NACADA 2005 National Conference

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NACADA 2005 National Conference

• 139 The Phoenix Plan Improving the Odds for
  Academic Recovery
• Jeanne Fraker, Joyce Howes, John Rogers
• Wright State University

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Phoenix
Jeanne Fraker Associate Dean, University
College Joyce Howes Assistant Dean, College of
Science of Mathematics John Rogers Coordinator,
Student Success Initiatives
NACADA Las Vegas, Nevada October 2005
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Wright State University

• Public, comprehensive university founded in 1967
• Named for Dayton native sons, Orville and Wilbur
  Wright
• Dayton Campus undergraduate enrollment
  approximately 13,000

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• Student Demographics Fall 2004
• 2148 direct-from-high school students
• 111 not-direct, new students
• 1250 residential students
• 1009 commuter students

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Despite Frontloading

• many pictures (maybe rolling ) of SOAR, First
  Weekend, LCs..

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Despite Frontloading

• Letters Contracts
• After Spring 2004 114 64
• After Fall 2004 101 66
• After Spring 2005 93 85

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Dismissal from the University

• Students who remain on probation for two
  quarters may be dismissed from the university for
  unsatisfactory academic performance.. Dismissal
  action is taken by the chief academic officer of
  the college. to which the students are assigned,
  in consultation with the head of the respective
  program unit or the academic advisor. In taking
  dismissal action, the academic officer will
  generally consider the student's progress toward
  meeting degree requirements, as well as overall
  academic performance.
• -Wright State University Undergraduate
  Catalog

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Repeating Courses

• Courses counted as part of the first 45 credit
  hours can be repeated if the grade earned was a
  D, F, or X. The course may be repeated until the
  student has achieved a grade of at least a C.
  Only the last attempt for each course will be
  counted in the cumulative GPA, as long as it is
  completed no later than the quarter in which the
  first 60 credit hours are earned .. After the
  first 45 hours (including transfer hours),
  students may repeat any course in which they
  earned a grade of D, F, or X until they have
  achieved at least a grade of C. Each grade will
  become part of the permanent record and will be
  counted in the cumulative GPA.
• -Wright State University Undergraduate
  Catalog

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In Other Words

• If grade lower than C is earned
• within first 45 credits earned, and
• repeat is completed by 60 hours
• earned, only grade in repeat affects
• GPA.

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Phoenix Overview

• First-year students subject to dismissal at the
  end of Spring 2004 are able to continue for fall
  provided they agree to participate in PHOENIX.
  Dismissal reviews will take place following Fall
  2004.

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Phoenix Overview

• PHOENIX participants will register for
  appropriate repeats and for a PHOENIX section of
  UVC 102. The UVC 102 class will be conducted as
  a support group. Each week, class members will
  report on their progress toward academic goals
  identified in the first session and will outline
  plans for the next week.

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Phoenix Rationale

• Draws on motivation activated by fear of
  dismissal and weekly class meetings provide
  regular reinforcement
• Group format promotes peer support and is more
  efficient use of staff than individual
  conferences

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Phoenix Rationale

• Allows students to take advantage of the
  replacement repeat policy and to receive
  financial aid if eligible
• Administration of program practical given quarter
  calendar

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Phoenix Rationale

• Enrollment management gain less expensive to
  retain than replace students
• Contributes to students' success at Wright State
  University, with increased retention as a
  by-product

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• Dismissal/phoenix letter

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Phoenix Contract

• Phoenix is designed to support students at Wright
  State University who now find themselves subject
  to dismissal, yet are motivated to take advantage
  of a structured opportunity to get back into good
  academic standing. Phoenix participants will
  repeat courses in which unsatisfactory grades
  were earned and will register for a Phoenix
  section of UVC 100 (College Study Strategies).
  UVC 100 will be conducted as an academic
  support group Each week, class members will
  report on their progress toward goals identified
  in the first session and will outline plans for
  the next week instructors will tailor
  presentations to student-identified needs and
  will make referrals to appropriate resources.
• To enroll in Phoenix Initial each of the
  following items print and sign your name at the
  bottom, indicating your understanding of the
  seriousness of your academic situation and the
  requirements for participation in the Phoenix
  program. Return the completed contract by July
  22, 2005 to Jeanne Fraker, Associate Dean,
  University College, Wright State University, 180
  University Hall, Dayton, OH 45435.
• ___I am motivated to do what it takes to earn
  satisfactory grades Fall 2005.
• ___By August 15, 2005 I will contact my academic
  advisor to discuss adjustments to my Fall 2005
  schedule, including appropriate repeats and UVC
  100 (Phoenix section).
• ___I will fully participate in the Phoenix
  section of UVC 100 and follow my instructor's
  advice.
• ___I will be eligible for dismissal following
  Fall 2005 if my cumulative GPA is not at least
  2.0 or I do not earn a "P" in any repeated
  developmental education (DE) course.

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Administrative Challenges

• Contract in, but student not registered
• Registration holds
• Encouragement vis a vis Expectations
• Concern for confidentiality
• Being comfortable in the moment
• Adopting a coachs mentality

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syllabus
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In Class

• High, but realistic, expectations
• College survival strategies
• Re-evaluation of study habits
• Peer interaction
• Accountability
• Weekly progress reports

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Outcomes Fall 2004

• lt2.0 cum and term 28 44
• Removed from probation 16
• 2.0 term, butlt2.0 cum 15
• lt2.0 cum term, but ODS/ CPS 2
• Withdrawn 2
• Deferred 1
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  36 56

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Outcomes Winter 2005

• lt2.0 cum and term 36 55
• Removed from probation 12
• 2.0 term, butlt2.0 cum 10
• Withdrawn 3
• Deferred 5
• 30 45

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Fall 2005

• 85 contracts returned
• - 1 (now M2 after petition)
• - 4 (not returning)
• -12 (defer to W06)
• 68 (active participants)

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Future plans

• Standardize data reports
• Collect and analyze longitudinal data
• Build financial aid review into process
• Integrate student success incentive ()
• Apply lessons learned to programming
• for other students

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Contact us

• jeanne.fraker_at_wright.edu
• joyce.howes_at_wright.edu
• john.rogers_at_wright.edu