Lamar University’s QEP: FRESHMAN SUCCESS Making it happen...

Quality Enhancement Plan SACS requirement Plan due in Feb just before on-site visit Reviewed by experts; advice offered Runs for 5 years Must be based on wide institutional input; must address important student learning issues; must have an adequate budget; must be assessed as it is implemented.

LU Data Review: Framing A QEP Student Demographics Review Reading Peer QEPs Focus Groups: Strengths and Weaknesses List of potential activities: survey of faculty preferences So far... QEP Development Committee Leadership Team Topic Selection FRESHMAN SUCCESS

Why FRESHMAN SUCCESS ? 1.Low on active and collaborative learning (NSSE and HERI) 2. Low student satisfaction with core curriculum (Senior Survey) 3. Student learning in core lagging slightly (Core Curriculum Evaluation) 4. High attrition rate from freshman to sophomore year. Persistence for all students lagging. (THECB Accountability) 5. Changing student demographics 6. Perception that Lamar’s academic standards are too low and our academic culture is not as conducive to learning as it could be. (Focus Groups and NSSE)

1.National Survey of Student Engagement Assesses student engagement in five dimensions Level of academic challenge Active and collaborative learning Student-faculty interaction Enriching educational experiences Supportive campus environment Gathers data from freshmen and seniors

Why engagement is important George Kuh, creator of the NSSE... “Students who participate in collaborative learning and educational activities outside the classroom and who interact more with faculty members get better grades, are more satisfied with their education, and are more likely to remain in college. But the gains from those practices are even greater for students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, or who come to college less prepared than their peers."

NSSE Findings (03 and 06) Moderately weak in all areas for Freshmen Improvements from 03 to 06 everywhere In both years, Lamar freshmen scored below LU seniors and below freshman students at comparable institutions on: –Active and collaborative learning (lowest) - Level of academic challenge –Enriching educational experiences

2. HERI 04: Faculty report on methods they use in most or all of their courses METHODLU %4-Yr Colleges % Class discussion7481 Cooperative learning3249 Essay midterm/final 4857 Extensive lecturing6856 Group projects2536 Multiple drafts of written wk1827 MC midterm/final4934 Short answer midterm/final2439 Student presentations4046 Student-selected topics1015

Implication? Teaching methods commonly used by LU faculty are NOT ones which promote active and collaborative learning.

* Attrition rates higher in some sub-groups 3. LU Freshman Retention 1-yr Retention rate Attrition rate Fall 2004 entering FTIC freshmen to fall %40.99%* Fall 2005 entering FTIC freshmen to fall %42.07%* National retention average of public comprehensive “low- lows” 65% in Pell Institute report, “Demography is not Destiny: Increasing the Graduation Rates of Low-Income College Students at Large Public Institutions” (2007)

4. THECB Comparisons: 1 yr persistence LUUT Pan Am SFASFA Prairie View Tarl eton WT A&M TAMU Int’l TAMU Corpus

5. Student Demographic Data: How our freshmen have changed Since 2000, LU freshmen have become younger (from approximately 70% to 80% under 20) more diverse (from approximately 75% white/25 of color to 50/50) more full-time (from about 60% full time/40% part time to 75/25)

What does FRESHMAN SUCCESS mean? The LU QEP Planning Team will decide exactly, but....

Some Best Practices from “Demography is Not Destiny,” Pell Institute, 2007 Freshman-year seminars or activities Redesign of Freshman courses for more active/collaborative learning Learning communities (and living/learning) Coordinated, proactive advising system Student engagement activities such as service learning, undergrad research, clubs, groups and organizations. Financial aid education

More Possibilities More work-study employment so our students can work on campus Use of work-study students to mentor or tutor freshmen Faculty/freshman mentoring Increased use of technology to reach and teach “the net generation”

Next Steps... QEP Planning Committee will –Research needs of students and best practices –Choose specific activities to meet the goals and scope, with extensive faculty input –Design a procedure for implementation –Select assessments –Develop a detailed 5-year budget –Keep everyone informed –Direct public relations and marketing of QEP

Assumptions of LU QEP Will adjust scope to fit budgetary constraints. Whatever we do, we want to do well No additional required hours (120 cap) Will elicit faculty involvement voluntarily using incentives, probably mini-grants. Plan will attempt to incorporate the activities most preferred by faculty

How to get involved Come to faculty forums Research how these issues affect your program and courses. Share insights Prepare to apply for a mini-grant Bookmark the QEP Website and check it for updates