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A First Look at the Sophomore-Year Experience

A First Look at the Sophomore-Year Experience. Institute on Sophomore Student Success Columbia, SC April 15-17, 2013 Mary Stuart Hunter. Why All this Interest in Sophomores?. Outgrowth of the focus on first-year students Recognition that second-year students have needs and face challenges

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A First Look at the Sophomore-Year Experience

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  1. A First Look at the Sophomore-Year Experience Institute on Sophomore Student Success Columbia, SC April 15-17, 2013 Mary Stuart Hunter

  2. Why All this Interest in Sophomores? • Outgrowth of the focus on first-year students • Recognition that second-year students have needs and face challenges • Emerging research on second-year students • Nascent assessment on the second college year

  3. Why All this Interest in Sophomores? • Evidence that sophomores are at times the least satisfied of all students • Increasing interest - conference programs - listserv activity - activity in professional organizations - commercial press and other entities - publication sales

  4. Why did your institution invest in your participation in this institute?

  5. Defining ‘Sophomore’ • More difficult to define than other points of student transition • More ambiguity around beginning and ending

  6. Defining ‘Sophomore’ Time in college? Credits earned? Level of commitment and investment by student? Certainty of academic major?

  7. In your own mind and on your own campus, how have you defined ‘sophomore’? What is your definition?

  8. Has your campus developed a definition of ‘sophomore’? If so, what is it? If not, who should be included in a discussion to define ‘sophomore’ on your campus? ? Individuals ? Offices /programs that should be included in the conversation

  9. What issues do you see among the sophomores on your campus?

  10. Issues in the Second Year • Academic majors and academic self-efficacy • The curriculum and academic progression • Academic engagement • Faculty contact

  11. Issues in the Second Year • Student satisfaction • Social integration and involvement • Student motivation

  12. Issues in the Second Year • Lifestyle decisions • Financial issues

  13. Issues in the Second Year • Career Development • Values • Purpose

  14. Think, [Pair], Share Are there other issues that you see in your second-year students?

  15. “Sophomore Slump” yields 773,000 results “Sophomore Slump College” yields 158,000 results

  16. Sophomore ‘Slump’ Characterized by academic disengagement and a generalized dissatisfaction with one’s college experience. --Freedman, 1956

  17. Sophomore ‘Slump’ Difficult to define because “there seems to be no one problem that can be identified...it seems unwise to lump all the problems of individual students together.” -- Richmond and Lemons, 1985

  18. Redefining ‘Sophomore Slump’ A multi-dimensional phenomenon including one or more of the following: • academic deficiencies • academic disengagement • dissatisfaction with the collegiate experience • major and career indecision • developmental confusion --Kennedy & Upcraft, 2010

  19. Moving Beyond Assumptions What data is available on campus that might help you better understand the sophomore-year experience? Where might you look for additional data and information? Who might be useful in your data search?

  20. Reactions Reflections Q & A

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