess

The Study (Academic Enhancement)

• Peer Tutoring• Individual Academic

Consultations• Placement Testing• Study Smarter Seminars

& more!

More information: www.uky.edu/AE

Faculty-Student Interaction

• Met with faculty member during office hours:Never—20%Seldom—39%

• Talked to faculty member outside of classNever—21%Seldom—40%

• Discussed class-related issues by email or other electronic means:

Never—2%Seldom—16%

You Are Key to Student Success

• Be aware of transition issues

• Watch for patterns of classroom, academic behavior

• Your informal interactions with students before and after class or outside of class

Academic and Behavioral Alerts• Absences• Tardiness• Poor grades• Missing homework

• Disruptive Behavior• Family Illness/Death• Harassment• Mental Health

Wellness and Support

Wellness: Avoiding Problems with Alcohol & Other Drugs

Before entering UK in fall 2013, first-year students reported:• 30% drank high-risk within last two weeks (5 or more drinks for

men; 4 or more for women in a two-hour period; national 26%)• 39% blacked out (national 34%)

Wellness: Being Safe—Bystander Intervention

• In 2007 UK study, almost 20% of female students experienced sexual violence during time at UK.

• Over 85% knew their attacker.• 15% experienced stalking.• Nationally, 55% of college students

involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing.

Wellness: Stress Management• Nationally, almost 53% of college

students reported more than average or tremendous stress within the last 12 months.

• Almost 29% of students reported that stress had a negative impact on their individual academic performance within the past 12 months.

• 31% of UK first-year students reported feeling a lot of stress often or always within past year.

Money Management & Affordability

• How concerned are you about your ability to pay for college?– Not concerned, I am

confident I will have enough funds, 32%

– Somewhat concerned, I probably will have enough funds, 44%

– Very concerned, not sure I will have enough funds, 24%

Part-Time Work on Campus

• 18% employed on UK campus, working 3 hours or more per wk.

• 16% held off-campus jobs, working 3 hours or more per wk.

• 5.4% of students reported working more than 15 hours per week in off-campus job.

Attachment to Person at Institution

• Not referring to romantic attachment.

• You can be this person!

Sense of Community andBelonging at UK

• Over 21% from hometown with fewer than 10,000 people

• 31% from hometown with 10,001-50,000

• Went home during fall semester outside of regularly scheduled breaks:

• 3-5 times 32%• 6 or more times 24%

Proactive Early Warning and Intervention Strategies

• Get to know your students.

• Talk with your students about classes and experience at UK.

• Follow up with your students!

• Academic and Student Alert Systems