The Student Success Initiatives program will investigate and pursue areas/initiatives in which greater student success is needed.
Objective
Student Success Advisory Board
The university's Student Success Advisory Board is composed of a representative from each college, institutional research, student services, TRIO programs, the advising center, first-year experience, and enrollment management. This board will recommend student success initiatives designed to assist, retain, and graduate undergraduates to pursue each academic year.
Indicator
Student Success Advisory Board Meetings
The board will meet monthly during long semesters to identify new initiatives, receive data updates on the new and continuing initiatives, and suggest specific programs to pursue in response to the data.
Criterion
Meeting Summaries Completed
Meeting summaries are written following each meeting.
Finding
Meeting Summaries
Meeting summaries for all meetings in this academic year are attached. The board met twice per semester as it was found that once questions were developed one month that it took at least two months to get all data together for the board to review.
Indicator
Identified Initiatives
The board will meet and identify the student success initiatives to pursue for each academic year.
Criterion
Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Initiative
This project will focus on how to support students entering the freshmen year with previously earned college credit (through dual enrollment, IB, AP, and/or summer school).
Finding
Advisory Board Report
SHSU asked The Education Advisory Board to study and report on the success strategies being employed by other universities for these students. They reported that no colleges or universities have really figured out how to deal with these students who enter college with enough hours to be a sophomore. Most haven't even thought about whether or not these students need different services.
Criterion
Undergraduate Research Initiative
The need to make undergraduate research more publicly known to students was identified in Academic Year 2010, but not pursued. Student Success Initiatives pursued this in Fall, 2010.
Finding
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
SSI worked with ORSP to develop a website with undergraduate research summer internships available. SSI would send targeted email blasts to students by major to entice them to take advantage of these opportunities. The person in ORSP had to take a leave from work and was unable to finish the website. The group met in June and will have this on the web for Academic Year 2012.
Criterion
Online Student Services Initiative
This category of students was mentioned in the president's fall address to the university and includes those who are taking online classes. Although all online students will benefit from the initiatives, the students taking all online classes are the focus.
Finding
Online Student Services Committee
This initiative was started late in the academic year and will continue into Academic Year 2012. A committee composed of representatives from Academic Affairs, Student Services, DELTA, Information Technology, Enrollment Management, and Finance & Operations began meeting in May to audit what is currently available for online students, and what are the short and long term goals of having services available. A report will not be available for this academic year, but current information is attached.
Criterion
At-Risk Students
This category of students was mentioned in the president's fall address to the university and includes those who graduated in the past 6 years with a GED, entered school at 20+ years old, received a Pell grant, scored below the national norm on ACT/SAT, and/or are part-time students.
Finding
General Findings For Fall 2010
65.67% must take developmental math 73.88 are Pell recipients 41.63% are under the ACT/SAT mean 18.41% enter under PREP 24.31% take SAM 136 first semester
In F09, 27.38% finished first semester on grade point probation.
As some of these results were still being gathered in the spring semester, the SSAB will continue to study the trends and recommend strategies to deal with At-Risk students.
Indicator
Continuing Initiatives
The Student Success Initiatives Office will continue to study issues that were previously identified by the board. Assessments on these programs will be done on a rotating basis every other year.
In Academic Year 2010, several programs were in the process of being initiated. Three of the four were done by Student Success Initiatives - Exploring Majors Fair, McNair Scholars, and Study Abroad. Mentoring falls under the SAM Center. An Exploring Majors Fair was held on November 1, 2010. Student Success Initiatives continued to work with McNair Scholars to help promote their program through emails to students. The office also continued to work closely with Study Abroad to promote and support their programs.
Criterion
Forward Program
To provide for the unique needs of former foster youth, orphans, and wards of the court who are now students at SHSU.
Finding
Forward Survey
A survey of former foster youth, orphans, and wards of the court was conducted in November, 2010. This was a follow-up survey to the one done in Spring, 2010 that didn't have a good return rate. The Fall 2010 didn't have a good return rate either (13%). At this time, the office is using national data combined with the minimal campus data to develop programs and direct students to programs. The main way to stay in touch with this population will continue to be through email blasts that direct them to services and events that will help them with the issues that we know on a national basis that they deal with.
Finding
Host Statewide Reach Convening
SHSU hosted the 2nd Annual Texas Reach Convening on June 2-3, 2011. Over 125 people from higher education, state agencies, and community partners attended.
Criterion
Transfer Student Initiative
Transfer initiatives carried over from the previous academic year as this topic was not covered until last in the year, and there was not time to initiate identified new programs and a survey.
Finding
Exploring Majors Fair - Transfers
The first Exploring Majors Fair was held on November 2, 2010. All academic departments planned on participating although 1-2 didn't show up on the day of the event. 250 students participated. Students who transfer to the university are usually Sophomores and this is a crucial time when they need major and career clarification in order to graduate.
Finding
Study Abroad - Transfers
Study Abroad is an enlightening opportunity for upperclass students. It was actively promoted for the first time through email blasts, presentations, and publications.
Finding
Transfer Student Survey
A survey of transfer students was conducted in November, 2010.
Most of the students work more than 20 hours per week and their jobs are not in Huntsville. This is of concern because of the time they do not have to study. Almost 80% did not attend the transfer orientation that was available, but not mandatory. Although most seemed to belong at SHSU, most are not involved in student activities and organizations on campus. They also said that they would have liked more information regarding student organizations and activities and support services when they arrived at SHSU.
Criterion
Sophomore Student Initiative
Several sophomore initiatives were not pursued during the previous academic year because of timing. They were planned and initiated in Academic Year 2011.
Finding
Exploring Majors Fair - Sophomores
The first Exploring Majors Fair was held on November 2, 2010. All academic departments planned on participating although 1-2 didn't show up on the day of the event. 250 students participated. The sophomore year is a crucial time when they need major and career clarification in order to move forward.
Finding
McNair Scholars
McNair Scholars benefits Juniors and Seniors and recruits students in their sophomore year. Student Success Initiatives actively publicized through email blasts to all sophomores.
Action
Continuation Of Student Success Advisory Board Meetings
Meeting twice per long semester seemed to be much more conducive to getting data and research gathered for each meeting. SSAB will continue to meet every other month during long semesters.
Action
Continuing Initiatives For Academic Year 2012
Undergraduate Research Initiative - get this initiative up and running so that it has a presence on campus Online Student Services Initiative - have report ready in early fall and determine short and long term goals for the university At-Risk Students - continue to look at this population and strive to find initiatives for them Transfer Students - look into a mandatory orientation requirement and other ways for them to get involved in student organizations and activities.
Action
Assessment Rotation
Assessment in SSI will go on a rotation schedule to help with time and resource management in reporting results. Even Academic Years - Sophomores, At-Risk Students Odd Academic Years - Transfers, Forward Students Other assessments will be added as needed.