T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

UBC Okanagan• You'll find UBC Okanagan in Kelowna, a city of

just over 100,000 people, in British Columbia's scenic Okanagan Valley.

• 3600+ students, 700+ students in residence • Target 7,000 undergraduate students and 500

graduate students by 2010

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Academic Advising Office• We help students find answers to questions

about programs or majors. • We help students explore academic options

and respond to any difficulties they may be experiencing by connecting them with the appropriate resources and services.

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Academic Advisors

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Key Departments

• Academic Advising collaborated with:• Learning Centre

• Counselling

• International Students office

• Disability Resources Centre

• Aboriginal Students Office

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Student Success

• Many students flounder in their first year at university. It is not because they aren’t smart enough, but because they haven’t learned what they need to do to succeed.

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Top 10 Factors Affecting Student Success

1. Take advantage of student resources2. Don’t be too proud to ask for help 3. Don’t get behind 4. Don’t miss classes 5. Use your day timer

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Top 10 Factors Affecting Student Success

6. Use class time well

7. Spread the learning process over the semester

8. Take advantage of all your time

9. Get off the PHONE, Email and TV!

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Top 10 Factors Affecting Student Success

10. Have a life! Balance is as important to success as studying

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Factors Influencing Student Success

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Academic Intervention Goals

• Improve student retention by reducing the number of students who fail

• Enable students to take advantage of resources available to them

• Become active partners in student success

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Strategic Plan1. Identify the students at risk2. Divide the group between 3 advisors3. Invite students to meet with us4. Evaluate and assess their needs on an individual

basis5. Help the students make a plan, and put them in

touch with resources

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Term 1 Evaluations

• Total first year students enrolled 1179

• We found 128 first year students “at risk” of being placed on academic probation (10.85%)

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Who are They?• First year students Term 1 average < 55% • The admission average of the “at risk” students was 75.9%

based on 4 provincially examinable grade 12 courses• 23% were president’s entrance scholarship recipients (80%

+ high school average or IB diploma 28+)• 60% Male, 40% female (compared to 44% Male and 56%

Female first year student population)• Average age 19.4 years old

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

At Risk Students at UBC Okanagan

• 57 students responded out of 128 (45%)

• We learned of a variety of reasons why students performed poorly in Term 1

• Top Issues identified:

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Common Problems

• Time management / self-discipline was the most common issue

• Many students identified that they did not place a high enough priority on studying

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Common Problems

• Irregular attendance was an issue for some students.

• “It’s easy to skip out compared to high school”

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Common Problems

• Specific classes were difficult

• MATH 100, PHYS 111 and CHEM 121 were very challenging for some Science students

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Common Problems

• International and permanent resident students overrepresented

• Many students whose first language is not English reported experiencing difficulties with comprehension and writing

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Common Problems• Transition to University• A few students found the workload of 5

courses too high, especially if they work part time or have other commitments such as sports.

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

End of Year Evaluations

• In May the Office of the Registrar ran sessional evaluations on all students

• We examined the performance of the students in our target group

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Term 2 PerformanceAdvised vs Unadvised

65%

35%Term 2 upTerm 2 down 60%

40%Term 2 upTerm 2 down

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Academic StandingAdvised vs Unadvised

73%

27% AcademicprobationGood Standing

73%

27% AcademicprobationGood Standing

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Withdrawal Rates

28.80%

71.20%

WithdrewRe-enrolled

8.80%

91.20%

WithdrewRe-enrolled

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

2006 Winter Results• Total first year

students enrolled 1179 • 150 first year students

actually attained below 55% (12.72%) 87.28%

12.72%

above 55below 55

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

2005 Winter Results• This is an improvement

from previous year

• 982 first year students were enrolled

• 175 first year students with sessional average below 55% (17.8%)

82.18%

17.82%

above 55below 55

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

What Did We Learn?

• Free advice is worth the price you pay

• Respondents seemed pleased to be contacted by us

• We may have focussed our attention on the wrong group of students

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Future Plans• Academic Advising is working on offering an

improved enhancement program for 2007• U-Turn program (in development)• Goal is to enhance student experience by teaching

students the skills they need to succeed

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Results

Engaged % Not Engaged %

Total 57   73  

No show     4  

Withdrawn 5   17  

Subtotal 52   52  

         

Term 2 down 17 33% 19 37%

Term 2 up 34 65% 31 60%

No change 1 2% 2 3%

Academic Probation 38 73% 38 73%

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A | O K A N A G A N

Suggestions?

Colin Good Student Development and Advising The University of British Columbia Okanagan Telephone: 250.807.9262 colin.good@ubc.ca