February 13, 2017

Presenters: Dr. Rachelle Darabi, Dr. Kelly Wood, Dr. Tracey Glaessgen, Mr. Mark Biggs

First-Generation Strategies to Improve Student Success and Retention

36th Annual Conference on First-Year Experience

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•  Introduction of presenters

•  MSU and first generation student data—identifying trends

•  Years 1-3: First Gen Pilot Program at MSU

•  2017 and beyond initiatives

•  Q & A

Session Overview

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• Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs, located in Springfield, MO.

•  We are the second largest university in the state with 26,000 students system-wide.

•  34-35% (6,000-7,000 undergraduates) are First-Generation. • First year students required to live on campus, with exceptions. • Our mission is to develop fully educated persons with a focus

on ethical leadership, cultural competence, and community engagement.

Missouri State Facts

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• 2012 NSSE Administration at MSU • Web version of the NSSE was administered (17% response rate).

•  324 first-year students •  752 seniors

•  First-year and senior samples closely resembled the MSU population in both demographics and academic performance.

• Identified relevant trends in first generation student success

NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

NSSE

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FIRST YEAR, FIRST GENERATION REPORTED

NSSE Patterns & Trends

MORE •  Communicating with instructors by

email more

•  Discuss ideas from classes more with others outside of class – family and co-workers

•  Working more for pay off campus •  Spending many more hours providing

care for live-in dependents

LESS •  Do slightly less work with faculty

members outside** of class

•  Tutoring or teaching other students less often

•  Lower quality of relationships with other students

•  Report less satisfaction with advising

•  Evaluated their overall experience at Missouri State University lower than non-first gen

** Research shows that students define “faculty” as any caring adult they interact with on campus

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SENIOR, FIRST GENERATION REPORTED

NSSE Patterns & Trends

MORE •  Preparing more drafts of papers or

assignments before turning them in

•  Writing more long papers (not significant) and fewer short papers (significant)

•  Spending many more hours providing care for live-in dependents

LESS •  Working significantly less with faculty on

activities other than coursework (committees, student life, etc.)

•  Working less with faculty on research projects outside of course or program requirements (i.e. extracurricular research)

•  Completing less community service or volunteer work.

•  Participate a lot less in co-curricular activities

•  Doing fewer relaxing activities (watching tv, parties, etc.)

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In 2014 our President expressed great interest in and concern for first generation students (FGS). Missouri State University began reporting on and sharing first generation student data. Good data are crucial to understanding your first generation population:

• Who are your first-gen students? • Demographics about how FGS differ from non-first gen

students (NFGS) • Characteristics that might impact student success

• What are their success rates – retention and graduation data? • Are your interventions having a positive impact?

Data are Crucial

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Sample data Reports FGS Students

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First Time New in College Data - FGS

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First Time New in College Data - NFGS

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First Time New in College Data - NFGS

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Other Comparative Institutions

Comparison Data – Other Institutions

Categories

(FY2015Data)

MSULargeMasters

Gran:ng

In-StatePhDGran:ng

OutofStatePdDGran:ng

OutofStateLargeMasters

Gran:ng

Enrollment 18,517 27,654 22,159 9,857

1stTimeFullTimeFreshmen 2,870 6,515 4,571 1,698

ACTCompositetop25% 21% 23% 21% 21%

%ReceivingPELL 33% 21% 23% 46%

FalltoFallReten:on2014to2015

76% 82% 83% 75%

FalltoFallFirst-GenReten:on2014to2015

73%

6-YrGradRate(2007Cohort)

53% 70% 60% 35%

6-YrFirst-GenGradRate(2007Cohort)

47%

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What we learned from this data: 1.  First Gen and Non-First Gen Students arrive with nearly the same

academic qualifications: (*may be different for other institutions)

2. Demographics similar except in 3 important ways*:

2016 Data First Gen Students Non-First Gen Students

ACT (average) 23.33 (43.7% above a 24) 24.36 (53.9% above 24)

High School GPA 3.60 3.67

Class Rank – top 20% 85% 84.9%

Fall 2016 First-Time New in College Data (3126 total students)

First Generation (1,109 students)

Non-First Generation (1,829 students)

% First-time New Students 35.47% 58.51%

Gender 64.2% Female 59.3% Female Age – 18-21 96.6% 98.2% Enrollment Status: Full-time 98.6% 99.0% Pell Eligible* 50.3% 20.4% Ethnicity – Underrepresented* 19.7% 11.7% Living Off Campus* 17.7% 11.4%

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3. Retention – Fall to Fall, First-Time New Students

4. Six-Year Graduation Rates - First-Time or Transfer, Full time Fall Cohort

Success Data Fall to Fall Retention University First-Gen Students Non-First Gen

Students 2015-2016 79.11% 72.16% 82.77%

2014 - 2015 78.27% 72.10% 81.07%

2013 – 2014 75.31% 68.27% 80.96%

6-Year Grad Rate – First

University First-Gen Students Non-First Gen Students

2010 Cohort (2010-16) 54.93% 47.89% 60.51%

2009 Cohort (2009-15) 52.36% 44.15% 60.08%

2008 Cohort (2008-14) 54.74% 46.49% 60.93%

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MSU’s first generation students arrive academically prepared, but experience significantly lower retention and graduation rates. Therefore, our FGS population must need other resources to succeed at similar rates:

•  Information – social capital related to college experience • Proactive Contact – via advisors, RA’s, student peers •  Increased Engagement on campus • Additional Resources – financial and social

Conclusions:

16 INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION, “The Emerging Student Majority: Beyond a Deficit View.” Byron P. White (April 19, 2016).

MSU has decided to approach our first-gen students as a rich resource rather than a liability or at-risk group.

As Byron White, V.P. Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer, Cleveland State, puts it:

“Administrators and faculty members desperately need a new language to characterize minority, low-income and first-generation students -- one that frees us from dependence on labels such as “disadvantaged”….

Approach Matters

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• Goal: Improve overall retention rate and experience of first generation college students.

• Enrolled 224 first-time-in-college, first generation students in eight (8) GEP 101 sections.

• Six (6) sections were organized by college and two were undecided students.

• Students surveyed 3 times in fall semester about experience and intentions to stay at MSU.

• GEP 101 instructors remained in touch with students into spring semester…tried community activity.

2014-2015 FIRST GEN INITIATIVES

Year 1

First Generation Student Pilot Results

FALL 13-14

FALL 14-15 1st year Pilot

First Generation Student Retention

68.5% 72% (224 enrolled)

All Other Students 80.9%

77% (2275 enrolled)

Retention Gap

-12.4% -5%

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• FA15: Enrolled 320 first-time-in-college, first generation students in eleven (11) sections:

• FGS: 176 students enrolled in six (6) sections by college and two undecided groups

• College focused: 144 students enrolled in five (5) sections

• Scholarship workshops to assist FGS in applying for scholarships by March 1 deadline

2015-2016 FIRST GEN INITIATIVES

Year 2

20 MSU: I’m First has 78 members. It regularly hosts workshops such as: FASFA Preparation, Scholarship Applications, Home for the Summer Conversations with Family & Friends.

https://missouristate.collegiatelink.net/organization/Imfirst

In 2015, after a screening of the documentary, First Generation, two FG sophomores formed a new student organization devoted to First-

Gen success at MSU.

MSU: I’m First

First Generation Student Pilot Results

FALL 13-14

FALL 14-15 1st year Pilot

FALL 15-16

2nd year Pilot

First Generation Student Retention

68.5% 72% (224 enrolled)

80.6% (176 enrolled)

College Section Retention

78.4% (144 enrolled)*

All Other Students

80.9%

77% (2275 enrolled)

76.5% (2594 enrolled)

Retention Gap

-12.4% -5% +4%

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• Campus-Wide Commitment • First-Generation Bears • Monthly Family Newsletter with featured article • Continued expansion of specialized first-year seminar sections for first-generation students

Summer 2016

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• Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Institute on High Impact Practices and Student Success

• Missouri State University Team • Campus-wide representation

• Purpose • Create high impact practices for first-generation students

Summer 2016 cont’d

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• Outcome • Planning 2017 Conference (Fri. Oct. 6) Sustaining First-Generation Students

• Developing Maroon Milestones (high impact experiences) for students during year one through year four

• Spreading awareness of first-generation students’ needs

AAC&U Institute cont’d

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• FA16: Enrolled 539 first-time-in-college and first generation students in eighteen (18) sections:

• FGS: 319 students enrolled in eleven (11) sections by college and two undecided groups

• College focused: 220 students enrolled in seven (7) sections • Financial workshops to help FGS with FAFSA changes and

applying for scholarships • First Gen student website development

2016-2017

YEAR 3

26 http://www.missouristate.edu/firstgeneration/

In late 2016 MSU launched a mobile-friendly website designed to assist current and prospective First Generation students.

First Generation Resource Website

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• “Student Success” Faculty Advisor Training Program • One academic college will partner with Advisement Center to

develop a program focused on first-gen issues, designed to help first-gen majors persist and succeed.

• MSU: I’m First Peer Mentor Training Program

• Members will be trained to provide transitional support for first-time freshmen and new transfer students.

ADDITIONAL FIRST-GEN INITIATIVES

2017 & Beyond

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• Continue to increase number of first gen students in GEP 101 designated sections.

• Rollout graduation path with Maroon Milestones for first gen students.

• “Sustaining First-Generation Students” conference • October 6, 2017, Missouri State University Springfield campus

ADDITIONAL FIRST-GEN INITIATIVES

2017 & Beyond

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Discussion and Questions