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Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College YearAn Aspirational and Measurement
Model for Private Colleges
Franklin Pierce College, NH Kathleen M. Morley Assistant to Provost for IR [email protected] Marywood University, PA Ellen Boylan-Fick Assistant Director of IR [email protected] Maryville College, TN Mardi Craig Asst Academic Dean / Director of IR [email protected]
Presented at the 44th Annual AIR Forum, Boston June 2004
Overview
• Foundations of Excellence Project
• Institutional Assessment Efforts
• Audience Recommendations
• Long-Term Impact
Panel Participants
Kathleen M. MorleyFranklin Pierce College, NH
Ellen Boylan-FickMarywood University, PA
Mardi CraigMaryville College, TN
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
National Grant-Funded Project
• To Develop Standards of
Excellence
• To Develop Certification Process
Sponsored by the Policy Center for the First Year of College
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College YearLumina Foundation for
Education & The Atlantic Philanthropies
• AASCU • Center for Postsecondary Research and Planning • CSHE • Council of Independent Colleges• NCHEMS • National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
Dimensions of Excellence
AASCU Institutions
CIC Institutions
Philosophy
Organization
Commitment
Transitions
All Students
Educated Person
Improvement
Engagement
Diversity
Faculty
Life Purpose© 2003 Policy Center
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year:A Work in Progress
CIC Foundational Dimensions
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
National Research Project
Qualitative Assessment
Survey Data
Institutional Data
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
Dimensions
Institutional Assessment Efforts
Franklin Pierce CollegeInstitutional Commitment
Marywood UniversityImprovement
Maryville CollegeAll Students
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
Franklin Pierce CollegeRindge, New Hampshire
Project Organization
Structure
• Eight-Member Taskforce
• Four Subcommittees
• Monthly Meetings / Assignments
Challenges
• Systematic Assessment Not in Place
• Considerable Time Commitment
• Getting Faculty InputFoundations of Excellence
Franklin Pierce College
Dimension #7Institutional Commitment
Foundations Institutions build commitment of first-year students to the institution.
Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College
Campus History
• Campus website• Admissions tour guide manual• Residential Life programming
• Lack of distribution of history• Problematic presentation of history
Performance Indicator 7.1 …provide opportunities for first-year students to explore campus history.
Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College
Campus Culture and ValuesPerformance Indicator 7.2 …provide opportunities for first-year students to explore campus culture and values.
Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College
• Admissions material• Orientation process• Campus guiding documents• Campus syllabi
• Strong message regarding community• Need to better communicate key goal• Need to extend to non-core classes
Campus TraditionsPerformance Indicator 7.3 …provide opportunities for first-year students to participate in campus traditions.
Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College
• Combined Taskforce input• Email to faculty, staff, and students
• Move-In Day Support• Grand Monadnock Climb• Pierce Pals
• Strong, well agreed upon traditions
Sense of CommunityPerformance Indicator 7.4 …intentionally structure experiences of first-year students so that they develop a sense of community.
Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College
• Admissions process• Registration process• Residential Life programming• Peer Advisor programming• Required first-year curriculum
• Effective fall semester structures• Few spring semester structures
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
Marywood University Scranton, Pennsylvania
Project Organization
Structure
• Taskforce with 22 members
• Subcommittee for each Dimension
• Twice-Monthly Meetings
Challenges
• Systematic assessment in flux
• Considerable time commitment
• Linking evidence to responses
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Dimension #11Improvement
• Collect baseline data• Measure first-year outcomes• Use assessment to confirm
or improve practice• Contribute to the national
knowledge base• Continue the commitmentMU
Foundations Institutions conduct assessment….to achieve ongoing first-year improvement.
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Collect baseline data
• Admissions’ intake data • Academic assessment and registrar
recommendations• Disabilities needs• College Student Inventory (CSI) to
assess academic and social motivation, coping skills, and desire for support services
• CIRP Freshman Survey benchmarks
Performance Indicator 11.1 …data to place students in appropriate courses…provide academic support, personal support.
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Measure first-year outcomes
• First Year Student Survey (FYSS) is administered at the end of the first year
• National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is given to first-year sample in the Spring semester
• Course evaluations for the first year seminar, University 100, have additional questions on adjusting to college life
• Retention data tracks success in maintaining enrollment from the first to second year
Performance Indicator 11.2 …measurement of cognitive development, personal development.
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Use assessment findings
• Marywood’s Teagle Grant has been used to strengthen key first-year initiatives in academics, advising, and retention, and allowed for three consecutive years of the NSSE
• Ongoing evaluation of Orientation programs results in annual review, change, and improvement
• A strong, established cycle of annual surveys translates into continuous assessment of the first year
Performance Indicator 11.3 …assessment findings used to confirm or improve first-year practice.
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Contribute to the knowledge base
• Student Life presentation at the National Orientation Director’s Association (NODA) in Seattle
• IR presentation on Marywood’s web-based data warehouse, including retention and first-year outcomes, at NEAIR in Newport, RI
• Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs discusses first-year practice with CIC panel at AAHE, San Diego
Performance Indicator 11.4 …recent contributions to the national knowledge base on the first year.
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Continue the commitment
• Continued funding for baseline surveys, outcomes assessment
• Personnel for academic advising, retention, counseling
• Commitment to scholarship on first-year practice
• First-year line items in the institutional budget
Performance Indicator 11.5 …continuing allocation of resources, both human and financial, to assessment first-year practice
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Foundations of ExcellenceTM
in the First College Year
Maryville CollegeMaryville, Tennessee
Maryville College
Project Organization
Structure
• Five-Member Taskforce
• Ten Subcommittees
• Scheduled Meetings / Assignments
Challenges
• Maintaining momentum
• Large number of people involved
• Consistency of reporting and analysis Foundations of Excellence
Maryville College
Dimension #6All Students
Foundations Institutions serve all first-year students according to their varied needs.
Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College
Systematic Examination of Needs
Strong assessment programs• Academic support for under prepared and
underperforming students evaluated • Minority students• Student athletes• Transfer studentsRecommendations• Greater focus on honor students, International
students, commuting students, and non-traditional students
Performance Indicator 6.1 …systematically examine the experiences and special needs of select first-year populations.
Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College
Provide Services to Meet Needs
Programs in place• Learning Center support services• Academic progress reports• Student Intervention and Athletic Intervention
Teams• Minority support services • Transfer student orientation Recommendations• Honors program• International studies office• Programs for commuters
Performance Indicator 6.2 …provide services to meet the specific needs of select first-year populations.
Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College
Evaluate Effectiveness of Services
Programs in place• Annual program evaluations for “selected”
groups• Presidential and Dean’s Scholarship Program • Annual evaluation of the current institutional
strategic plan• Retention analyses• Reports from Student Intervention TeamRecommendation• Improve coordination and reporting of findings
to enhance planning
Performance Indicator 6.3 …evaluate the effectiveness of services to meet the special needs of select first-year populations.
Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College
Meet Average Student Needs
First year faculty advisors and orientation leadersCenter for Calling and CareerFirst year seminar sequence (ORN 110, FRS 120,
130, and 140)Learning support servicesOpportunities of a Lifetime FairEarly Alert systemResidence Hall programmingStudent Intervention Team > Counseling services
Performance Indicator 6.4 …assure that the “average” students experience individual attention, campus support, and campus involvement.
Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College
Dimension #3Educated Person
Foundations Institutions begin a process by which students gain an understanding of what it means to be an educated person according to institutional mission and values.
Foundations of ExcellenceAudience
Educated Person
1)What sources would you use?
2)How would you collect the information?
3)How well would your campus do on this indicator?
…begin a process by which students gain an understanding of what it means to be an educated person…
Criteria:• definition is articulated• definition influences first-year goals• evidence of student progress it
Long-Term Impact
• Shared Knowledge Base
• Holistic Perspective
• Increased Focus on First-Year
• Increased Focus on Assessment
• Documented Areas of Success
• Identified Areas for Improvement
Foundations of ExcellenceFranklin Pierce College
Long-Term Impact
• First-year “package” of programs • Targeted retention efforts
• Direct assessment is bolstered
• More activity is linked to P.I.’s
• Faculty advisor model continues
• Liberal arts dean is accountable
• Sharper insight into students, self
Foundations of ExcellenceMarywood University
Long-Term Impact
Foundations of ExcellenceMaryville College
•Mission statement and specific goals
•Greater recognition of student needs
•Faculty focus on pedagogy
•Curricular examination
•Academic support services expanded
•Admission standards examined
Contact Information
Franklin Pierce College, NH Kathleen M. Morley Assistant to Provost for IR [email protected]
Marywood University, PA Ellen Boylan-Fick Assistant Director of IR [email protected]
Maryville College, TN Mardi Craig Asst Academic Dean / Director of IR [email protected]