“Major Pressure” Kate McDaniel Larissa Murakami Marc Pollack Alexander Tcholakov

Background Story History –Low Four Year Graduation Rate

Four Year Graduation Rate- Individual UC Campuses And Systemwide % Graduating in 4 Years 28% 33% 38% 43% 48% 53% 58% 63% Time-to-Degree

Background Story History –Low Four Year Graduation Rate –College of Agricultural Environmental Sciences Exploratory Program Projected Admitted: : 552 students : 3,200 students Is there a correlation? Is there a need for improvement?

Our Charge 1.Compare and contrast programs: -- Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (AES) -- Letters and Sciences (L&S) 2.Assess the effectiveness of current models 3.Recommend changes

Majors and Advising Study Focus Groups & Interviews –5 University Representatives Long Survey of Student Population –650 online & 122 paper responses = 772 total Quick SARI Survey –3,530 responses Facebook Group –102 “Major Pressure” members

Breakdown of Long Survey Responses (772 total)

Breakdown of SARI Survey Responses (3,530 total)

Our Charge 1.Compare and contrast programs: -- Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (AES) -- Letters and Sciences (L&S) 2.Assess the effectiveness of current models 3.Recommend changes

Comparing the Undeclared Programs Academic Explorations Program General Undeclared Program Career Discovery Program Divided into different majors: Fine Arts Humanities Social Sciences Physical Sciences Academic Options Program Apply to a specific college Declare at 90 units Encouraged to see an advisor A Unified Undeclared Experience Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: Undeclared/Exploratory Letters and Sciences: Undeclared Our Goal:

Our Charge 1.Compare and contrast programs: -- Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (AES) -- Letters and Sciences (L&S) 2.Assess the effectiveness of current models 3.Recommend changes

Do you think you will be able to graduate in four years? Undeclared: Graduate in Four? Agricultural Environmental Sciences Letters & Sciences Biological Sciences

Why did you choose this Undeclared Program? Undeclared: Reason for Decision?

How often do you actively engage with your advising staff? 13.6% 8.2% Undeclared: Frequency of Advising

Our Charge 1.Compare and contrast programs: -- Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (AES) -- Letters and Sciences (L&S) 2.Assess the effectiveness of current models 3.Recommend changes

SARI Responses (for AES) Options to Improve Advising Preference Assigned Advisor 66% Mandatory Appointment 48% Special Class 41% Majors Fair 36% Undeclared College 18% Workshops14% Summer Program 12%

Recommendations for the Future Conclusions: –“Not all undeclared programs are equal” –Decentralized advising Short Term: –Coordinate resources –An “Undeclared” website –Assigned Advisor –Mandatory Appointment Long Term: –Fourth year project –195+ students interested in a focus group –One undeclared program

A Unified Undeclared Experience University Goal:

Thank you and Credits JoAnn Baca …………………. Academic Counselor Jan Hatch ……….……………Academic Counselor Cris Brevik …….... Student Affairs Officer of HACS Diane Ullman …….……. Associate Dean of CAES Fred Wood ………….……….. Interim Vice Provost Kathy Davis …………………………. SARI Analyst

Special Thanks Carrie Devine & Ann Orel