An Equal Opportunity University Third Annual Meeting of the Provost’s Committee on Undergraduate Student Success October 22, 2009

Today’s Agenda Introductions all around NSSE 2009 and other data resources Retention and Graduation Rates GEN ED Update Comments/discussion Closing remarks An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE AND OTHER DATA RESOURCES

An Equal Opportunity University National Survey of Student Engagement Assessment of: – time spent on educationally effective practices – Activities and opportunities supporting academics First year Freshmen and Graduating Seniors Five Benchmarks – 42 contributing items Fifth participation since 2001 See reports and data at Institutional Research website

NSSE 2009 Summary CategoryClassUKCarnegie Bench Level of Academic Challenge FR SR Active and Collaborative Learning FR SR Student/Faculty Interactions FR SR An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE 2009 Summary CategoryClassUKCarnegie Bench Enriching Educational Experiences FR SR Supportive Campus Environment FR SR An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE 2009 Summary Academic Challenge ItemsClassUKCarnegie Class % Saying quite a bit or very much Memorizing facts, etc..so you can repeat them in same form FR SR Synthesizing and organizing ideas, info into more complex relationships FR SR An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE 2009 Summary Academic Challenge ItemsClassUKCarnegie Class Preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, doing homework or lab work, etc… 8 point scale (4 = hr/wk and 5 = hr/wk) FR SR Number of assigned books or book-length packets 1=None, 2=1-4, 3=5-10, 4=11-20, 5=More than 20 FR SR An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE Enriching Educational Experiences FR & SR - Less frequent serious conversations with students: – Of a different race or ethnicity – Who are very different in terms of religious, political, or personal values SR – less participation in: – Study abroad, independent study, capstone experiences

NSSE Supportive Campus Environment Seniors report lower institutional emphasis on: – Providing support services for academic success – Helping students cope with non-academic issues

NSSE Advising AdvisingClassUKBenchmarks % Saying Good or Excellent Overall, how would you evaluate the quality of the academic advising you have received? FR SR DATA – SAME QUESTION FR7374 SR An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE 2009 – College Data Active and Collaborative LearningClassUKCollege of Agriculture Overall, ACL Score FR SR Participated in a community-based project as part of a course FR SR An Equal Opportunity University

NSSE 2009 – College Data AdvisingClassUKCollege of Engineering Rating on 4 pt scale Overall, how would you evaluate the quality of the academic advising you have received? FR SR DATA – SAME QUESTION FR SR An Equal Opportunity University

Resources of Use to Colleges Student Level Data Student Headcount First-Year Student Credentials (HS GPA, ACT score, and First Fall GPA at UK) Degrees Awarded Course History Retention and Graduation Rates

Resources of Use to Colleges Student Surveys National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Campus Climate for Learning Graduating SR Survey Alumni Survey Graduate Student Survey

Other Resources – Example from Graduating SR Survey

RETENTION AND GRADUATION

UK and War on Attrition, Why focus on retention? – UK rates: between 76%-81% – 20th institution: 92% Resulting graduation rates: – UK rates: between 57-61% – 20th institution: 77.5% An Equal Opportunity University

UK Retention & Graduation

UK and War on Attrition, Guiding Principles Intentionality with student success as end outcome Systematic communication between colleges and UE Use of best, promising practices Data-driven, evidence-based approach to process refinement An Equal Opportunity University

UK and War on Attrition, Investments Faculty and academic advising staff Student scholarships Classroom renovation & library investments Enhanced K-Week activities & peer mentors More UK101s & new orientation courses More tutoring and academic counseling An Equal Opportunity University

UK and War on Attrition, Investments More living-learning communities Student learning initiatives BCTC Blue+ dual enrollment program Midterm grades Purpose-driven communication technologies – Hobsons Connect (recruiting/admissions) – Hobsons EMT Retain (Undergrad Ed) – UK Second Life & Big Blue Network An Equal Opportunity University

Academic Alert System Fall 07 and 08 - >50% of freshmen on “alert” Fall 09 – alerts on 1698 students so far Fall 09 expanding partnerships: – Residence Life re attendance An Equal Opportunity University

Academic Readiness Program 766 Students identified with ACT/SAT Scores in Math, English, Reading below State Standards 175 tested out prior to fall semester Supplemental Reading, English workshops, MA 108R taught by BCTC. 591 distinct ARP students, but, only 335 were enrolled in a remedial or supplemental course.

WHAT ARE OTHER UNIVERSITIES DOING?

Retention Rates An Equal Opportunity University UK

A Comparison SchoolGrad RateMedian SAT%URMUG Enroll UC-Riverside ,452 U of AL ,346 U of KY ,081 Source: The Education Trust. College Results Online

Retention Rates UC-Riverside and Alabama – Very large increases in enrollments of incoming cohorts – lower average ACT/SATs than UK – higher retention rates What are Alabama & UC-R doing differently from UK to effect change? An Equal Opportunity University

Retention Rates What is Alabama doing? Course redesign initiative – Lowered DEW rate in College algebra from > 50% to ~25% from 1998 to 2004 – Mandatory interactive lab time – Erased differences between AA and White success An Equal Opportunity University

Retention Rates What is UC-Riverside doing? use of social networking in student affairs and academic advising learning communities in each college accountability for learning communities An Equal Opportunity University

GENERAL EDUCATION REFORM

CLOSING THOUGHTS, REMINDERS

Mid-term Grades 2786 students w/ D, E, or F so far Compliance – Encourage your faculty to submit – As of Oct 21, 27% reporting I grades? Uncommon usage at mid-term.

An Equal Opportunity University