28 th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience The Umbrella Effect: Initiating Retention Programs for an Engaged

1. 28th Annual Conference on the First-Year ExperienceThe Umbrella Effect: Initiating Retention Programs for an Engaged Learning CampusFebruary 6-10, 2009

2. Utah Valley UniversityOrem, Utah • Open Enrollment • Total Enrollment: 26,696 (includes High School Enrollment) • 58.1% Males 41.9% Females • 12.4% Multicultural and 2.3% International • 6-Year Graduation Rate 2002-2008=26% • 6-Year Retention Rate 2002-2008=47% • Student to Advisor Ratio 468:1 (down from 699:1 in 2004) • Returning Students 2008=51.5% Fall 2008 Data 2

3. Office of Student Success & Retention The Office of Student Success and Retention is responsible for managing a Title III grant and implementing new initiatives as well as supporting existing programs to increase student retention rates. Title III Grant Goals • Implement a first-year experience (FYE) • Implement a student retention information tracking system (SRITS) • Implement a training process for UVU personnel on the FYE and SRITS 3

4. Retention Office Structure

5. Student Success& Retention Orientation First Year Experience Tutors Academics & Faculty Mentoring Diversity Financial Aid Advising

6. Umbrella vs. Plinko 6

7. Retention Busters RETENTION PLINKO Institutional Support -Financial Hardship -Failure to Bond to Campus Community -Didn’t get to know faculty -Family Crisis -Didn’t make a Friend -Didn’t see Advisor -Didn’t attend Campus Event -Didn’t choose a major -Medical Crisis -Didn’t involve Family -Not committed to Graduate -Etc. -Jump Start Orientation -Smart Start E-mails -Birthday Cards -Campus Unification -Freshmen-to- Advisor Pairing -Interventions Early Alerts-6 Triggers-25 Wallet Cards Hotline Blackboard Strategic Holds Leave of Absence Leave of Absence Epiphany Graduate Epiphany Drop Out Drop Out Timely Support Timely Support

8. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #1: JumpStart Orientation • All new Freshmen students encouraged to attend • One day 8:30am to 2:00pm • Welcome to both students and parents • Student Breakout Sessions with Peer Mentor • Get to know you activity • Campus Tour • Q&A • Parent Orientation • Lunch 8

9. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #2: StartSmart E-mails E-mails sent weekly to all new Freshmen each semester 9

10. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #3: Birthday Cards • Starting Fall 2008 Freshmen students (15 cr. and below) mailed a birthday card • $3.17 per student • Birthday card, $.89 • Free scoop of ice cream, $1.25 • Retention Tips card, $.30 • Business Card, $.14 • Postage, $.59 • Expand to all students Fall 2009? 10

11. #4: Intervention Strategies Early Alerts or Triggers to identify at-risk students, for example: Low grade point average Repeating courses Meetings with Academic Advisor across campus Define what a UVU student looks like STRATEGIC INITIATIVES 11

12. Early Alerts (6) and categories (25) • Admissions • Registration • Financial Aid • Classroom Behavior • Academic Standards • Campus Behavior #4: Intervention Strategies (continued) STRATEGIC INITIATIVES 12

13. Registration Alert • Low ACT/SAT/COMPASS. Student tests below college level for Reading, Writing, and Math (T-III Student). • Intervention: A hold will be placed on the student’s record. • An e-mail will be sent to the student asking him/her to meet with his/her Major Advisor regarding T-III status. If the student doesn’t reply to the e-mail, the Major Advisor will call the student. When meeting with the student, the Advisor will recommend and register him/her for specific courses. Advisor will remove the hold and then place it again after the advising session. #4: Intervention Strategies (continued) STRATEGIC INITIATIVES 13

14. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Student name #1 ID: 10000000 E-mail: 10000000@uvu.edu Student name #2 ID: 20000000 E-mail: 20000000@uvu.edu #5: Classroom Behavior Alert Instructors can indicate which students are not attending class regularly or not doing well academically. 14

15. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES I have noticed that you may be experiencing potential academic difficulty and would like to help you successfully complete this class. Please contact me immediately to discuss this matter or schedule a time to meet during office hours. If you prefer to speak with your advisor, please send an email and indicate that you would like to schedule a phone or in-person meeting. Sincerely, [Instructor Name] #5: Classroom Behavior Alert (continued) Emails are automatically sent to identified students and reports sent to advisors. 15

16. #6: Assignment of Advisors Process to automatically assign students to advisors based on Academic Major Early Alert & Acceptance Letter Congratulations and welcome to Utah Valley University! We have processed your admissions application. Your records reflect the information listed below: UV ID: 10000001 Semester Accepted: Fall 2009 Admissions Status: Freshman Residency: Utah Resident Intended Major: Associate in Science in University Studies Your Academic Advisor: Yudi Lewis, 801-863-6713, Woodbury Business Building (WB) 147 STRATEGIC INITIATIVES 16

17. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #7: Blackboard Vista • Personalized Seamless and Intentional Advising • Every major advisor will have a Blackboard course • Enrolled students for current semester • Students will interact with Advisor and other students in the same major 17

18. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #7: Blackboard Vista (continued) Specific major information Announcements Discussion Board E-mail system Chat Student reports Blackboard login 18

19. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #8: First-Year Course First sections are being offered in Fall 2008 Not approved as a General Education Course but will continue to offer this course as an elective Will be assessed and presented again to Deans and Faculty Senate Fall 2009 19

20. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES #9: Leave of Absence Forms • Forms are being developed to track the reasons students leave • Religious service • Military service • Transfer to another school • Students/parents will be contacted several months before planned return date 20

21. BENCHMARKS Have competitive graduation and retention rates with sister institutions By 2011 increase retention rates by 12% from the Fall 2004 baseline of 41% (grant goal) Increase the number of students who declare a 4-year major during their first year by 5% from the 2004 baseline of 66% (grant goal) 21

22. UVU Retention Overview

23. At-Risk Populations

24. 1999 UVSC Freshmen Survey Conducted Summer 2006 Tried to obtain a sample of entire population of 1999 true freshmen. Utilized 32 research assistants who phoned, e-mailed, and/or interviewed these students Response rate=225/3,147 or 7% 60% Grads, 28% dropouts, & 12% Enrolled

25. Numbers of Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out & Others who Never Reached that Point and Graduated

26. Comparison of Financial Issues among Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out and Those who Never Reached that point and Graduated %

27. Comparison of Financial Issues among Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out and Those who Never Reached that point and Graduated % ***T-Tests=.001

28. Comparison of Affective Issues among Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out and Those who Never Reached that point and Graduated % ***T-Tests=.001

29. Comparison of Disadvantages among Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out and Those who Never Reached that point and Graduated %

30. Comparison of Disadvantages among Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out and Those who Never Reached that point and Graduated % *T-Tests=.05

31. Comparison of Disadvantages among Students who Reached a Point of Having to Drop Out and Those who Never Reached that point and Graduated %

32. Institutional Change Resulting From Study • Performed all student surveys mid-semester and Fall 2007. • Discovered that 15% of current students had already reached a point of needing to dropout. • UVU sent out an all-student e-mail soliciting those students who may have reached a dropout point to call in to SSRC Director • 42 called and 42 were helped to stay in college. • Since then UVU, established the Dropout Hotline, which is 801-863-INFO, and implemented other intervention strategies mentioned above through our Student Success & Retention office.

33. 2007 Observation About Dropouts Percentage of Students who Responded to “Worried About Having to Drop Out” by Class Standing, Sex, and Marital Status for (N=972) %

34. Multiple Regression Model: Predicting Graduation Adj. R2=.38 *=.05 **=.01 ***=.001 Never Reached a Point of dropping Out7 .17** Came to Know Faculty Member2 .38*** .29*** .28*** .17** .17** Graduation Status1 I Needed More Financial Aid 3 -.20*** .04 Age6 .10 .18** .07 UVSC SUCCESS SCALE4 .04 -.12 -.12* .03 Similar Habitus5

35. Multiple Regression Model: Predicting Graduation DEFINITIONS 1 Graduation Status:0=dropout; 1=enrolled; & 3=graduated; 2 “I came to know at least one faculty member while at UVSC Q10; 3 “I really needed more financial aid than I received while at UVSC” Q5; 4 Questions: 8, 9, 12, 13,1 5, & 25 combined with a range between 6-30;

36. Multiple Regression Model: Predicting Graduation DEFINITIONS (Continued) 5 “How similar was the community you grew up in to the community UVSC was in?” 1=not similar at all; 2=somewhat similar; & 3=very similar; 6 Age was their actual age from Question 45; 7 Question 39 “I reached a point where I had to drop out of UVSC recoded to “Never Reached a Point of Dropping Out. 1=Yes and 0=No.” 36

37. FUTURE INITIATIVES Require students deficient in reading, writing, and math to complete developmental courses within first year of college. Organize “UVU Major Opportunity” for first-year and undeclared major students to interact with advisors, faculty, and alumni in majors. Develop a sophomore initiative to complement FYE activities. Create a book scholarship for junior students. Determine why many seniors do not graduate and develop intervention strategies. 37

38. QUESTIONS? Marcy Glassford 801-863-7067 or marcyg@uvu.edu Yudi Lewis 801-863-6713 or yudi.lewis@uvu.edu Ron Hammond 801-863-8344 or ronh@uvu.edu Cheryl Hanewicz801-863-6539 or hanewich@uvu.edu