explore ways to expand transition programs beyond the first-year susan fanale &
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Explore Ways to Expand Transition Programs Beyond the First-Year Susan Fanale & Susan Bertelsmeyer Saint Louis University. Learning Outcomes. Participants will… Learn about SLU’s comprehensive First-Year Experience, Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience, Senior-Year Experience - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Explore Ways to Expand Transition Programs
Beyond the First-Year
Susan Fanale & Susan BertelsmeyerSaint Louis University
Learning OutcomesParticipants will…• Learn about SLU’s comprehensive
First-Year Experience, Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience, Senior-Year Experience
• Understand lessons learned as SLU developed transition programs
• Share information about transition programs at other institutions
Saint Louis University• Catholic, Jesuit University• Urban, residential campus• Total enrollment for fall 2009: 13,313• Total undergraduate: 8,119• 59% women, 41% men• 818 international students• 57% out-of-state
Undergraduate Initiatives Overview• First-Year Experience• Sophomore/Junior-Year
Experience• Senior-Year Experience• Living Learning
Programs• Commuter and
Transfer Programs
Undergraduate Initiatives Overview• Division of Student Development• Professional Staff:
– Director– 2 Coordinators– 2 part-time Coordinators – Graduate Assistant– 3 Student Workers– 2 Collateral Assignments
• Student Leaders:– 20 SLU 101 Leaders– 130 Oriflamme Leaders – 6 Transfer Mentors– 2 Commuter Assistants
First-Year Experience• SLU 101 Summer
Orientation• Welcome Week Fall
Orientation• First-Year Summer
Reading• Learning Communities/ FIGs• Freshman Commuter
Programs• TRANSFERmations• Paraprofessional Mentors
• First-Year Experience Courses
• Freshman/Sophomore Residency Requirement
• SLU Inquiry Courses• Academic Advising• Major & Career
Exploration• Involvement &
Leadership
First-Year ExperienceLearning Communities• Placed on one or more floors
of a residence hall• Students of same/similar
academic interests or majors• Social and educational
environments
First-Year Experience
First-Year Interest Groups• Connected to a Learning Community• Co-enrolled options for fall semester• Enrolled in two to three courses together with
peers while living together• Assists with college
transition
First-Year ExperienceTRANSFERmations Program• 6 week focus
– Welcome Week Connections– Getting Involved – Being a Billiken – Service– Exploring Saint Louis– Academic Preparation
• Transfer Mentors
Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience
• Developing relationships with Jesuits and faculty
• Reconnecting with Campus Community
• Wellness
• Career Development• Class Identity• Multicultural
Competence• Involvement &
Leadership
Senior-Year Experience
• Senior Mailing• Senior Legacy Symposium• Senior Reception with the
Jesuits• Senior Night at Billiken
Basketball Game• Educational Sessions• Online Resources
Marketing• Text treatments• Facebook• Partnership with Enrollment
Management• Transfer Newsletters• Individual program marketing• University News• SLU Connections• Transition Checklists
How We Got Here• Undergraduate Initiatives Committee with task forces:
– First-Year Experience – Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience – Senior-Year Experience
• Key leadership of task forces – faculty and staff co-chairs
• Top-down support of Vice Presidents• Culture of change at SLU• Focus on retention from Student and Academic Affairs• Partnership with Institutional Research• Student receptiveness to data driven culture• Student Development Learning Outcomes
Lessons Learned• Involve Campus Partners early and throughout
the process• Collaborative v. cooperative• Partnering with key departments• Marketing is key• Student feedback• Utilizing assessment data• Start with outcomes• Align resources – financial, personnel, time• Identify campus champions
Future Goals• Assessment of new programs• Redefine relationship with new Vice President of
Frost structure• Integrate more technology into programs• Incorporate more diversity into programs and
services• Incorporate Jesuits and Jesuit
Mission into programs• Educating campus community
Roundtable• What does your campus do
particularly well?• Gaps in your transition programs• Suggestions for new
initiatives• Tips for success