Comprehensive Assessment of the First Year of College @ A&M-Kingsville

1. Comprehensive Assessment of the First Year of College @ A&M-Kingsville Dr. Dann Brown Dean of University College

2. Today’s Remarks • What and where is Texas A&M University-Kingsville? • What’s a javelina? • What is University College? Why am I here? • Who are our students? • What are the Foundational Dimensions? How do they inform policy and practice? • What did we learn from our campus self-study? • What actions have been taken as a result of information obtained from the self-study?

3. What is A&M-Kingsville?

4. Where is A&M-Kingsville?

5. Let’s Begin with a Quiz A C B

6. What is a Javelina?

7. Our Mascot, Our History “You can’t spell Javelina without A&I!”

8. What is a University College? • Developmental education • Retention Services • Academic advising & Texas Success Initiative • Undeclared majors (LBAR) • Supplemental Instruction & Tutoring • University Honors Program • Freshman Convocation (to become Spirit & Traditions Council)

9. What Does a University College “Do”? • One of six undergraduate Colleges @ A&M-Kingsville • Serves as primary liaison between academic and student affairs • A member of interdivisional working group (TBD) • Home of the Javelina first year experience programs • Entry point for incoming freshmen • Leadership for retention issues on campus – partnered with AVP of Enrollment Management (recruitment issues)

10. Who Are Our Students?

11. Who Are Our Students?Often Underprepared Academically

12. Who Are Our Students?Math Often a Barrier to Success

13. Who Are Our Students?Academic Advising is Key

14. Who Are Our Students?More Are Declaring Majors

15. Who Are Our Students?Additional Assistance Important

16. Who Are Our Students?Additional Assistance Important

17. Who Are Our Students?Best Practices Needing Review

18. What Are the Foundational Dimensions? An Introduction to the Foundations of Excellence® in the First College Year Program & Process

19. FOE Provides Far More Formative Information than Traditional Performance Measures

20. Four Assumptions • The academic mission is preeminent • The first college year is essential and lays the foundation for future academic success • Systematic evidence provides validation • Foundational Dimensions have application to the entire undergraduate experience

21. The Dimensions • Foundations Institutions approach the first year of college in ways that are intentional and based on a philosophy of the first year that informs relevant policies and practices. • Foundations Institutions create organizational structures that provide a comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated approach to the first year.

22. The Dimensions • Foundations Institutions deliver intentional curricular and co-curricular learning experiences that engage students in order to develop desired knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors. • Foundations Institutions make the first college year a high priority for the faculty.

23. The Dimensions • Foundations Institutions facilitate appropriate student transitions through policies and practices that are aligned with the mission. • Foundations Institutions serve all first-year students according to their varied needs.

24. The Dimensions • Foundations Institutions ensure that all first-year students experience diverse ideas, worldviews, and cultures as a means of enhancing learning and as preparation for today’s pluralistic world. • Foundations Institutions promote student understanding of the various roles and purposes of higher education, both for the individual and society.

25. The Dimensions • Foundations Institutions conduct assessment and maintain associations with other institutions and relevant professional organizations in order to achieve ongoing first-year improvement.

26. A Quick Assignment • A more detailed list of the nine Foundational Dimensions is provided in your packet. • In small groups, identify the following: • 2-3 dimensions within which you are stronger • 2-3 dimensions within which you are weaker • A dimension or two which would be a challenge for you to define and/or explore on your campus and why.

27. What Did We Learn from our Campus Self Study?

28. What Did We Learn from our Campus Self Study? G E

29. What Did We Learn? • The lack of a philosophy for learning in the first year of college has significant second order consequences • Philosophies for the FYE differ between colleges, programs, departments and faculty / staff • These differences also have consequences

30. Examples of Consequences • Orientation paradigms • Academic advising • Centralization of services (or vice versa) • Residence life policies • Assessment and evaluation

31. What Did I Learn? • Must be certain that campus is ready to commit to the FOE process • Many campuses have failed to complete • We did not complete according to schedule • Avoid competing with other self study “issues” on campus • SACS reaffirmation, e.g.

32. What Did I Learn? • Non-academic issues may negatively impact the process • Faculty Senate disbanded, fall 2005 (reconstituted late spring 2006) • Stability of senior administration key • VP Finance & Administration, VP Student Affairs, ED Planning & Analysis, AVP Academic Affairs, AVP AA / Enrollment Management, AVP SA / Dean of Students, Various Directors

33. Retaining Our Well-Prepared Students a Priority 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

34. Retention Services Increasingly a Predominant Component of College

35. What Actions Have We Taken? • “It’s the Philosophy, stupid!” • Campus community engaged in broader discussions defining “retention” • Retention Has a Local Address Workshop • 75 faculty and staff from all administrative units • Action Items provided in your handout packet

36. What Actions Have We Taken? • Inter-Divisional Working Group established to overcome silos • Provost & VP Academic Affairs, VP Student Affairs, VP Institutional Advancement, VP Fiscal Affairs, AVP AA / Enrollment Management, Dean / University College

37. What Actions Have We Taken? • FOE has integrated with / inspired other campus initiatives • Time to Degree Task Force • Core Curriculum Task Force • Student Success Task Force • Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Proposal “Engaging Learners, Enhancing Success” • Flat-rate tuition proposal approved by BOR

38. What Actions Have We Taken? • Academic advising emphasized in the FYE • Academic advising fee proposed and approved – will generate >$300K annually for freshman academic advising (more advisors) • Mandatory freshman academic advising now required in 5/6 undergraduate colleges • Technology used as part of intrusive advising philosophy

39. What Actions Have We Taken? • Various FYE policies under review or modified • Web-based registration or schedule changes prohibited • Required freshman – sophomore residency now first year only • Increasing engagement a key focus • Recognizing importance of student opinions regarding campus services

40. What Actions Have We Taken? • True Blue Campus & Community Campaign • Demonstrates a common commitment to student success in a positive manner • Communications regarding activities • Publicity • Banners in Kingsville and on campus

41. Perhaps Our Most Important Outcome?

42. Dr. Dann Brown (361) 593-3290 Dann.Brown@tamuk.edu 700 University Boulevard MSC 206 Texas A&M-Kingsville Kingsville, TX 78363 Questions?