Working Together for Student Retention SSAO/VPAA/CIO
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Transcript of Working Together for Student Retention SSAO/VPAA/CIO
Working Together for Student RetentionSSAO/VPAA/CIO
ExecutiveTrinity:
• Founded in 1885 as a land grant
• AAU institution
• 38,000+ students; 25,000+ undergrads; 7,300 freshman
• Mean SAT of entering freshman: 1105
• 2010 academic year awarded 8,240 total degrees
SOME UA FACTS
SOME CONTEXTOver $100 million cut in last 3 years
Freshman retention rate between 78 and 80%. The UA has recently gone through a retention audit and written a retention strategic plan
Three execs appointed by same administration within the last five years all reporting to the Provost
University has a strong history of interdisciplinary, collaborative interactions
Work more efficiently and effectively on programs that impact student retention.
GOAL OF THE PARTNERSHIP
Implement classes of 700-1200 students while maintaining quality of instruction and positive student experience.
PROJECT 1: MEGA-CLASSES
FacultyTechnologyStudent needs/supportFaculty needs/support
RETHINKING TEACHING IN THE MEGA CLASSROOM
Decision in May for August launch
Appointment of external project manager
Building a staff/faculty team
Visit to Apple
Delegation of responsibilities
IMPLEMENTATION
CENTENNIALHALL
STUDENT AFFAIRS
• Learning Support (supplemental instr., tutoring)• Preview Slides• Cohorts• Student input and feedback
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
• Classroom technology• Podcasting• Response devices• D2L
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
• Faculty selection• Funding for TA’s• Faculty training• Library support• Teaching evaluations• Course evaluation
Overall student satisfaction: 67%
Students considered classes of 50 to be “large”
Overall student final grades declined slightly
Teacher evaluation scores declined for some professors
Students identified slides as a major source of information
Mega-classes magnified issues that were common in all classes
FIRST YEAR FINDINGS
Update and refine a system that warns students, faculty and staff when milestones are not met in a specific class.
PROJECT 2: EARLY ALERT
EARLY ALERT
STUDENT AFFAIRS
• Tracking during course• Engaging students• Post-semester analysis
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
• Dashboards• D2L integrations
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
• Faculty selection• Identify triggers• Compare data
Equip our classrooms and learning spaces with modern state-of-the-art technologies.
Just getting started…
PROJECT 3: CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGIES
“Early alert has helped me to be in sync with at-risk students as well as those who just needed a reminder now and then. I definitely had more emails from students after an alert went out. Those emails ranged from simple questions to exam preparation and exam grade consequences.”
Elaine Marchello --Assistant Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Participating classes:
General ChemistryIntro to Biology Multiple math levelsLanguageGeneral Education
Students received 2-4 alerts in different classes from emails to phone calls from Student Affairs Outreach Facilitators
EARLY ALERTFALL 2011 QUICK FACTS
Range of Course Enrollment: from 157 to 2042
ALERTS SENT THIS SEMESTER: 2,482TOTAL STUDENTS ALERTED: 1,944
Alerts by Academic StandingFreshmen (75%) 1,862Sophomore (18%) 453Junior (5%) 115Senior (2%) 52
CLASSROOMTECHNOLOGIES
STUDENT AFFAIRS
• Engage students for input• Emergency response requirements• Classroom scheduling
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY• Project planning & management• Installation & support of equipment• IT fee
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
• Faculty input• Instructional support experience• Classroom scheduling
Working with Admissions, Advisors, Faculty, and Students and using Technology to inform students
Degree SearchDegree Tracker
Project 4:HELPING STUDENTS FIND AN ACADEMIC HOME
HELPING STUDENTS GRADUATE IN 4 YEARS
Degree SearchDegree Tracker
STUDENT AFFAIRS
• Admissions website modified • Student input and feedback
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
• Programmers • Web designers• PeopleSoft consultants
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS• Advisors involved in development and testing• Faculty involved in transfer articulation • Faculty involved in curriculum review
http://degreesearch.arizona.edu
http://aprr.web.arizona.edu/data/114/UGRD.USBSC.JOURBA.pdf
DEGREE TRACKER
DEGREE TRACKER
Appreciation for each other’s staff and areas
A sense of urgency helps
Use best practices from each culture
Have the help of an external project manager
WHATWE LEARNED
Working together in this way has built a broader understanding of and commitment to student retention.
WHATWE LEARNED
Centennial has become a highly desirable venue for faculty
Greater attention to testing, clickers, academic integrity
Greater involvement of faculty in SA events
Collaborative projects with senior executives are extremely valuable
UNEXPECTEDOUTCOMES
SUMMARYCollaboration and cooperation allows top administrators to tackle difficult problems with creative solutions and strong institutional support