keith lopez coordinator, first & second year programs orientation & transition programs
TRANSCRIPT
THE FORGOTTEN CLASS:CONNECTING WITH OUR
2ND YEAR STUDENTS
Keith LopezCoordinator, First & Second Year Programs
Orientation & Transition Programs
Welcome!
Our topics todayIssues facing second year studentsNational and campus researchUnique approaches at CSU
So… Why 2nd Year Students?
What Is the Issue?
The 2nd year is often a time when students
feel they do not get the attention and
support they received their 1st year.
This can lead to the “sophomore slump”
This is also an institutional issue–
not only a student issue.
Institutions are failing to engage 2nd year
students in a way that best fits their needs.
Pop Quiz!?Second Year Student Issues (Pattengale, 2000)
Reduced motivation Declining performance “Newness” has worn off Intensified curriculum Choosing a major or career Reality hits Feeling of institution not as supportive as 1st year Move off campus, feel less connected Peer issues Identity issues
What Makes 2nd Year Students Unique?
Establishing themselves as individuals
Declaring a major by 60 credits!
Securing ideas about their future career
Developing short and long term goals
Working on academics with harder classes
Missing "frontload" of their 1st year while still trying to make connections on campus
Research on 2nd Year Students Freedman (1956) and “Sophomore Slump”
Common characteristicsFeel lost, unmotivated and disconnectedDissatisfaction with resourcesTransitions in identity and peer groupsExplorations in purpose and major/career decisions
Core is efficacy, engagement and commitment
Hunter et al., 2010, Tobolowsky, 2008, Schaller, 2005, Schreiner & Pattengale, 2000
Research on 2nd Year Needs
Tobolowsky (2008) and 2005 national surveyCreating a sense of communityFostering social engagementFacilitating faculty-student interactionEncouraging major and career explorationPromoting academic engagement and leadership
Schreiner (2009)Impact of campus experience and peer groups
CSU Research on Year 2
Second Year Research Project- Demographic & Academic Analysis (Fall 2006 1st year students)
Retention of 1st year students to a 2nd year
Your First College Year Survey
Campus Climate Survey
CSU Research on Year 2
Orientation Benchmarking Survey
Best practices for study skills fairs, student success conferences and second year programming
Individual Meetings with colleagues across campus
SYE Survey @ CSU in 2011
THRIVING QUOTIENT:Engaged Learning & Academic Motivation = Connection Diverse citizenship
PSYCHOLOGICAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY:Sense of belonging and friendships Campus pride and sense of community
(Nat’l = 5,138; CSU = 478)
SYE Survey @ CSU in 2011 FACULTY-STUDENT INTERACTION ITEMS:
Meeting frequency and content with Faculty contacts =Meeting frequency and content with Advisor contacts
SATISFACTION ITEMS:Living situations, physical health, money paid for college =Quality of faculty interactions (14.3% to 15.8%) Amount learning in college and contact with faculty Community service involvement (55.1% to 44.2%) Academic advising received (62.1% to 53.3%) Overall campus experiences (77.3% to 66.6%)
What Our Students Say Keeping up in all my classes, getting involved, making friends, talking
to professors outside of class, feeling like I belong. Adjusting to the increase in difficulty in my classes, and adjusting to
living with roommates off campus. Figuring when to start thinking about graduation and life after college.
Do I start searching now, next year, or in two years? Balancing finances, school, work, and friends. They all seem to not
have time for each other and it makes you make some big choices. Hard to make the same great friendship after moving out of the dorms. Motivation. Finding out your major and career goals. Time management and still being able to find a way to be involved on
campus while living off campus. Maintaining the enthusiasm I had when I first got here, personal
issues, a lot more stress, more thinking about the future.
Best Practices from 382 Institutions Top 3
Career Planning 74.2%Programs to Assist with Selection of Major 65.3%Academic Advising 61.0%
Lowest 3 Curricular Learning Communities 17.7%Publications for Sophomores 16.8%Peer Mentoring for Sophomores 15.4%
2005 National Survey on Sophomore Initiatives
National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition by Bradley E. Cox & Barbara F. Tobolowsky (2008)
Orientation & Transition Programs First-Year Programs
Getting to Year 2 @ CSU Conference
Second-Year ProgramsYear 2 @ CSU: Second Year Program
○ Year 2 @ CSU Board○ Alternative Spring Break○ Academic Transition Workshops○ Outdoor Experiences ○ CSU! True Faculty Story Dinner Series○ Online Event Calendar for Second Year Students○ Monthly E-Newsletter to Second Year Students
Orientation & Transition Programs Future Programs
Year 2 Mountain Experience Retreat w/ Pingree Park
Traditions Program (Connected to Credit Completion)
Expanded Outdoor Experience OpportunitiesPartnership with the Career CenterRe-envision of Second Year Student Welcome
Back eventEnhance online resources/info for second year
students
Key Plus 2nd Year Community
Career Development
Leadership Development
Supportive Diverse Community
The Focus of Key Plus Purpose: Understanding who I am
Self assessments, value and identity exercisesPortfolios and reflection assignments
Decision-Making: Where I am goingMentoring on academic/career planningStudy skills, time management and leadership
workshops
Belonging: Learning how I fit inService learning and experiential opportunitiesCommunity engagement activities
Key Plus 2nd Year Community
For more information on Key Plus contact:Jessica Klingsmith
Assistant Director, Key CommunitiesCoordinator, Key Plus
What We Are Telling 2nd Year Students
Celebrate
Reflect
Explore
Commit
Reflection Questions for Year 2
Help students explore these questions:
A. Who am I?
B. Where am I going?
C. What do I need to do to get
there?
For More Information..
Keith Lopez
Coordinator, First & Second Year Programs
Colorado State University
(970) 491-6011
www.otp.colostate.edu Click on “Second Year”