Presenters
Ruth A. FreiburgerDirector, Adult Non Traditional
Resource (ANSR) Office
Martin TadlockAssistant Vice Chancellor,
Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement
Purpose of the Graduation Project • Help former UW Oshkosh students complete their
baccalaureate-level studies
• Increase the number of baccalaureate degree holders in Wisconsin
This Fall UW Oshkosh enrolled 12,669 students. Hidden withinthose numbers are the stories of:
• 67 students currently enrolled in the University through the Graduation Project (Spring 2009 Enrollment)
• 105 students who completed their undergraduate degrees at UW Oshkosh through the Graduation Project over the past two years
• 365 students in the pipeline exploring ways to complete their degrees
Wisconsin Facts• In top 10 states in high school graduation rate
• 5th in percentage of high school graduates who immediately enroll in college
• 7th in the nation for its high percentage of associate degree holders
• 35th in percentage of bachelor’s degree holders in adult population
Problem• 35th in the nation is not good!
Growth Agenda – Is there a “brain drain”?• Wisconsin needs 70,000 more adults with a bachelor’s
degree to reach the national average
• Major reinvestment is necessary to help restore quality
• Graduation Project is one of these efforts
Graduation Project Pilot 2004
• Idea of Chancellor – Richard Wells
• Test the water
• Establish contact
• Graduate nondegree completers
The Beginning – Outreach• Registrar and Graduation Examiners
identified “low hanging fruit”
• Stopped out in last six years
• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better
• 15 or less credits left
The Beginning – Communication• Admissions and Academic Advising
• Sent letter to first group with new STAR reports and academic plans
• Students responded to advisors
• Effort was time-consuming and understaffed
Graduation Project 2005• ANSR Office assigned project/new staff
added
• ANSR Office sent invitation to students
• Student mentors worked with GP students
• STAR reports were developed by academic advisors after students responded
Marketing• Graduation Project website
http://www.uwosh.edu/graduationproject wiki: gradproject.wetpaint.com
• Project brochure
• New phase letter sent out annually
• Resend letter to earlier year students with brochure
• Follow-up
GP operates out of the ANSR Office• 1.0 Project Appt. – Outreach Specialist dedicated to GP
• 2 student mentors @ .25 FTE – dedicated to GP
• .25 Academic Advisor – dedicated to GP
• ANSR Program Assistant – as needed
• ANSR Director
Personal Contact• Information, pre-advising and friendly follow up = essence
of project
• Follow up, follow up, follow up
T.K.
Assess Needs• Students respond to invitation to return
• Intake form gets the process started
• Advisors make new academic plan
Assess Needs• Choose available campus and format
for class
• Special issues: appeals, repeating classes, probation, suspension and applying for academic amnesty
Assess Needs• Transcripts
• Financial Aid
• GP Scholarship
Campus Process• Track GP students with database indicators
• Team up with other campus offices for meetings to problem solve, discuss relevant issues and policies
• Help students find courses and complete paperwork
Important Policies• Course Repeat policy
• Academic Amnesty
• Credit for Prior Learning
Benefits• New online and hybrid course development
• Collaboration with Center for New Learning
• Special distance students – GP and other NTS
• Solve unique problems
M.M.
Benefits• Increases faculty buy-in
• Get training to teach online and develop new skill
• Get paid for online training
• Able to teach courses above department allotment
Benefits• Creates direct personal connection for
students to get re-enrolled
• Adds new degree completers each year
• Instills hope!
Evaluation• Numbers of students who respond
• Numbers enrolled
• Numbers graduated
• Satisfaction
• Exit interviews/survey
• Survey to build on collaboration efforts
Funding• Committee on Baccalaureate Expansion (COBE)
funded for two years (06-07), $75,000 per year, total of $150,000
• President of UW System, Dr. Reilly, funded for two years (07-09) at $100,000 per year, total of $200,000 at UW Oshkosh Chancellor’s request
Scholarships• Privately funded scholarships from alum
and long-term donor
• Need based
• Recommended by Project and Provost
• No state funds for scholarships
Target Enrollments• Groups of students targeted for re-enrollment to complete their
degree are broken into phases relating to year of last enrollment at UW Oshkosh
Phase Year of Last Enrollment
Target (approximate number)
Phase 1 & 2 2004-2005 342 former students
Phase 3 2006 605 former students
Phase 4 2007 100 former students
Phase 5 2008 410 former students
(including contacts from Phase 1 & 2)
Graduation Project by the Numbers• 365 have responded to the invitation from all phases
• 116 have graduated – 105 from UW Oshkosh, 11 from other institutions
Accomplishments• Happy campers!
• More baccalaureate holders for university and state
• GP “counted” on UW stats, percentages, etc.
• New online courses to help GP and other NTS
• Visibility – helps students know where to start
Limiting institutional issues• Time lag in getting STAR reports
• Limited number of online classes
• Limited number of evening classes
Limiting institutional issues• 15 of last 30 credits rule
• Catalog year – lasts 6 years
• Full time Outreach Coordinator not permanently funded
What are the limiting issues on your campus?
The Graduation Project re-recruits and helps former students return to complete their baccalaureate-level studies and become proud alum!
Martin Tadlock [email protected]
Ruth Freiburger [email protected]
Graduation Project
Adult Nontraditional Student Resource (ANSR) Office
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: 920-424-1401
Email: [email protected]
Graduation Project wiki: gradproject.wetpaint.com
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