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Challenges in Student Recruitment, Challenges in Student Recruitment, Retention & Experiential Learning Retention & Experiential Learning
PracticesPracticesSERD/CSREES Project Directors ConferenceMarch 30 – April 1, 2005New Orleans
Linda L. Okiror, Ph. D.Assistant Dean
School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human SciencesUniversity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
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The ChallengesThe Challenges
Retention• Remediation
• Advisement
• Gatekeeper classes
• Institutional incongruence
• Career incongruence
• Student isolation
• Financial aid
Experiential Learning• Advisement
• Faculty mentoring
• Internships
• Service learning
• Relevance
To develop an educated, professional employee for the food and fiber industry who is personally responsible and professionally committed
Recruitment• Agricultural awareness
• Career identification
• Job opportunities
• Student expectations
• Under prepared students
• Affordability
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Research and Development
Educators
Transportation and Distribution
Communications
Compliance and Regulation
Production Agriculture 2% of jobs in agriculture
98% of jobs in agricultureMarketing
Processing
Wholesale
Retail
Product use
Recruitment Opportunity:Recruitment Opportunity:Agricultural AwarenessAgricultural Awareness
The Food System – From Production to the Table
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Recruitment Opportunity:Recruitment Opportunity:Personal ExpectationsPersonal Expectations
Student Expectations• Satisfactory academic progress• Crystallize career and life goals• Integrate into campus life• Grow personally and socially
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Dollar Value: Dollar Value: Recruitment v RetentionRecruitment v Retention
Dollar value from reduced freshman attrition:
$ Value of retaining one freshman to graduation = $19,136
• Number of 1999 freshman lost to attrition = 234
• Net loss at “graduation” = $5.1 million
Dollar value at graduation from reduced freshman attrition:
$ 10% increase in retention (23 students) = $447,782
$ 20% increase in retention (47 students) = $895,565
$ 30% increase in retention (70 students) = $1,343,347
www.noellevitz.com
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Why do students voluntarily withdraw after the freshman year?
• Academic difficulty• Adjustment difficulty• Uncertain personal goals• Weak academic commitment• Financial inadequacies• Isolation within the campus• Personal, social and academic incongruence
Retention Opportunity: Addressing Retention Opportunity: Addressing the Causes of Student Withdrawalthe Causes of Student Withdrawal
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Orientation and integration to the academic environment
• Pre-college programs
• Developmental education
• Study skills development
• Freshman seminars
• Academic support centers and early alert
• College and departmental assemblies
• Faculty mentoring and research
Retention Opportunity: Retention Opportunity: Skill Building ProgramsSkill Building Programs
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Learning-to-Learn Program – College survival
• Managing personal relationships
• Word processing and power point
• Time and stress management
• Money management
• Note-taking skills - textbooks
• Note-taking skills – lecture
• Study skills
• Peer mentoring and tutoring
Retention Opportunity: Retention Opportunity: Skills DevelopmentSkills Development
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Retention Opportunity: Retention Opportunity: Pre-College ProgramsPre-College Programs
• Develop career and personal goals
• Develop college study and “survival” skills
• Experience college life
• Earn academic credits
• Build supportive friendships
• Identify with faculty
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BRIDGE COHORT
High School GPA 2.86 2.86ACT 16.8 17.0
Dev. Course Pass Rate 93% 71%
CUM GPA 2.49 2.24Freshmen
Retention Rate 94% 71%
Student Achievement in Student Achievement in Developmental CoursesDevelopmental Courses
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BRIDGE (94) COHORT (138)
Pass Biology First Time 47% 37%
Pass Biology Second Time 64% 37%
# Math & Science Courses* 7.1 3.2
CUM GPA 3.01 2.71Two-Year Retention
Rate 73% 59%
Freshman and Sophomore Freshman and Sophomore Student AchievementStudent Achievement
*Courses per student in years 1 and 2
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Comprehensive documentation of the undergraduate experience:
•Student Skills
•Student Competencies
•Student Progress
•Experiential Learning
•Professional and personal development
•Curriculum alignment with program goals
Retention Opportunity: Retention Opportunity: Academic AssessmentAcademic Assessment
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Experiential Learning OpportunitiesExperiential Learning Opportunities
Providing personal and professional relevance• Advisement• Course designed projects• Service learning• Internships• Faculty personal and professional mentoring• Faculty mentored research
Mentoring Scholars Program
• Course completion rate 99%• Cumulative GPA 3.11• Retention rate 94%• Alumni in graduate 63% or professional programs
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Strategic Planning: Strategic Planning: Overcoming the ChallengesOvercoming the Challenges
Short-term strategies• Identification of at-risk behaviors • Immediate, individualized intervention
Long-term strategies• Structured• Extended, intensive contact• Interlock with other programs• Proactive engagement• Qualified faculty and staff with interpersonal
skills• Affective and cognitive needs
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Challenges in Student Recruitment, Challenges in Student Recruitment, Retention & Experiential Learning Retention & Experiential Learning
PracticesPractices
Questions?
Linda L. Okiror, Ph. D.Assistant DeanSchool of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human SciencesUniversity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff