1. Building bridges and pathways to success from admission to the first day of class. Three proven onboarding techniques that support student success
Carol Alleyne, Ed.D., City University of New York, Queensborough Community College
Bil Leipold, Ed.D., Rutgers University - Newark
Adam Rockman, Ed.D., City University of New York, Queens College
James Salnave, Ed.D., City University of New York, LaGuardia Community College
Tuesday, March 6 (8:00 AM - 8:50 AM)
Convention Center, Room #118 A
Introductions
We will introduce ourselves with this opening slide

2. Presentation overview
Definition of onboarding
Pillars of successful onboarding planning
Three proven strategies
Creating an implementation plan
ADAM
Points of discussion for presentation

3. What is onboarding?
A process that institutions employ to acculturate new students into the campus community.
Onboarding focuses on a strong student welcome; guiding students to a path of sustained development and growth; ensuring that the student transitions smoothly into the campus community as an engaged member.
ADAM
Ask the audience how they define onboarding – ask for a few volunteers (show title line only)
We highlight our definition (the second bullet), but we use the first bullet as an example of how others may define it

4. What are the goals of onboarding?
Create excitement about being a part of the campus community
Make critical connections to campus resources
Prepare students for academic success
Create and nourish the students’ identity with the college
ADAM

5. When is the appropriate time to begin the onboarding process?
Pre-application
Application
Acceptance
Commitment
Orientation/Convocation
ADAM
Think/Pair/Share

6. Three pillars for a successful onboarding plan
Acculturation
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation
Collaboration
Resources
CAROL
A successful onboarding plan consists of these main components:
Acculturation – helping the students transition to and understand the campus community – this includes policies/procedures, student life, school spirit, etc.
Resources – the financial, human capital,
Collaboration – Gaining the buy in from other departments and divisions, where others take ownership
Closing the slide: The pillars are dynamic and is a 3d process it is not linear, none can be skipped, they are all interconnected (ADAM)
Retention success academics, reducing academic dishonesty, its setting the stage for studetn retention success and completion, providing the armor for studegnts to get through

7. Three proven onboarding techniques
FOUR proven onboarding techniques
Three proven onboarding techniques
Create opportunities for students to connect
Implement a communication plan
Minimize barriers
Indoctrinating traditions
CAROL
Overview of techniques
BONUS!
Instilling traditions

8. Create opportunities for students to connect
Peer to
Peer
Community
Staff & Faculty
JAMES
Have each box pop up individually in the animations.
(James)
Peer to peer – creating the small group interactive opportunities where students can learn from each other, build community and build a network for success. These are the things that happen during club day/club fair, orientation, welcome week, new student convocation etc.
Residence Halls – community service, research opportunities
Peer to Staff & Faculty – research opportunities, building the network for opportunities for internships, research, experiential learning, co-curricular programs
Peer to Community – community service, being a responsible member of the community, VAWA, title IX, drug & alcohol policies, bystander training etc.
There is overlap among the connection points listed – it is a network for student success!
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation

9. Implement a communication plan
The right message, at the right time, to the right audience
Appropriate, clear, and concise language
JAMES (CAROL WILL JUMP IN!)
Identify key stakeholders i.e. students, parents, faculty, staff, administration etc. (across departments and divisions) and be sure to send the right message to the right person at the right time. First generation etc.
For example - If you are communicating with new students, avoid acronyms and higher education jargon. Gunning fog index is a free tool that measures the reading level (by school grade) of the text
Say it different ways, but conveying the same message
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation

10. Minimize barriers
Minimize complexity of application and/or enrollment process
Provide resources to engage parents and other supporting family members
JAMES
i.e. minimize the number of visits a newly accepted student will make to complete their enrollment/registration steps
Support the parents/family members and they in turn can better support the student. i.e. parent newsletter, parent portal, family events etc.
Enrollment checklist will ALL of the steps listed for students from the moment of pre-application/application/ or acceptance
Let people opt out for anything that’s not mandatory
Connecting parents to resources and each other. Ensuring the parents and family members are getting access to their own onboarding. Stewards of success!
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation

11. Instilling traditions
Symbolic representation of membership
Integral to establishing identity
Common experience to foster sense of belonging, community, and ownership
ADAM
Reframing Organizations - Bolman and Deal – symbolic frame
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation

12. Creating an implementation plan
Identify the primary onboarding objectives
Decide on an onboarding technique(s)
Identify key partners across departments/divisions
Assessment
CAROL
Identify your goals – what do you want to achieve – helping students make social connections with each other? Inform them of the academic support available? Connect them with faculty? Help them understand process/procedure for registration? Etc.
Decide on the technique(s) that will support the primary goal(s)
Identify key constituents across departments/divisions
Design learning objectives/outcomes that are measurable for assessment. Set baseline measures and realistic outcomes for future assessment Are students still enrolled/engaged after a semester, year, etc. Have retention rates changed? Do students demonstrate identity?
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation

13. QUESTIONS?
Carol Alleyne, Director of New Student Engagement,
Adam Rockman, Vice President for Student Affairs,
James Salnave, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement,
CAROL
Identify your goals – what do you want to achieve – helping students make social connections with each other? Inform them of the academic support available? Connect them with faculty? Help them understand process/procedure for registration? Etc.
Decide on the technique(s) that will support the primary goal(s)
Identify key constituents across departments/divisions
Design learning objectives/outcomes that are measurable for assessment. Set baseline measures and realistic outcomes for future assessment Are students still enrolled/engaged after a semester, year, etc. Have retention rates changed? Do students demonstrate identity?
Collaboration
Resources
Acculturation

14. Thank you for joining us today!
Please remember to complete your online evaluation following the conference.
See you in Los Angeles in 2019!