Before They Even Get Here: Cross-Campus Collaboration on a New Pre-Freshman Study Abroad Program

GO BEFORE YOU GO: STARTING A PRE-FRESHMAN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

Kathie Carpenter, Jim Rawlins, Ben Callaway

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Kathie Carpenter

My dual identity: empty nester and Director of Undergraduate Studies for International Studies Department

Fall first-year students for 20-odd years, summer bridges for entering student athletes

April, 2015

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Academic success: some research

Teaching study skills is actually very helpful, but …

Many students don’t want to participate

How to entice? Usually, only after it’s too late

My goals

Leverage abroad experience to draw them into academic prepLeverage academic preparation opportunity to get them abroadCohort-building, longterm connection with a professorWork more with this interesting demographic

Many of the gaps you all work with - gender, major, income, ability - affect the demographics of our majors

What you do has consequence!(More INTL majors, too)

Our assumptions

Keep them busyEmphasize experiential, active learningHealthy relationship with alcoholLocation with no language barrier, minimal culture shockNeed to be at least 18Classes with appeal across genders

So what did we actually do?

Two 4-credit courses : in class 22.5 hours week (5.5 hrs/day)“The Play’s the Thing” and “London: Biography of a City”

One 1-credit course with me“Advancing your Academic Success”

Field trips every Friday, weekly meeting, theater one night/week“Free time” on weekends (tube passes)

First day: Assessments

Skills CLSSI (Dennis H. Congos, Univ Central Florida)

3/16 at or above benchmarks

Rest below benchmarks:

Test Prep: 6Concentration: 6Time management: 10

Textbooks: 12Note taking: 12Memory: 8

“Freshman Fears” (Missouri State?)

Top five for our group: “I will not be able to manage my time”“I will have trouble understanding the professor”“I will not be able to develop proper study habits”“I will have difficulty meeting friends”“College will be too difficult for me”

What did I actually do?

Academic Activities: Critical reading strategies, time management, test-taking, giving presentations, group and pair projectsOrientation activities: UO “game show”, 4-year plan, campus resources assignment“Office hours”One-on-onesLots of informal conversationsCultural brokering (“What does it mean when they use the F-bomb?”)

Hub and Spokes

Working with multiple stakeholders: admissions, faculty director, overseas center, incoming studentsLearning opportunities for study abroad office with cross campus partnershipsSow the seed: Promote thinking about study abroad prior to arrival on campus

Building the Program

Faculty Support: Study Abroad Programs Committee Approval, faculty director inputBudget: Subsidy and support from Office of International AffairsLondon Centre: Site Director experience with freshmen and local faculty willingness to adapt courses

Student Recruitment

Round pegs, square holes: incoming freshmen as a new audience for study abroad officePartnership with admissions to evaluate student applicationsAcceptance process – proactive steps to maintain engagement

London Resident Assistant

Want students to have same support as on-campus freshmen to address multiple culture shocksCollaboration with Residence Life on job description and hiring processNext steps: ongoing UKVI visa changes, effects on London RA position

Common Questions

Group flight?Under 18s?Pre-departure and in-country orientation?Program length and timing

“We have an idea…”

Unlike any other study abroad program, doing one for your future students is tethered to many unknowns – the simplest of which this isn’t yet your student! NACAC guidelines Financial Aid Summer OrientationGoal: Get through year one, then worry about year two

A timeline was laid out…

Meetings for this started in fall 2015Included Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, and OrientationWho would apply? Who would we pick?

…and how likely were they to come?

Admissions factors

Promote the program to studentsPromote the program to counselorsDon’t overpromiseWho will be chosen?

Financial Aid Factors

How soon will program costs be finalized?If a student has financial need, can they get assistance?Summer term limitations (leading vs trailing)

Registrars Office Factors

Are the students to be considered matriculated or nonmatric for the term? If matriculated, what is the best timing for the switch?Will it cause other things to go wrong, such as official enrollment counts?

Orientation factors

When is the best time for accepted students to come to summer orientation?How do we hold them spots?Special treatment? Equal treatment?

Timing – the big “ifs”

Can application become available at the right time?What if interest is too high? (negative recruitment impact)What if interest is too low? (publicity timing)What if May 1 brings a lot of students bailing out?Wait lists, etc.

Unforeseen issues

Resented “babysitting” but wanted more interaction Mismatch of expectations: HS study tour vs. college study abroadComplaints, disclosures about other studentsScary stuffBehavior issues, “signaling” miscues (phones in class) No basis for comparison of UK system since pre-collegeDidn’t really connect with LondonersCommunication: Facebook is “out” now

Outcomes

The program turned them into theater loversThey grew up fast They struggled, but no grade lower than a BAttitudes more than content (e.g., writing, rewriting)They’ve all lasted this long!

What will I do differently?

Meet 2X week instead of 1XAttend more content class lectures, field tripsSet clear behavior guidelines, with consequencesArrange more meals, films, discussions togetherFaculty (London & me) will talk about our researchService learningWon’t ask to live in dorm!

Working with faculty(working with me)

I am super impressed with your professionalism but you need to keep reminding me about what it is that you actually do

Staff turnover is traumatic for meCommunication, clarity:

I have no idea what you professionals need or expect from me

I’m used to the academic issues of firstyears, but not the behavior

e.g., counseling referrals in LondonI operate with a completely different sense of time than you do

Matters like visas aren’t even on my horizon

Still concerns for us

High risk behavior - need an action planIn-class deportment - need an action planParents may encourage for the wrong reasonsFinancial aid, diversityRecommendation “arms race”

Future research questions

Retention rates? GPA and other indicators?Introspective retrospectives in future?More study abroad experiences?Connections maintained?

Looking Forward

Multiple cohorts throughout summer / additional sites

Create mentoring opportunities with other study abroad students in-country

Paying it forward – current students providing scholarships for future years

Returnee engagement – on campus advocates for study abroad from Day 1 of freshmen year

THANK YOU