FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY CENTRE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

STUDY

Shona Franklin

Ally Harper

Kenny Stubbolo

Kevin Quinn

Mariama Bonetti

Introduction

The transition from high school can be difficult and students need support services.

Our study aimed to make the population here on Franklin Pierce University aware of this service\support center (Academic Center of Excellence)

Problem Statement

Research is necessary to determine students’ awareness of the Center for Academic Excellence and its services, to identify effective market communication strategies and to recommend continuation or change in future programming.

Research Objectives Research what types of academic support

programs are offered at higher education institutions.

Research what other similar institutions are doing to promote similar programs.

Determine the level of awareness for the services offered by the Center of Academic Excellence.

Identify the most effective communication strategies to reach students.

Literature Review

Academics have changed in the past few decadesTechnological based learning

Need for academic support is highReport in Neil-Levitz

Literature Review

Other schools dedicate an entire webpage to their Academic Services centerEasy access to Services link

Methodology Population

The population of Franklin Pierce University consists of approximately 1,400 undergraduate students

Sample Size160 Students, 20 Male and 20 Female from each of the 4 grades

(Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior)

Methodology

The research team used the non-probability convenience sampling method.

Handed out the questionnaires to students in dorms, and common areas around campus (Cafeteria and library).

The researchers also used a quota sampling method based on gender and class standing to get an equal response from each class, as well as from both genders.

Assumptions and Limitations

AssumptionsIt is assumed that everyone who took the survey answered ALL of the questions honestly and accurately.

LimitationsThe researchers found that time and the relatively small sample size to be limitations to the research process.

Question 1 – Are you aware of the Centre of Academic Excellence at FPU?

no43%

yes57%

Are you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University?

Question 2- Where have you seen or heard of the Centre of Academic Excellence at FPU during the past semester?

inter

net

cafe

teria

libra

ry

mar

cuce

lla

fitzw

ater

cen

ter

petro

celli

dorm

s0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Question 3 - Do you know where the Centre of Academic Excellence is located?

no51%yes

49%

Question 4- Please check all the academic services you would be interested in:

Indiv

idual

fresh

man

aca

dem

ic su

ppor

t

Peer t

o pe

er tu

torin

g

stud

y sk

ills c

ours

es

time

man

agem

ent

Assist

ance

with

org

aniza

tion

Resou

rce

mat

erial

Strate

gies

for a

cade

mic

succ

ess

Readin

g sk

ills in

stru

ction

Mat

hem

atics

skil

ls ins

truct

ion

Assist

ance

with

spe

cial a

cade

mic

decis

ion a

nd c

once

rns

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

50 49

95

66

5056.0000000000001

52

3237

67

Question 5 - Please rate each service in terms of overall importance:(1 Least – 5 Most)

assis

tanc

e with

org

aniza

tion

indivi

dual

fresh

man

aca

dem

ic su

ppor

t

read

ing s

kills

instru

ction

peer

to p

eer t

utor

ing

mat

hem

atics

skil

ls ins

truct

ion

stra

tegie

s fo

r aca

dem

ic su

cces

s

time

man

agem

ent

reso

urce

mat

erial

assis

tanc

e with

spe

cial a

cade

mic

decis

ions

and

conc

erns

stud

y sk

ills c

ours

es0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

2.98 3.05 3.11 3.14 3.15 3.22 3.35 3.393.56 3.71

Question 6- What do you feel is the most effective communication strategy for reaching students on campus?

com

mun

icate

d by

pro

fess

or in

clas

s

FP Rad

io

FP Web

site

Pierce

Arro

w

com

mun

icate

d by

a c

oach

of a

team

Faceb

ook

Flyers

Poste

rs

E-mail

: eRav

en

FP TV C

omm

ercia

l0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160158

111

40

49

80

10193

79

112

35

Question 7- Would you recommend the Centre of Academic Excellence to a fellow student?

Definitely Probably Not Sure Probably not Definitely not 0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

Question 8- What is your current class standing?

Freshman Sophmore

JuniorSenior

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

4040 40 40

40

Question 9- Do you play a sport here at Franklin Pierce University?

yes 41%

no 59%

Question 10 - Do you participate in Extracurricular activities at FPU?

yes 51%

no 49%

Question 11- Does your sport/activity interfere with your academics?

yes no0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

35%

65%

Question 12- Please indicate your gender

Male; 50%Female;

50%

Cross Tabs- Awareness v. Gender

malefemale

TotalPlease indicate your gender.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Are you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University? noAre you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University? YesAre you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University? To-tal

Cross Tabs- Awareness v. Sports

no yes TotalDo you play a sport at Franklin Pierce

University?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160Are you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University? noAre you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University? YesAre you aware of the Center of Academic Excellence at Franklin Pierce University? To-tal

Cross Tabs- Awareness v. Activities

noyes

TotalDo you participate in an extracirricular activity?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

3533

6843 49

9278 82

160

Discussion

The study was supported by the literature that explained that study skills are one of the most important factors in academic success.

The study was also supported by MacanTime management was determined as the

most important service that students would be interested in.

Recommendations

1. Make the hours more flexible and work with athletes & people with extracurricular activities schedules: (Since 35% say it interferes with their academics).

2. More obvious advertising in all buildings of the campus, Including: Classrooms, Cafeteria, Common areas & Dorms.

3. Have professors discuss this with their classes & Coaches discuss with athletes

4. Advertise the name change better-Many students were not aware that the Center was also Academic Services.

ReferencesReferencesKuo, J., Hagie, C., & Miller, M. (2004). Encouraging College Student Success: TheInstructional Challenges, Response Strategies, and Study Skills of Contemporary Undergraduates. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 31(1), 60-67. Macan, Therese. (1990). College Students' Time Management : Correlations WithAcademic Performance and Stress. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82 (4), 760-768.  Murray, C. & David Bank. (2007). Intergenerational Learning. Community CollegeJournal, 78(1), 16-22. Retrieved from Proquest.  Noel-Levitz. “REPORT Academic Advising Highly Important to Students.” 2009. Web.1 Nov. 2010. <https://www.noellevitz.com/NR/rdonlyres/396C904E-B0C5-4F90-971A-916EED39A6F5/0/AcademicAdvisingHighlyImportant09.pdf>.  Perin, D. (2004). Remediation beyond developmental education: The use of Learningassistance centers to increase academic preparedness in community colleges. Community College Journal of Research & Practice, 28(7), 559-582. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Department of Education. (2010).            <www.ed.gov> Franklin Pierce University. (2010).            <www.franklinpierce.edu> Keene State College. (2010).            <www.keene.edu> Umass Boston. (2010).            <www.umb.edu>