Welcome!

1. Welcome! • The students of EGL 102 section 007 would like to present the results of their research papers. • Let’s start with Defining the Problem

2. Defining the Problem • The problem is that Oakton lacks a structured and conscientious program for freshmen students.

3. Explaining the Goals • Our main goal is to design a year-long Freshmen Success Program for Oakton that is based on research. • We also wanted to research the following questions:

4. What are the typical problems of college freshmen? What are the typical problems of community college freshmen? Who are considered “at risk” students? Who drops out of college (and why)? How have students learned to succeed on their own? What do other year long programs look like? How are these programs assessed? 7 Research Questions

5. Literature ReviewWhat are the typical problems of college freshmen? • “Understanding the First-Year Experience” Kirk S. Kidwell 2005 (Speaker: Ashley Cohen-Lewe) • “Students Seeking ‘Bond’ with Universities Alvin P. Sanoff 2004 (Speaker: Troy Johnson) • “Stress Busters” Career World 2005 (Speaker: Paul Slomba)

6. Literature ReviewWhat are the typical problems of community college freshmen? • “College freshmen at risk-social problem at issue: an exploratory study of a Texas/Mexico border community college” Cecilia Garza and Michael Landeck 2005 (Speaker: Eric Manipon) • “Transition patterns can reveal student success levels” Vanessa Smith Morris and Melinda Mercher Kamp 2005 (Speaker: Aneta Grzymala) • “Understanding the college first year experience” Kirk S. Kidwell 2005 (Speaker: Dorin Govargiz)

7. Literature ReviewWho are the at-risk students? • “Classroom Strategies for Identifying and Helping College Students “At Risk” for Academic Failure” Barry R. Thompson and Peggy Ruth Geren 2002 (Speaker: Ana Contreras) • “Academically dismissed and Probation Students in a Two Year College for 1994 and 1998” Gwendolyn Jones 2000(Speaker: Victor Burns) • “Under Prepared Students” Shawn Robinson Year 1996 (Speaker: Eddy Oh)

8. Literature ReviewWho tends to drop out? • “Educators turn their attention to college drop-out rate” No author 2000 (Speaker: Wojciech Buzun) • “Higher education’s revolving door: Confronting the problem of student drop-out in U.S. colleges and universities” Betsy O. Barefoot 2004 (Speaker: Cathy Ponce) • “Modest Gains in Enrollment, says New ACE Report” Michele N-K Collison 2000 (Speaker: Nelly Avina)

9. Literature ReviewHow have students learned to succeed? • “Your First Year of College: 25 Tips to Help you Survive and Thrive your Freshman year and Beyond” Randall Hansen 2005 (Speaker: Kori Krischke) • “10 Most Weird Ways to Succeed at College” Jay Matthews 2005 (Speaker: Jeff Navarro) • “How to Succeed in College: Learn How to Learn” Robert Bjork 2001 (Speaker: Rizwan Ahmed) • “How to do Really Well in College: A Guide for Freshmen” Dr. Norm Weiner 2004 (Speaker: Kevin Iwanicki)

10. Literature ReviewWhat are the characteristics of otheryear long freshmen success programs? • New Student Orientation Trends” No author No date (Speaker: Tom Schumacher) • “Facilitating Student Success for Entering California Community College Students: How One Institution Can Make An Impact” Esau Tovar and Merril A. Simon 2003 (Speaker: Emily Sieber) • “A Structured Freshmen Year for At Risk Students”Lana Muraskin 1998 (Speaker: Adam Miller) • “Freshman Interest Groups: Partnerships for Promoting Student Success” Charles C. Schroeder et al. 1999 (Speaker: Cesar Del Rio)

11. Literature ReviewWhat are the characteristics of otherprogram assessment tools? • “Keeping Students Afloat” Crystal L. Keels 2004 (Speaker: Scott Mylenbusch) • “Evaluation of a College Transition Program for Students At-Risk for Academic Failure” Virginia DeRoma 2005 (Speaker: Nikima Loureiro) • “A Comparison of Teaching Goals and Objectives Identified by Faculty and Peer Learning Facilitators within a Transition Seminar for New College Students” Daniel Brown 2003 (Speaker: Joe Luif)

12. First of all OCC must have a structured, comprehensive, conscientious, and measurable Freshmen Success Program The most important characteristics of this program are building relationships and making connections. The program should start in the summer with an orientation program for students and training for faculty, staff, and counselors. The summer orientation program should offer students various experiences and services: Counseling and Advising Designing an educational plan Being paired with a mentor Being placed in a freshmen interest group Being placed in a Core group Orientation Blog College Success Mini Course Our proposedFreshmen Success Program Speaker: Scott Mylenbusch

13. Summer Orientation Continues: Early Registration Tour of Campus Student + Significant Other Orientations Participation in the Admissions Process Social Event Freshmen Reading Round Up Survey given to search for and round up “at-risk” students Summer Orientation can be one week long or it can be one Saturday long It should occur at various times throughout the summer so most students can attend It should be considered mandatory A truncated version should be offered between Fall and Spring semesters for new freshmen Our proposedFreshmen Success Program Speaker: Tom Schumacher

14. During the entire first year: Intrusive counseling/advising Tutors inside high drop-out rate courses (English & math) School-sponsored events for freshmen interest groups, mentors and the mentored, and core groups. Faculty-Student events Team-Taught College 101 course strongly encouraged Extensive follow-up by counselors (refine and monitor performances in classes) Faculty trained in cooperative learning and teaching to various kinds of learners Social gatherings (parties) Friendship-building events Academic services that support courses that students are enrolled in Our proposedFreshmen Success Program Nakima Loureiro

15. Our proposedFreshmen Success Program • Last pieces of advice: • Make a Freshmen Success Program visible to all during the year • Faculty-Staff must be aware of his or her role • Visibly posted Calendar of Events for Freshmen Success Program • Conscientious efforts to convey a message of success to students Speaker: Cathy Ponce

16. We have 2 ideas: Idea #1 An electronic survey/questionnaire administered before freshmen year begins to assess how students feel about their impending academic journey to assess programs students think will help them to assess what they think it will take to succeed in college An electronic survey/questionnaire administered after freshmen year ends To assess how students feel about their freshmen journey To assess programs students used and how effective students thought they were To ask students what they liked or disliked about Freshmen Success Program Our Assessment Tool Speaker: Eric Manipon

17. Idea #2: Conduct an experiment Experimental and Control Groups (100 in each) Experimental group randomly selected Control group matched as closely as possible to experimental group Compare GPAs and Drop-out rates after each semester for as long as possible Questionnaire should also be given to each of the groups Determine which programs they utilized and whether or not they were satisfied with the programs. Determine what they attribute to their success or failure Determine their obstacles Determine their support systems Our Assessment Tool Speaker: Joe Luif

18. Do you have any questions? Thank you for coming!