1. Lessons Learned: Developing a First-Year Experience Program Dr. Keri Rogers Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Director, First-Year Experience Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers November 7, 2006

2. History 1985 – Math Help Lab/Tutoring 1999-2001 – Transition Skills Integration 2001-2002 – Bearkat Learning Community 2002-2003 – Writing Center – Student Advising & Mentoring Center (SAM Center) – First-Year Experience Task Force

3. History 2003-2004 – Reading Center – Developmental Class Changes 2004-2005 – First-Year Experience Office SAM 136 – Introduction to Collegiate Studies Freshman Learning Community – General Cohort FYE E-newsletter FYE Advisory Board

4. History 2005-2006 – New Student Convocation – Freshman Learning Community – Business, Criminal Justice, & Education Cohorts 2006-2007 – Parent Newsletter – Freshman Learning Community – Agriculture Cohort – SAM 136 – Honors Section – SAM 136 - Academic Coach (Profiles International, Inc.)

5. FYE Task Force Inclusive of all university divisions Academic Advising New Student Orientation New Student Convocation Freshman Seminar Learning Communities Academic Support Services

6. Hallmarks of Excellence Philosophy and unified approach Student engagement in and out of school Diversity Subpopulations Organizational structures Qualitative/quantitative assessment Policy Center on the First Year of College

7. FYE Office SAM 136 Freshman Learning Community New Student Convocation FYE Website and Email Address – www.shsu.edu/fye www.shsu.edu/fye – fye@shsu.edu fye@shsu.edu E-newsletters – The Know – Parent Newsletter

8. SAM 136 3-credit hour elective Sections limited to 25 students Taught by qualified adjuncts 181 students (F04) to 530 students (F06) 9 sections (F04) to 24 sections (F06) 9 instructors (F04) to 21 instructors (F06)

9. SAM 136 Topics – Time, stress and money management – Study skills – Majors & careers – SHSU history, traditions, resources & services – Writing – Public speaking – Civic involvement/service learning – Diversity – Wellness (including alcohol & other drugs)

10. Learning Communities Bearkat Learning Community – Residential – Students take 2 classes together Freshman Learning Community – Non-Residential – Cohorts – General, Business, Education, Criminal Justice, Agriculture – Students take 3 classes together

11. Registrars Office Scheduling of classes Flagging classes and cohorts Assessment Plan

12. Admissions Office Promotion of FYE – SAM 136 – Freshman Learning Community – Must know why it is important for students to participate

13. Future Initiatives Move to First-Year Student Success Team Establish Summer Bridge Program Develop Longitudinal Data and Reports

14. Guiding Questions Who are your students? What is their experience on your campus? Where are they experiencing success? Where are they experiencing frustration and failure?

15. Lessons Learned Success is attributed to the personal attention that students receive Doesn’t move as fast as we’d like Support of recruiters and academic advisors is crucial Student help in recruiting participation in FYE is crucial Instructor recruitment can be difficult Have an established budget and staff for the program before beginning

16. Lessons Learned Have an assessment plan ahead of time Having a director come into position in mid- May was almost too late Important to constantly assess and evaluate the programs so that they can be tweaked Communication with potential students is important Student involvement in FLC is last minute

17. Resources The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (www.sc.edu/fye) Policy Center on the First Year of College (www.firstyear.org)www.firstyear.org SHSU First-Year Experience (www.shsu.edu/fye)

18. Contact Dr. Keri Rogers – 936.294.3422 – krogers@shsu.edu krogers@shsu.edu www.shsu.edu/enrollment/presentations.html