Freshman Programs: A successful Collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs

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Freshman Programs A successful Collaboration
between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs

• Facilitating Graduation point 4, Strengthened
  Support for both General Education and
  Life/Career Goal Clarification for Lower Division
  Students
• Facilitating Graduation point 11, Adoption of
  Strategies for Student Success and Learning
  Support.

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California State University, Sacramento

• Greg Wheeler, Associate Dean for Undergraduate
  Studies, wheelergr_at_csus.edu,
• 916-278-7466
• Beth Merritt Miller, Director of Academic
  Advising Career Center, merrittmillerb_at_csus.edu,
  
• 916-278-87840

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Collaboration

• Since 1999 the Division of Academic Affairs and
  the Division of Student Affairs have grown a
  powerful partnership to support the Freshman
  Programs we offer. A combination of advising and
  peer mentoring, primarily supervised in Student
  Affairs supports the 25 University Learning
  Communities and 64 Freshman Seminars offered by
  Academic Affairs.

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Collaboration

• Both faculty and staff teach in the programs and
  a vigorous in-service program has been developed
  to strengthen the quality and coherence of the
  offerings. There are now approximately 2400
  students involved.

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Collaboration

• This fall a new Freshman Programs office opened
  in a residence hall. This is part of our on-going
  effort to take the most useful programs to where
  the students are physically as well as
  academically.

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Freshman Seminars
   University Learning Communities Program
    Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)


 
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Advising

• Major Departments
• Peer Mentors
• Freshman Seminar Instructors
• Academic Advising Office

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Peer Mentor Objectives

• Promote and strengthen the freshman students
  sense of connection
• Improve retention rates
• Assist faculty with classroom management
• Serve as role models

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Top 10 Reasons to Sign Up for the Freshman
Seminar Course

• 10. Be introduced to the bigger picture of
  higher education
• 9. Learn strategies to be more academically
  successful
• 8. Acquire knowledge about yourself as an
  integrated social, physical and psychological
  entity
• 7. Build a relationship with fellow students and
  instructor
• 6. Be introduced to the culture, services and
  resources of the Sacramento State Community

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Top 10 Reasons to Sign Up for the Freshman
Seminar Course

• 5. Understand the significance of the teaching
  and learning process
• 4. Have a better chance of earning a higher GPA
  and graduating
• 3. Understand the relationship of education to
  personal development
• 2. Fulfill three units of General Education
• 1. IT'S FUN!

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FRESHMAN SEMINAR COURSE GOALS/LEARNING OUTCOMES

• I. The student will have an enlarged
  understanding of the ideas and values related to
  education
• II. The student will demonstrate active learning
  and improved intellectual skills
• III. The student will begin to develop
  information competence and computer literacy

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FRESHMAN SEMINAR COURSE GOALS/LEARNING OUTCOMES

• IV. The student will demonstrate an understanding
  of self as an integrated biological,
  psychological, and social being
• V. The student will acquire knowledge of course
  topics

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Learning Communities

• Each community consists of 2-3 classes,
  scheduled in a specific cluster of General
  Education and major classes linked by common
  themes, assignments, and extra-curricular
  activities.

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In-service Training Speakers

• How students understand themselves as
  learners---Emily Decker-Lardner
• Attitude Schmattitude, Teaching Strategies to
  help first-year students Hone in and Hunker
  Down---Constance Staley

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Examples of Session Topics

• Getting Started in Freshman Seminar
• Creative Course Assignments
• Research and Assessment
• Classroom Management
• Community Building
• Teaching Freshmen to Write
• Information Competence for Freshmen

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Honors Lounge
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Honors Lounge
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2005 Survey of Freshmen

• 78 are more motivated in their studies
• 90 say they have a better understanding of what
  it means to be an educated person
• 88 say they can take more responsibility for
  their own learning

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2005 Survey of Freshmen

• 83 say that they feel more connected or
  comfortable with Sac State, after taking the
  freshman seminar
• 82 say that they have a greater ability to
  access computer and library resources

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2005 Survey of Freshmen

• 80 of the students reported that they have a
  better appreciation for the varied cultural
  perspectives found on campus
• 81 of the students say they would recommend this
  class to other freshmen.

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Freshman Seminar 1999-2005

• 12 higher six year graduation rate than those
  who did not take courses in this program.
• 85 retention rate from freshmen to sophomore
  year for EOP students who took Freshman Seminar,
  7 higher than freshmen who did not take the
  class.

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1st Year overall GPA of First-Time Freshmen
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