Pilot New Student Orientation

Today’s Roadmap

BackgroundOrientation as part a piece of the puzzleOrientation learning objectivesOverview of the in-person pilot programAssessing the program and evaluating impactWhere do we go from here?Questions

Background

Studies indicate that students who participate in an orientation persist from term to term and year to year at higher rates, and achieve greater success in gatekeeper courses.

Institutions that make orientation mandatory for all students see increased success rates for the population at large.

One Example: Since the implementation of a mandatory New Student Orientation, YVCC (Yakima Valley Community College in Washington) has seen first-quarter retention increase from 75.4% (fall 2004 into winter 2005) to 81.6% (fall 2009-winter 2010).

Studies confirm what logic tells us: Give students “college knowledge” and “studentship skills,” and they will be more successful.

One of the major recommendations of the CSCC Foundations of Excellence study was that we should

develop and launch a MANDATORY ORIENTATION

Orientation is PART of the solution

Engaging with faculty, staff, and peers while spending the day learning some “nuts and bolts” and soft skills about becoming a Columbus State Cougar is a great way to START.Disclaimer: There is a limit to the amount of information that can be received by a student in an orientation program. At orientation, students receive an introduction to many topics, and learn where/how to find additional information. Some topics may not be touched on at all, but it is our goal that students feel comfortable and confident enough to navigate the College to find the answers/assistance that they need when they need it.

Other services remain crucial for new students

FAFSA workshop“Weeks of Welcome” and other

engagement eventsBLUEPrint WorkshopsCOLS 1100/1101,Etc.

Learning objectives

1. Provide a clear understanding of the academic goals for students, as linked to college completion

2. Highlight academic support resources, tools, and facilities, and familiarize students with the physical environment of the College.

3. Familiarize students with key elements of technology that they will be expected to employ during their academic career

4. Make clear the fee payment process

5. Articulate behavioral expectations of students at Columbus State Community College

6. Acquaint students with the campus culture and engagement opportunities to facilitate identification with, and integration within, Columbus State Community College

7. Assist parents and/or supporters in understanding the complex nature of students’ academic experience, and the role they can play in assisting and encouraging their student without relieving him/her of responsibility

The New Student Orientation (NSO) package of programming and services will:

Sooooo… What did we do?Piloted a day-long pilot orientation program for

over 500 (5 events with approximately 100 students per event) 2014 high school graduates.

Students were invited to bring one or two members of their support team (parents, guardians, mentors, etc.), and most students brought at least one.

Soooo… What did the students do?

Create their first semester schedule

Learn how to navigate their college experience, including on time fee payment, using Columbus State's website and other technology resources

Discover Columbus State's many academic supports services

Explore opportunities to get involved in student clubs and organizations, community service projects, and learn about other ways to get involved

Make valuable connections with faculty, student leaders, and campus staff

Among other things, the New Student Orientation program gave students the opportunity to:

Sooooo… What did they REALLY do?

Assessing and evaluating the impact

Participation numbers (parents and students)Pre and Post-test assessments and satisfaction

surveys (students and parents)Percent of student attendees that register for classesPercent of student attendees that pay their feesPercent of student attendees that persist through

the census datePercent of student attendees that persist through

the termTerm GPAAttempted vs. completed credit hours

Student focus groups after first semester

Additional Achieving the Dream data elements will also be monitored

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Who came to Orientation?

Gender Number of students Percentage

Male 201 39.03%

Female 314 60.97%

Total 515 100.00%

Description Number of students Percentage

American Indian/Alaskan Native 1 0.19%

Asian 15 2.91%

Black or African American 75 14.56%

Hispanic of any race 25 4.85%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2 0.39%

Two or More Races 36 6.99%

Not Hispanic 3 0.58%

Race/Ethnicity Unknown 11 2.14%

White 347 67.38%

Total 515 100.00%

It appears that Orientation

attendees were disproportionately

white, and female.

Preliminary dataNumber Percentage

Registered at any point 502 97.48%

Never registered 13 2.52%

Students in the list (unduplicated)

515 100%

Number Percentage

Currently Registered 450 89.64%

Not currently registered 52 10.36%

Total 502 100%

Students Not Currently Registered

Number Percentage

DeReg/Non-payment 25 48.08%

Other (dropped all classes) 27 51.92%

Total 52 100%

Where do we go from here?Continue to monitor, evaluate, assess, and

make changes as appropriateThree Orientations scheduled to prepare 2013-

2014 graduates that plan to begin in the Spring 2015 semesterSaturday, October 25th

Thursday, October 30th

Wednesday, November 12thWithin two summers, scaled up to 3,000

students with a number of options for various types of students and their unique needs

Working with TiER1 to develop an interactive online orientation

Questions?