First Year Students and the Library: FYE at UCONN NELIG Annual Conference “Creative Collaborations: It Takes a Campus to Educate a Student” Tufts University, June 11, 2004 Presentation by Kathleen Labadorf and Peter Stevens

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 2 First Year Students and the Library: FYE at UCONN FYE Overview at the University of Connecticut WEBCT and Access to Library in FYE Classes Assessment Peter Stevens, FYE Instructor-integrating library research into UConn’s FYE curriculum

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 3 About UConn Carnegie Research Extensive University For the fourth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report ranks UConn the top public university in New England 15,000 total undergraduates with 10,000 residing on campus 3200 freshmen at Storrs campus

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 4 What is FYE at UConn? 1 credit semester long multi-disciplinary, service learning, or subject-based seminar Can be linked to Majors, Honors, or residence communities Takes a holistic view of student development

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 5 FYE Mission The mission of the First Year Programs is to assist new students with the transition to college and engage them with the intellectual, social, and cultural dimension of the University of Connecticut as early as possible in their academic careers.

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 6 Who is involved? 80% of first year students voluntarily enroll in First Year Experience courses (106 sections of INTD 180 and 39 INTD 182 in fall, 2004) Instructors are blend of UConn faculty and staff. All are volunteers. Wide variety of guest speakers available (administrators, faculty, support staff, peers)

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 7 Why support FYE? The first year of college is critical – "The first year of college is when most students choose a major, establish a typical GPA, develop good (or bad) study habits, decide whom to associate with, and learn other adult-related skills," Gardner said. (2)

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 8 Why? Helps retention “Among schools that have had success at keeping students is UConn, where the overall 70 percent graduation rate is nearly matched by its 69 percent rate for minority students. Several years ago, the university started a freshman course on study skills, time management and other adjustments to college life.” (3)

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 9 How is the library integrated into FYE at UConn Course framework in WebCT template for self- learning Scheduled tours and research sessions with librarians: all include assessment Menu of options allowing for group work outside of class time

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 10 Partner in crime Peter Stevens, Assistant to the Registrar and FYE Instructor – Integrating library research in UConn’s FYE curriculum

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 11 Where are we going from here? Information Literacy chosen as focus of the Annual UConn FYE Conference for all instructors Create a toolkit for the FYE instructors Assess, assess, assess

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 12 Contact Information Kathleen Labadorf – Undergraduate Services Librarian – Homer Babbidge Library – – Peter Stevens – Assistant to the Registrar – –

June 11, 2004 ACRL NELIG Annual Conference Kathleen Labadorf & Peter Stevens University of Connecticut 13 References 1. First Year Programs. (2004). Retrieved June 9, 2004 from 2. Eberhart, G. M. (2003). Academic librarians launch a strategic campaign: Association of College and Research Libraries National Conference. American Libraries, 34(6) Frahm, R. A. (2004, May 27, 2004). Attrition worries State Colleges: fewer than half of freshmen go on to graduate. Hartford Courant, pp. B-1. Retrieved June 7, 2004, from the ProQuest Newspapers database. 4. Gardner, J. N., & Siegel, M. J. (2004). The reform movement for the First Year Experience: What is your role? Retrieved June 9, 2004 from 5. Labadorf, K. R. (2004). FYE Library Information Literacy Gateway. Retrieved June 9, 2004 from