OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Bearkat Learning Community Program

Goal

Provide An Effective Learning Community For Incoming Freshmen

Bearkat Learning Community should be should be a model program combining living and learning for incoming freshmen.

Objective

Bearkat Learning Community Will Support Retention/Closing The Gaps

Bearkat Learning Community will provide programming and services that support student academic success.

Indicator

Hours Successfully Completed

The number of hours that BLCers successfully complete will be compared to the number of hours completed by freshmen, non program participants.

Criterion

Comparison Of Hours Successfullly Completed

The number of hours that BLCers successfully complete will be equal to or greater than other freshmen who are not program participants.

Finding

Bearkat Learning Community Report

Students in BLC completed a a greater number of classes than other freshmen and the difference was statistically significant.

Indicator

GPA

GPA for BLCers will be compared to freshmen, non program participants.

Criterion

GPA Comparison

Members of BLC will have a GPA equal to or higher that other freshmen, non program participants.

Finding

GPA Results

Members of BLC had a significantly higher mean GPA.

Indicator

Retention

Members of BLC will be retained at a higher rate as compared to other freshmen, non program participants.

Criterion

Retention Comparison

Retention for BLCers will be equal to or greater than the retention rate for other freshmen non program participants.

Finding

Retention Results

BLcers had a retention rate of 92.6% while other freshmen, non program participants had a retention rate of 88%.

Indicator

Closing The Gaps

In keeping with "Closing the Gaps" initiative the performance for minority students who are BLCers will be tracked

Criterion

Closing The Gaps Comparison

BLCers who are minority students will perform as well as or better than other freshmen, minority students who are non program participants.

Finding

Closing The Gaps Comparison

Minority Students who were members of BLC performed better in hours completed, GPA and Retention than other freshmen, minority studnets who were non program participants.

Action

Meeting Of BLC Advisory Board

The BLC advisory Board discussed the outcome of the reprot and it was decided that no changes would be made in the program at this time.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement The Bearkat Learning Community Program is designed to create a supportive cohort that should produce more productive students as measured by GPA, hours completed, and retention rates. Toward that end the assessment process compared these metrics for members of the learning community to nonmembers. Furthermore, the same comparisons were computed for minority students in and out of the learning community. Data revealed that the program was successful on all metrics suggesting that the program is effective. The data was reviewed by members of the Bearkat Learning Community Advisory Board. It was decided that the programs have been successful and no changes are appropriate at this time.