Student Engagement and Persistence via Co-Curricular Activities Thomas Shaw School of Allied Health College of Applied Sciences and Arts Southern Illinois University Carbondale

INTRODUCTION Student retention has long been a concern Persistence is the continued enrollment at any higher education institution Retention is the continued enrollment within the same higher education institution All first time students fall 2014 Persistence=72.1% Retention=60.6% National Student Clearinghouse Research Center-May 3, 2016

INTRODUCTION First generation students have significant challenges: In navigating the university Engaged in academic activity Lower social capital Privileged knowledge, resources, and information attained through social networks Less likely to engage with faculty Less likely to engage in extra-curricular activities Soria & Stebleton, Teach in Higher Education- Vol 17, No 6, 12/12

How does an institution influence persistence Literature suggests: STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Academics---Faculty Interaction Orientation Tutoring Learning Living Communities Service learning Co-Curricular Activities Providing opportunities for structure, social and academic life Student integration into university’s social & academic structures shows commitment to university & to graduating Greater the likelihood to graduate

Student engagement Outside activities an important step to help students develop connections with peers Students with clearer defined academic /social goals typically have a smoother transition into college life Involvement matters Matters most during first year of college Tinto (2006-2007)

SIU Advantage Program designed to enhance student development beyond the classroom Encourage student engagement Network socially Create a co-curricular transcript Focuses on 4 student outcomes Personal & Social Responsibility Cultural Competency Intrapersonal & Interpersonal Development Intellectual & Professional Skills Over 400 scheduled activities for fall 2016

Retention in CASA has always been a priority Personalized student advisement Faculty engagement with students NEAT initiative No Show Engage Assess Term

CASA Advantage Project Intent: Assist students to positively navigate & adapt into independent adult life Provide techniques & processes that will enhance management of daily life Increase engagement with fellow students & college faculty/personnel Develop awareness of campus resources & support that provide assistance & student care Increasing student engage---thus Increasing persistence and retention Student success

CASA Advantage Project Initial event was the Fall 2016-CASA Connection Followed by: CASA Advantage Series FALL 2016 Event Date Time Location Diversity & Inclusion 101 9/6/2016 5:00pm GRN--Room ARA Make it Count time Management Strategies 9/20/2016 What is 'privilege?' 10/4/2016 Sleep is the New Sex! 10/18/2016 Speed Hating: A Date with Discrimination 11/1/2016 Managing your Budget 11/15/2016

CASA Advantage Project Intent is to: Identify demographics of participants Track participants to determine persistence Target students that predispose to leaving institution Low GPA Low credit hour load Older first-time students

Casa connection Annual fall College welcome to students 42.7% Freshman/Sophomore

Participation by Gender Casa connection Participation by Gender   Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid F 119 75.8 M 38 24.2 100.0 Total 157

ACT by Student Classification Casa connection Classification n Mean Median Std. Dev Minimum Maximum Range Freshman 30 23.63 23.00 3.327 19 31 12 Sophomore 37 22.92 3.781 15 29 14 Junior 28 22.11 22.00 4.332 16 33 17 Senior 61 3.503 34 20

Casa connection Classification N Mean Median Std. Dev Minimum Maximum ACT by Ethnicity Casa connection Classification N Mean Median Std. Dev Minimum Maximum Range American 2 22.00 1.414 21 23 Asian 23.50 .707 24 1 Black/Af-Am 13 19.92 21.00 3.593 14 26 12 Hispanic 15 21.60 3.481 28 No Response 8 21.88 22.50 3.441 16 10 Other 24.50 24350 25 White 105 23.24 23.00 3.660 34 18 Blank 21.90 5.280 33

Casa connection

CASA Advantage Project Problems: OrgSync Only good for attendance Demographic data not included Lists event independently Manually will have to merge events No student participation in CASA Advantage Advertised Emailed Maybe too busy doing other things Need better tracking of college wide RSO activities CASA Connection – only college event for the day

Conclusion Student engagement is central to persistence and retention Less expensive to keep current students than to recruit new ones Enhancing student engagement is essential in promoting desirable academic outcomes such as academic performance, persistence, and goal attainment CASA Advantage—Work in Progress How do you get students to actively engage in meaningful activities?