CAEL 2008 International Conference

Lifelong Learning: Building Pathways to Independence

Re-retaining, Re-recruiting and Re-marketing:

The Graduation Project   

Presenters

Ruth A. Freiburger, Director

Adult Nontraditional Student Resource Office

Katherine N. Chase

Graduation Project Outreach Specialist

Purpose of the Graduation Project • Find ways to help former UW Oshkosh students complete

their baccalaureate-level studies

• Increase the number of baccalaureate degree holders in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Facts• In top 10 states in high school graduation rate

• 5th in percentage of high school graduates who immediately enroll in college

• 7th in the nation for its high percentage of associate degree holders

• 35th in percentage of bachelor’s degree holders in adult population

Problem• 35th in the nation in the number of

bachelor’s degree holders is not good!

Growth Agenda – Is there a “brain drain”?• Wisconsin needs 70,000 more adults with a bachelor’s

degree to reach the national average

• Major reinvestment is necessary to help restore quality and to continue providing “brain development” solutions

• Graduation Project is one of these efforts

Graduation Project Pilot Project 2004

• Idea of our Chancellor – Richard Wells

• Test the water

• Establish support

• Now:

• Provide support

• Graduate the returnees

The Beginning – Outreach• Registrar and Graduation Examiners

identified “low hanging fruit”

• Stopped out in last six years

• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better

• 15 or less credits left

The Beginning – Communication• Admissions and Academic Advising

• Sent letter to first group with new STAR reports and academic plans

• Students responded to advisors

• Effort was time-consuming and understaffed

Graduation Project 2005• ANSR Office assigned project/new staff

added

• ANSR Office sent invitation to students

• Student mentors worked with GP students

• STAR reports were developed by academic advisors after students responded

Marketing• Graduation Project website

http://www.uwosh.edu/graduationproject

• Project brochure

• New phase invitation sent out annually

• Resend invitation to earlier year students

• Follow-up

GP operates out of the ANSR Office• 1.0 Project Appt. – Outreach Specialist dedicated to GP

• 2 student mentors @ .25 FTE – dedicated to GP

• .25 Academic Advisor – dedicated to GP

• ANSR Program Assistant – as needed

• ANSR Director

Personal Contact• Information, pre-advising and friendly follow up = essence of

project

• Outreach visits with students – by email, phone and in their communities

• Student mentoring – current and prospective students

• Create readiness

• Get updated STAR reports

Follow up, follow up, follow up

MATT

Assess Needs• Students respond to invitation to return

• Intake form gets the process started

• Advisors make new academic plan

• Choose campus and format for class

• Special issues: appeal, repeating classes, probation, suspension and applying for academic amnesty

Assess Needs• Transcripts

• Updated STAR report meeting with advisor

• Financial Aid

• GP Scholarship

Campus Process• Track GP students with database indicators in

PeopleSoft™.

• Team up with other campus offices for meetings to problem solve, discuss relevant issues and policies

• Help students find courses and complete paperwork

Important Policies• Policy review and revision

• Course Repeat policy

• Academic Amnesty

• Credit for Prior Learning

Benefits• New online and hybrid course development

• Collaboration with Center for New Learning

• Special distance students – GP and other NTS

• Helps solve unique problems

LISA

Benefits• Increases faculty buy-in

• Get training to teach online and develop new skill

• Get paid for online training

• Able to teach courses above department allotment

Benefits• Adds new degree completers each year

• Instills hope!

Evaluation• Numbers of students who respond

• Numbers enrolled

• Numbers graduated

• Satisfaction

• Exit interviews/survey

• New survey to build on collaboration efforts

Funding• Committee on Baccalaureate Expansion (COBE)

funded for two years (06-07), $75,000 per year, total of $150,000

• Local initiatives to get more graduates as economic driver for state

• State allocation of funds

• Competitive process – involves CAEL and faculty

Funding• President of UW System, Dr. Reilly, funded for

two years (07-09) at $100,000 per year, total of $200,000 at UW Oshkosh Chancellor’s request

• Give the project a boost

• Serve as model

• Support Growth Agenda

Staffing with Outside Funding• 1.0 Project Appointment – Outreach Specialist

• .25 FTE – Academic Advisor

• .25 FTE – Student Mentor

Staffing In-Kind• Program Assistant

• Second Student Mentor

• Director of ANSR

Scholarships• Privately funded scholarships from alum

and long-term donor

• Need based

• Recommended by Project and Provost

• No state funds for scholarships

ROB

Graduation Project by the Numbers306 have responded to the invitation from all phases

86 have graduated – 77 from UW Oshkosh, 9 from other institutions

Fall 07 Spring 08 Summer 08 Fall 08

Enrolled 35 48 20 58Slated to Graduate 9 18 7 12

Graduated 9 17 6

Accomplishments• Happy campers!

• More baccalaureate holders for university and state

• GP “counted” on UW stats, percentages, etc.

• New online courses to help GP and other NTS

• Visibility – helps students know where to start

NATE

Limiting institutional issues• Time lag in getting STAR reports

• Limited number of online classes

• Limited number of evening classes

• 15 of last 30 credits rule

• Catalog year – lasts 6 years

What are the limiting issues on your campus?

The Graduation Project re-recruits and helps former students return to complete their baccalaureate-level studies and become proud alum!

Katherine Chase chasek@uwosh.edu

Ruth Freiburger freiburr@uwosh.edu

Graduation Project

Adult Nontraditional Student Resource (ANSR) Office

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

800 Algoma Blvd

Oshkosh, WI 54901

Phone: 920-424-1401

Email: graduationproject@uwosh.edu

Graduation Project wiki: www.gradproject.wetpaint.com