foundations of excellence tm in the first college year an aspirational and measurement model for...

Foundations of ExcellenceTM

in the First College YearAn Aspirational and Measurement

Model for Private Colleges

Franklin Pierce College, NH Kathleen M. Morley Assistant to Provost for IR [email protected] Marywood University, PA Ellen Boylan-Fick Assistant Director of IR [email protected] Maryville College, TN Mardi Craig Asst Academic Dean / Director of IR [email protected]

Presented at the 44th Annual AIR Forum, Boston June 2004

mailto:[email protected]



Overview

• Foundations of Excellence Project

• Institutional Assessment Efforts

• Audience Recommendations

• Long-Term Impact

Panel Participants

Kathleen M. MorleyFranklin Pierce College, NH

Ellen Boylan-FickMarywood University, PA

Mardi CraigMaryville College, TN


in the First College Year

National Grant-Funded Project

• To Develop Standards of

Excellence

• To Develop Certification Process

Sponsored by the Policy Center for the First Year of College


in the First College YearLumina Foundation for

Education & The Atlantic Philanthropies

• AASCU • Center for Postsecondary Research and Planning • CSHE • Council of Independent Colleges• NCHEMS • National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition



Dimensions of Excellence

AASCU Institutions

CIC Institutions

Philosophy

Organization

Commitment

Transitions

All Students

Educated Person

Improvement

Engagement

Diversity

Faculty

Life Purpose© 2003 Policy Center


in the First College Year:A Work in Progress

CIC Foundational Dimensions



National Research Project

Qualitative Assessment

Survey Data

Institutional Data



Dimensions

Institutional Assessment Efforts

Franklin Pierce CollegeInstitutional Commitment

Marywood UniversityImprovement

Maryville CollegeAll Students



Franklin Pierce CollegeRindge, New Hampshire

Project Organization

Structure

• Eight-Member Taskforce

• Four Subcommittees

• Monthly Meetings / Assignments

Challenges

• Systematic Assessment Not in Place

• Considerable Time Commitment

• Getting Faculty InputFoundations of Excellence

Franklin Pierce College

Dimension #7Institutional Commitment

Foundations Institutions build commitment of first-year students to the institution.

Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College

Campus History

• Campus website• Admissions tour guide manual• Residential Life programming

• Lack of distribution of history• Problematic presentation of history

Performance Indicator 7.1 …provide opportunities for first-year students to explore campus history.


Campus Culture and ValuesPerformance Indicator 7.2 …provide opportunities for first-year students to explore campus culture and values.


• Admissions material• Orientation process• Campus guiding documents• Campus syllabi

• Strong message regarding community• Need to better communicate key goal• Need to extend to non-core classes

Campus TraditionsPerformance Indicator 7.3 …provide opportunities for first-year students to participate in campus traditions.


• Combined Taskforce input• Email to faculty, staff, and students

• Move-In Day Support• Grand Monadnock Climb• Pierce Pals

• Strong, well agreed upon traditions

Sense of CommunityPerformance Indicator 7.4 …intentionally structure experiences of first-year students so that they develop a sense of community.


• Admissions process• Registration process• Residential Life programming• Peer Advisor programming• Required first-year curriculum

• Effective fall semester structures• Few spring semester structures



Marywood University Scranton, Pennsylvania


Structure

• Taskforce with 22 members

• Subcommittee for each Dimension

• Twice-Monthly Meetings

Challenges

• Systematic assessment in flux

• Considerable time commitment

• Linking evidence to responses

Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University

Dimension #11Improvement

• Collect baseline data• Measure first-year outcomes• Use assessment to confirm

or improve practice• Contribute to the national

knowledge base• Continue the commitmentMU

Foundations Institutions conduct assessment….to achieve ongoing first-year improvement.


Collect baseline data

• Admissions’ intake data • Academic assessment and registrar

recommendations• Disabilities needs• College Student Inventory (CSI) to

assess academic and social motivation, coping skills, and desire for support services

• CIRP Freshman Survey benchmarks

Performance Indicator 11.1 …data to place students in appropriate courses…provide academic support, personal support.


Measure first-year outcomes

• First Year Student Survey (FYSS) is administered at the end of the first year

• National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is given to first-year sample in the Spring semester

• Course evaluations for the first year seminar, University 100, have additional questions on adjusting to college life

• Retention data tracks success in maintaining enrollment from the first to second year

Performance Indicator 11.2 …measurement of cognitive development, personal development.


Use assessment findings

• Marywood’s Teagle Grant has been used to strengthen key first-year initiatives in academics, advising, and retention, and allowed for three consecutive years of the NSSE

• Ongoing evaluation of Orientation programs results in annual review, change, and improvement

• A strong, established cycle of annual surveys translates into continuous assessment of the first year

Performance Indicator 11.3 …assessment findings used to confirm or improve first-year practice.


Contribute to the knowledge base

• Student Life presentation at the National Orientation Director’s Association (NODA) in Seattle

• IR presentation on Marywood’s web-based data warehouse, including retention and first-year outcomes, at NEAIR in Newport, RI

• Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs discusses first-year practice with CIC panel at AAHE, San Diego

Performance Indicator 11.4 …recent contributions to the national knowledge base on the first year.


Continue the commitment

• Continued funding for baseline surveys, outcomes assessment

• Personnel for academic advising, retention, counseling

• Commitment to scholarship on first-year practice

• First-year line items in the institutional budget

Performance Indicator 11.5 …continuing allocation of resources, both human and financial, to assessment first-year practice




Maryville CollegeMaryville, Tennessee

Maryville College


Structure

• Five-Member Taskforce

• Ten Subcommittees

• Scheduled Meetings / Assignments

Challenges

• Maintaining momentum

• Large number of people involved

• Consistency of reporting and analysis Foundations of Excellence

Maryville College

Dimension #6All Students

Foundations Institutions serve all first-year students according to their varied needs.

Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College

Systematic Examination of Needs

Strong assessment programs• Academic support for under prepared and

underperforming students evaluated • Minority students• Student athletes• Transfer studentsRecommendations• Greater focus on honor students, International

students, commuting students, and non-traditional students

Performance Indicator 6.1 …systematically examine the experiences and special needs of select first-year populations.


Provide Services to Meet Needs

Programs in place• Learning Center support services• Academic progress reports• Student Intervention and Athletic Intervention

Teams• Minority support services • Transfer student orientation Recommendations• Honors program• International studies office• Programs for commuters

Performance Indicator 6.2 …provide services to meet the specific needs of select first-year populations.


Evaluate Effectiveness of Services

Programs in place• Annual program evaluations for “selected”

groups• Presidential and Dean’s Scholarship Program • Annual evaluation of the current institutional

strategic plan• Retention analyses• Reports from Student Intervention TeamRecommendation• Improve coordination and reporting of findings

to enhance planning

Performance Indicator 6.3 …evaluate the effectiveness of services to meet the special needs of select first-year populations.


Meet Average Student Needs

First year faculty advisors and orientation leadersCenter for Calling and CareerFirst year seminar sequence (ORN 110, FRS 120,

130, and 140)Learning support servicesOpportunities of a Lifetime FairEarly Alert systemResidence Hall programmingStudent Intervention Team > Counseling services

Performance Indicator 6.4 …assure that the “average” students experience individual attention, campus support, and campus involvement.


Dimension #3Educated Person

Foundations Institutions begin a process by which students gain an understanding of what it means to be an educated person according to institutional mission and values.

Foundations of ExcellenceAudience

Educated Person

1)What sources would you use?

2)How would you collect the information?

3)How well would your campus do on this indicator?

…begin a process by which students gain an understanding of what it means to be an educated person…

Criteria:• definition is articulated• definition influences first-year goals• evidence of student progress it

Long-Term Impact

• Shared Knowledge Base

• Holistic Perspective

• Increased Focus on First-Year

• Increased Focus on Assessment

• Documented Areas of Success

• Identified Areas for Improvement


Long-Term Impact

• First-year “package” of programs • Targeted retention efforts

• Direct assessment is bolstered

• More activity is linked to P.I.’s

• Faculty advisor model continues

• Liberal arts dean is accountable

• Sharper insight into students, self


Long-Term Impact


•Mission statement and specific goals

•Greater recognition of student needs

•Faculty focus on pedagogy

•Curricular examination

•Academic support services expanded

•Admission standards examined

Contact Information

Franklin Pierce College, NH Kathleen M. Morley Assistant to Provost for IR [email protected]

Marywood University, PA Ellen Boylan-Fick Assistant Director of IR [email protected]

Maryville College, TN Mardi Craig Asst Academic Dean / Director of IR [email protected]

foundations of excellence tm in the first college year an aspirational and measurement model for...

Documents

morleyfranklin pierce

pamardi craigmaryville

college yearlumina foundation

college yearan aspirational

pierce pa

year students

tnfoundations of excellencetm

year experience