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RFY Update for Faculty Senate

Learn about SCSU's RFY initiatives focusing on first-year seminars, guided pathways, and team-based advising to foster student growth and belonging, ultimately improving retention rates and graduation success.

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RFY Update for Faculty Senate

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  1. RFY Update for Faculty Senate February 21, 2017

  2. RFY initiatives • First Year Seminar • Gateway Course Project • Growth and Belonging Mindset Training • Guided Pathways • Meta Majors • Retention Outreach • Team-based Advising • Transition Plan (part of the Enrollment Management Plan)

  3. RFY initiatives • First Year Seminar • Gateway Course Project • Growth and Belonging Mindset Training • Guided Pathways • Meta Majors • Retention Outreach • Team-based Advising • Transition Plan (part of the Enrollment Management Plan)

  4. Outreach to NEFs at risk for non-retention • With the assistance of our data team, we have identified NEFs who we believe are at risk for not returning in Fall 2017 • Personal outreach by professional advisors helps students address academic, financial, and personal barriers to their success, and also to promote a sense of belonging in our community • Advisors are paired with Financial Aid officers to create student support teams. • Initiative was a collaboration of University College, Advising and Student Transitions, Financial Aid, MSS, Student Life and Development, Faculty, SRDs, Residential Life, and Institutional Research (OSPE)

  5. Team-based advising • Beginning in Fall 2017, each NEF will be assigned to a team consisting of the following: • a professional advisor • a Financial Aid staff member • a Career Center staff member • Additional team members will be added as appropriate: • MSS, Residential Life, Veterans Resource Center, LGBT Resource Center, etc. • Transition to a faculty advisor (i.e., subject-matter expert) in a major by Term Three

  6. Meta majors: definition • Meta majors are clusters of related academic programs designed to assist new entering undecided students make active and informed decisions about major selection.

  7. Meta majors: functions • to alleviate choice paralysis and promote earlier selection of a major • to promote a sense of purpose early in a student’s academic career

  8. Meta majors: functions • To help students with multiple interests narrow their focus • To help students in high-demand majors or majors with rigorous admission criteria consider related fields • e.g., Nursing, Engineering • To minimize the number of credits at graduation beyond 120 • To help prospective students and their families consider academic options before matriculation

  9. Meta majors: functions • To improve retention and persistence, as indicated by studies at two- and four-year institutions • To improve four- and six-year graduation rates • currently at 18% and 44%, respectively • To promote a cohesive, intentional LEP experience that aligns with institutional goals (OHC, Strategic Plan Refresh)

  10. Meta major as Entry point • Two entry points into academic life at SCSU • Direct declare/Intended for students who have a clear idea of what they want to study (~2/3 of NEFs) • Meta majors for students who are still deciding which academic area to pursue (~1/3 of NEFs) • Changing majors and meta majors is still possible

  11. Role of initial advising • Advising and Registration Days • Short, friendly assessment at the start of each event to gauge students’ interest • Schedule generation • In consultation with the student, a professional or faculty advisor builds a schedule that recognizes the importance of • Taking focus courses in area(s) of primary interest • Exploring new subjects • Completing the LEP • Construction of a second semester schedule will follow the same practice • End-of-day assessment to gauge students’ experience with the selection process

  12. From meta major to major • Possible transition milestones • Advising structured by a first-year guided pathway • Gear Up/Major fairs in fall and spring • Faculty, upper-division students, advisors, career counselors, Student Life and Development staff, SRDs, and others • Workshops on choosing a major and career

  13. Meta Major models

  14. Meta Major models

  15. Meta Major models

  16. Some questions • What meta majors make sense for SCSU students? What should we call them so that they’re useful and transparent? • Should we create additional resources to help students choose meta majors, majors, and courses during Advising and Registration Days? • How else can we assist students in choosing a major during their first year?

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