Student Success Conference

1. Student Success Conference CSU Campus Practices and Student Success Conference October 19-20, 2006 Dr. John Dirkse Interim AVP for Academic Programs and Dean, Undergraduate/ Graduate Studies California State University, Bakersfield

2. Student Success Conference We are going to highlight two of our campus’s practices which promote student success—and both have connections to service learning. The first is connected to our first-year experience courses and the second involves helping students in academic trouble. California State University, Bakersfield

3. Student Success Conference Service Learning in the First-Year Courses: During the 04-05 academic year, a task force of faculty, administrators, and staff developed an integrated, 3-term “first-year” experience for all new students. It was designed to incorporate learning, engaging, and service in ways that are known to improve student success, retention, and progress towards graduation. California State University, Bakersfield

4. The Roadrunner RUSH-A (Resources for Undergraduate Success and High Achievement) program was initiated in Fall 2005 for all new undergraduate students “in transition”. The mission is to build, nurture, and sustain a vibrant educational community at CSUB committed to the academic and personal success for all such students. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

5. Student Success Conference The program goals, which are embedded in three components-- learn, engage, and serve--are to assist new students “in transition” in the following specific ways: California State University, Bakersfield

6. 1. (1st term) assist the students in acquiring essential academic information, gaining necessary technical skills, assessing needed academic support services, increasing connections and engagement with peers and faculty, and in developing a personal plan for success at CSUB (LEARN); Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

7. 2. (2nd term) assist the students in becoming actively engaged with CSUB faculty “passions for the academy”—faculty share their passion to learn about a particular subject or topic (ENGAGE); Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

8. 3. (3rd term) assist the students in becoming actively involved as “student ambassadors” of CSUB to either the campus community or to the Bakersfield community (SERVE). Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

9. Some examples of the ENGAGE courses: • Reading Harry Potter • 2. Seinfeld Economics • 3. Screening the Sacred—an exploration of how religion and values are expressed in popular film. • 4. The Beatles Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

10. 5. Painting Poetry—analysis of poems inspired by art and art inspired by poems 6. World of Animation 7. Chemical Circus—students learn to prepare and perform chemical demonstrations for elementary schools and junior highs Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

11. The original plan was that the faculty “passion” courses would be winter quarter offerings. There was so much excitement and interest following the Winter 2006 offerings that we offered some of the courses again in Spring and this Fall. The students are already demanding some be offered every quarter. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

12. Some examples of the SERVE courses are: • Bakersfield Homeless Shelter—students learned about the mission of the shelter which areas needed volunteer help, and then volunteered in one of those areas • 2. Health Fair—nursing students learned about putting on such a fair and then took complete responsibility for a Seniors Health Fair which took place in June. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

13. 3. Chemical Circus…(continuation of engage class)—the students who learned how to prepare and perform the demonstrations in the Winter presented the demonstrations at local schools during the Spring term. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

14. Student Success Conference Since the “passion” course have been so successful at engaging the students, we are working on trying to develop more courses like these last three—courses in which students can engage in the faculty “passion” AND then continue the “passion” in service to the campus or the local community. California State University, Bakersfield

15. Based on some ideas and strategies presented at the CO’s Civic Learning Institute held in June, we have developed a few more of these pairs of engage/serve courses. Our campus is very fortunate to have a very active and involved Service Learning and Community Partnership office which helps faculty in these efforts. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

16. Two courses to be offered this Winter and Spring terms are: Brainiac—students learn all about the brain and then make presentations at local schools Museum Docent—students learn about local geology and archeology in order and then serve as docents at an area museum Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

17. Improving Your Academic Fitness Last year we decided that we wanted to take a proactive approach to assisting students who have a low gpa. We created a General Studies course, GST 102, with the title “Improving Your Academic Fitness”. We clearly wanted to exploit and even mimic the popular physical fitness training structure. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

18. The instructors for the sections are graduate students enrolled in one of our Education Counseling Programs: School Counseling or Student Affairs Counseling. These “trainers” meet with me and/or one of the Counseling faculty on a regular basis. We see this type of effort as excellent training for just what these trainers are planning to do. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

19. The actual course is a 1-unit quarter course which typically meets once per week. The trainers use the hours put forth in this effort as the internship hours which are required for their counseling program. Our original plan was to make this course a requirement for students who have a gpa below 2.00. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

20. Our approach now is to send an email after grades are rolled each term announcing the course and available sections to all students with gpa’s below 2.00. In addition, we are now requiring all students who are re-admitted after academic disqualification to take this course during their first term back. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

21. We are now also requiring all students who are “administratively dismissed” for not completing remediation (EO 665) to take the course during their first term back on campus. There are certainly other groups of student who have low gpa’s and/or are otherwise “at risk”, and we will be trying to direct them into this course, too. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

22. The syllabus for the course includes presentations and discussions on the following topics: • tutoring services • learning styles • time management • class preparation • coping and stress • advising and career exploration • test-taking strategies Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

23. Since our first-year experience program and the “Improving Your Academic Fitness” course are both so new, we don’t yet have sufficient data on the impact on the students’ progress toward graduation for either one. However, early indications are that both are having a very positive impact. Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield

24. If you have any suggestions or ideas related to either practice that you think we might be able to incorporate or exploit, please share them with us. Thank you for attending this session! Student Success Conference California State University, Bakersfield