University College Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

1. A Welcoming Portal of Entry: Creating Collaborative and Comprehensive Programs for Entering Student Success University College Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Scott Evenbeck, Ph.D. University College Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Barbara Jackson, Ph.D. University College, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Maggy Smith, Ph.D. University College, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Dorothy Ward, Ph.D. International Conference on The First-Year Experience Toronto, Canada ~ July 25, 2006

2. University Colleges provide a structure to address the need for a comprehensive approach to entering students.

3. This is achieved by: • Providing efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability • Facilitating collaborations on and off campus • Improving opportunities for grants

4. Re-organization into UC structures has facilitated college entry and has increased student success at both institutions

5. UTEP – University College • The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) • On the U.S.-Mexico border • Urban commuter campus • Public comprehensive four year university • Doctoral/Research Intensive • Enrollment 19,264 (Fall 2005) • Undergraduate 16,033 • Graduate 3,231

6. UTEP – University College, Cont. • Student Profile • 24 years average age (undergraduate) • 13,225 full-time; 6,039 part-time • 72% Hispanic • 85% from El Paso County • 98% commuter • 81% employed • 60% receive financial assistance • 54% first-generation college students

7. UTEP – University College, Cont. • UC Programs • Academic Advising Center • Enrollment Services Center • Student Success Programs • Honors House • Junior Scholars • Student Leadership Institute

8. UTEP – University College, Cont. • Tutoring and Learning Center • Entering Student Program • University Studies (First-Year Seminar, Learning Communities) • CircLES (Pre-Science, Pre-Engineering Program) • Developmental Education

9. UTEP – University College, Cont. • University College Structure to Increase Student Success • Establish a “peer” relationship with other colleges • Increase campus sensitivity to first-year students • Elevate prestige of working with first-year students

10. UTEP – University College, Cont. Mission UTEP’s University College is dedicated to providing students with services and support needed to enter the University and have a positive educational experience. With a focus on access andexcellence, the University College is committed to serving its diverse student population by providing effective and efficient academic programs and student services that enhance success in a supportive learningenvironment.

11. UTEP – University College Goals • Establish partnerships within the University community that promote a supportive academic learning environment • Enhance University College communications • Use technology to enhance service to students, streamline operations, and integrate services • Prepare students for college-level work • Streamline registration processes

12. IUPUI – University College • Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) • Downtown Indianapolis • Public comprehensive four year institution • Over 185 academic programs • Doctoral/Research Intensive • Enrollment - 28,594 • Undergraduate – 20,181 • Graduate – 8,413

13. IUPUI – University College, Cont. • Student Profile • 16,699 full-time students • 11,823 part-time students • 57.6% female; 42.4% male • Students from 50 states; 125 countries; all 92 Indiana counties • 52% under 25 years of age • About 56% are first generation • Around 42% work more than 20 hours a week

14. IUPUI – University College, Cont. • UC Programs • Honors • Advising • Pre-College Programs • New Student Orientation • Learning Center • Student Support Services • Career Center • Student Athlete Mentoring • First-Year Seminars • Critical Inquiry • Summer Academy Bridge Program

15. IUPUI – University College, Cont. • Co-Sponsored Programs • Math Assistance Center • Writing Assistance Center • Campus and Community Life • Gateway • Center for Service Learning • Thematic Learning Communities

16. IUPUI – University College, Cont. MISSION University College is the academic unit at IUPUI that provides a common gateway to the academic programs available to entering students. University College coordinates existing university resources and develops new initiatives to promote academic excellence and enhance student persistence. It provides a setting where faculty, staff, and students share in the responsibility for making IUPUI a supportive and challenging environment for learning. PRINCIPLES University College will achieve its mission through the • Promotion of student learning • Focus on individual student success • Establishment of its own traditions and recognition of accomplishments • Provision of a quality first year experience • Development of strong connections with the degree-granting units • Commitment to faculty and staff development • Creation of a community that values diversity • Implementation of collaborative governance built on individual responsibility • Commitment to intentional reflection and assessment

17. Essential Features of Successful UC Model • Collaborations with P-12 • Campus collaborations among all units serving students at entry • Joint staff, advising and faculty appointments • Curricular approaches • Strong academic support services • Assessment

18. Campus and Community Collaborations

19. Campus and Community Collaborations Collaborations with P-12

20. IUPUI – University College • Collaborations with P-12 System • Pre-College Programs • College Preparatory Initiatives (Grades 3-7) • Twenty-First Century Scholars (Grades 7-12) • Upward Bound (Grades 9-12)

21. UTEP – University College • Collaboration with P-12 System • College Readiness Initiative • Partners: UTEP, El Paso Community College, School Districts • Components: Orientation to placement, placement test, intervention, and re-test • Dual Credit Courses and Junior Scholars

22. Campus and Community Collaborations Collaborations Among Units Serving Students at Entry

23. UTEP – University College • Collaboration among University Departments • Integrate services through restructuring • Coordinate the University College calendar • Share/pool funds for program effectiveness • Partner to enhance employee training

24. IUPUI – University College • Close collaborations with • Enrollment Center • Admissions • Financial Aid

25. Campus and Community Collaborations Joint Appointments

26. IUPUI – University College • Of 27 advisors, 11 are jointly appointed with degree-granting units • Lecturers jointly appointed with departments of English, Communication Studies, Anthropology, Biology, University Library, and Mathematics • 40 senior faculty representing all schools on campus appointed to UC • Adjunct faculty appointments drawn from across campus

27. UTEP – University College • Collaboration with Faculty and Staff • Advisor/Lecturers jointly appointed with Academic Advising Center and ESP (8 of 18) and College of Business and ESP (3 of 5) • Lecturers jointly appointed with departments of Communications, ESL, History, and Sociology • Assistant professors jointly appointed with departments of English, Mathematics, Physics, and Teacher Education • Campus-wide faculty and staff support

28. Curriculum-based Approaches

29. UTEP – University College • Curricular Approaches • New Student Orientation (NSO) • General—First-Year and Transfer • Enhanced NSO • CircLES NSO • University 1301 • Learning Communities • SmartSTART Summer Bridge • Student Leadership Institute

30. IUPUI – University College • Curricular Approaches • New Student Orientation • First Year Seminar Learning Communities • U112 Critical Inquiry • Bridge program - IUPUI Summer Academy

31. Strong Academic Support Services

32. IUPUI – University College • Support for learning through • Advising • Peer Mentors • Technology • Learning Center • Math and Writing Centers • Structured Learning Assistance • Supplemental Instruction

33. UTEP – University College • Academic Support • Developmental Advising • Peer Leaders • Instructor Development Workshops • Online Academic Support Modules • Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC) • Supplemental Instruction • Transfer Student Support

34. Assessment

35. UTEP – University College • Assessment activities include • Comprehensive Assessment Plan • Monitoring • Enrollment trends • Retention rates • Learning outcomes • Student engagement • Academic advising success • External reviews

36. UTEP – University College • Examples of assessment findings

37. UTEP - Findings on Outcomes: University 1301 Student Feedback

38. UTEP - Findings on Outcomes: University Instructor Feedback

39. UTEP - Findings on Outcomes: University Peer Leader Feedback

40. UTEP – Impact of Participation in a First-Year Seminar – One-Year Retention Rates -1999-2003 Entered fall/ Entered fall/ enrolled in never enrolled in seminar seminar Fall 74.1% 60.9% 1999 Fall 74.3% 45.6% 2000 Fall 73.4% 42.7% 2001 Fall 72.0% 52.5% 2002 Fall 70.5% 50.3% 2003 P < 0.01

41. UTEP - First Term Average GPA Based on Analysis of Covariance Entered fall/ Enrolled in Entered Fall / Never seminar in fall enrolled in seminar Fall 1999 2.72 2.16 Fall 2000 2.76 1.85 Fall 2001 2.78 1.99 Fall 2002 2.72 2.33 Fall 2003 2.76 2.18 NOTE: Does not include students without an SAT score. Effects of ethnicity and gender have been removed P < 0.01

42. IUPUI – University College • Comprehensive assessment plan including • Needs • Process • Outcomes • Retention and persistence • Academic performance • Learning outcomes • Satisfaction • Engagement • Comprehensive external reviews

43. IUPUI – University College • Examples of assessment findings

44. Findings on Outcomes: Students’ Report of Improvement in Abilities • Find resources at IUPUI 62% • Use the library 53% • Seek help when needed 52% • Use online resources 51% • Understand course expectations 47% • Participation in class discussion 47% • Manage own time 39% • Cope with stress 28% • Write for course assignments 24% • Think critically 23% (n = 221)

45. Findings on Outcomes: Students’ Report of Changes in Behavior • About half of the 221 students reported changes in one or both of two clusters of attitudes and behavior: • Becoming a better student • Taking course demands more seriously • Developing better study habits • Organizing time better • Becoming more outgoing • Trying to get to know students and instructors in other courses • Expressing self more, having more self-confidence

46. Impact of Participation in a First-Year 2004 Seminar: One-Year Retention

47. Impact of Participation in a First-Year 2004 Seminar: One-Year Retention

48. Fall 2003 Impact of Participation in a First-Year Seminar on One-Year Retention  

49. Fall 2004 Impact of Participation in a First-Year Seminar on One-Year Retention  

50. Spring 2005 Impact of Participation in a Critical Inquiry Course