Retention, Persistence, Graduation Rates, And Grade Point Average
Students who participate in First-Year Experience (FYE) programs have shown longitudinally to be more at risk than the overall entering first-year students. FYE students will be retained, persist, and graduate at similar levels to the overall cohort. Their GPAs will be at similar levels.
Objective
One-Year Retention Rate, 2nd & 3rd Year Persistence, & Graduation Rates, And Grade Point Average
FYE students will be retained, will persist, will graduate, and will earn GPAs at similar levels as the overall cohort.
Indicator
Institutional Research Report On First-Year Student Cohort & URRS Report
Institutional Research Report indicates retention, persistence, and graduation rates as well as GPAs. The URRS Report uses the Risk-Adjusted Retention Indicator (RARI) to make adjustments in persistence reflecting at-risk students.
Criterion
One-Year Retention Rates
The one-year retention rate of the current first-year cohort will be similar to the one-year retention rate of the overall first-year cohort.
Finding
One Year Retention Rates
2010-2011 one year retention rates will be reported after the census date in fall 2011 when data becomes available from Institutional Research.
UNIV 1301 - 68%
FLC - 71%
Overall Freshmen 71%
Criterion
Persistence Rates
The persistence rates for FYE cohorts will be similar to the persistence rates of the overall cohorts.
Finding
Persistence Rates
2010-2011 two-year and three-year persistence rates will be reported after the census date in fall 2011 when data becomes available from Institutional Research.
Fall 2009 - Two-Year Persistence Rate
UNIV 1301 - 61%
FLC - 51%
Overall Freshmen - 62%
Fall 2008 - Three-Year Persistence Rates
UNIV 1301 - 52%
FLC - 62%
Overall Freshmen - 55%
In fact, the first-year-experience interventions are at least similar to the overall freshmen cohort.
Criterion
Grade Point Averages
The GPAs for FYE cohorts will be similar to the GPAs of the overall cohorts.
Finding
GPAs
2010-2011 Grade Point Averages (GPA) will be reported after the census date in fall 2011 when data becomes available from Institutional Research.
UNIV 1301- 2.82
FLC - 2.90
Overall Freshmen - 2.92
The Freshman Learning Community aggregated GPA was definitely similar to the overall freshmen cohort last year. The UNIV 1301 was more distant but not outside the general area.
Criterion
Graduation Rates
The graduation rates for FYE cohorts will be similar to the graduation rates of the overall cohorts.
Finding
Graduation Rates
Six-Year Graduation rates from fall 2005 to fall 2011 will be reported after the census date in fall 2011 when data becomes available from Institutional Research.
Fall 2005 - Six-Year Graduation Rates UNIV 1301 - 44%
FLC - 55%
Overall Cohort - 44%
The Freshman Learning Community outdid by 10 percentage points both the UNIV 1301 class and the freshmen cohort last year.
Action
Awaiting Institutional Research Report
It appears that our UNIV 1301 students, many of whom are at-risk students, were similar to the overall freshmen cohort. In several instances, the Freshmen Learning Community tended to do better than the class, some of whom are in the FLC, and even the overall cohort. We will attempt to ascertain what benefits the FLC provides for freshmen in order to add those advantages to the class and the overall cohort.
Goal
Student Growth In Reading Rate, Comprehension, And Vocabulary
Students will demonstrate growth over the semester in reading rate, comprehension, and vocabulary.
Objective
Increased Reading Rate, Comprehension, And Vocabulary
UNIV 1301 students will demonstrate improvement in reading rate, comprehension, and vocabulary from pre-test to post-test.
Indicator
Performance On The Nelson Denny Reading Test
Form G of the Nelson Denny Reading Test will be given as a pre-test and Form H will be given as the post-test in all UNIV 1301 classes.
Criterion
Growth Over The National Mean
The reading rate, comprehension, and vocabulary will increase from the pre-test to the post-test. The national mean will be used until SHSU can establish a benchmark for the future.
Comprehension mean score will meet or exceed 48.50, the national mean score for college freshmen. Vocabulary mean score will meet or exceed 49.40, the national mean score for college freshmen.
Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Reading Rate were all significantly different from pre- to post-test (p< .0001). Comprehension scores for the post-test were slightly higher than the national mean score (50.94) for college freshmen. Vocabulary scores for the post-test were slightly lower than the national mean score (49.42) for college freshmen. Scores were similar to the scores from 2009-2010.
Action
Nelson Denny Reading Test Results
The weaker area is Vocabulary. We will strategize with instructors about avenues to introduce and strenthen vocabulary during the first-year experience.
Goal
Participation And Involvement In New Student Convocation
Students, faculty and staff will participate and be involved in the New Student Convocation.
Objective
Student Satisfaction
First-year students who participate in NSC will find the program motivating and useful to their first year of college.
Indicator
Self-Reported Survey
Open-ended question survey sent to all first-year students who attended the program.
Criterion
Student Responses
Of those students who respond, the majority will have positive comments and provide helpful feedback.
Finding
Survey Results
Survey results indicated that overall the majority of student responses were positive.
Action
Student Satisfaction
The students were overall satisfied with the event. Some thought the event was too long (1 hour) and there were too many speakers (8). We will look into shortening the event and the number of speakers for next year.
Goal
Student Preparation Through UNIV 1301
Students enrolled in UNIV 1301 develop skills necessary for success in college.
Objective
Develop Skills For College Success
Students will demonstrate development of basic study skills (e.g. reading, writing, note taking, and test taking), critical thinking/problem solving, and life skills (e.g. health/stress, nutrition, relationships/sex, alcohol/drugs, and money management).
Indicator
Independent Educational Development Assessment (IDEA) Ratings Associated With Skill Development
IDEA ratings of questions 21, 23, 24, 27, and 29 will indicate student perception of skill development through UNIV 1301.
Criterion
Mean Scores Of 3.50 Or Higher
The mean scores will be at least 3.50 indicating moderate, substantial, or exceptional progress on perceived skill development.
Finding
IDEA Ratings
Students indicated the following:
Question 21 - gaining factual knowledge - rating: 4.6 Question 23 - improving thinking and problem solving: 4.836 Question 24 - developing specific skills competencies and points of view:4.72 Question 27 - gaining broader appreciation for intellectual/cultural activity: 4.784 Question 29 - gaining skills in finding and using resources to solve problems:4.98
Action
Areas Of Strength And Weakness
Students rated the highest growth in the areas of improving thinking and problem solving and gaining skills in finding and using resources to solve problems. We were weakest in the gaining factual knowledge category. We will retain the strategies used to develop the strengths. We will work to improve gaining factual knowledge by developing new strategies and new assessments in this area.