The First Year College at NC State University: Twelve Years of Academic Success!

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The First Year College at NC State University
Twelve Years of Academic Success!
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Overview

• Demographics
• Historical Perspective
• Assessment
• Advising Model
• Curriculum
• FYC Village
• Successes
• Challenges
• Vision for the Future
• Questions?

First Year College
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About First Year College

• Located within the Division of Undergraduate
  Academic Programs.
• One of 10 colleges at NCSU.
• 720 first-year students in 2007.
• 47 female, 15 minority, and 94 In-state.
• 1168 Avg. SAT, 3.98 HS GPA.

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In retrospect..How FYC Began

• Opened its doors in the summer of 95.
• Combined resources from 3 existing programs UUC,
  UTP, FYE.
• Hired new Director and 4 academic advisers.
• All advisers in residence hall by 3rd year.
• Emerged into FYC Village.
• Admitted 650-875 students annually.

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FYC Staff

• 1 Director
• 1 Associate Director /Academic Adviser
• 4 Assistant Directors / Academic Advisers
• 9 Academic Advisers
• 3 Administrative Support Staff
• 1 Graduate Student Intern
• 5-8 Work-study/temporary student employees

First Year College
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FYC Mission Statement

• The mission of the First Year College at NC State
  University is to guide students through a
  structured process for transition to the
  University and selection of a major. This is
  accomplished through one- on-one advising,
  teaching and experiential learning, the FYC
  Village, emphasizing theoretical and practical
  methods of inquiry, guided reflection,
  engagement, assessment and analysis. Through this
  process students will gain the foundation for
  acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes
  necessary to become self-reliant and productive
  citizens of an increasingly diverse community.

First Year College
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Assessment Structure

• Continuously evolving and growing process.
• Outcomes-based model
• Assistant Director for Assessment.
• Assessment Committee.

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Assessment

• Student Learning and Development
• Are students learning and practicing strategies
  for academic success?
• Do they understand career decision making process
  and can they apply this?
• Are they more decided as to major/career after
  one year?
• Do they choose majors that fit their interests,
  aptitudes, values, and career goals?
• Academic Advising
• Are students satisfied with their FYC advising
  experience?

First Year College
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Assessment

• Teaching
• Do our instructors employ effective strategies in
  the classroom?
• Programming
• How are student retention, satisfaction, campus-
• involvement, and academic success
  impacted by
• our programs?

First Year College
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Developmental Academic Advising(as defined by
NACADA)

• App. 60 first-year advisees per adviser each year
• Adviser teaches his/her advisees in USC course
  (Freshman Advancement Seminar).
• Required meetings outside of class (initial
  registration advising appts.)
• Advisers housed in the new FYC Commons Building
• Cross curricula
• GERs (no extra college time)

First Year College
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Developmental Advising (Contd)

• College liaisons
• Training
• START Teams and professional development
• Academic Career (in one resource)

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Assessment What Weve Learned

• Academic Advising
• -Exceptionally High satisfaction level (ACT)
• -78 report that the advising system is more
  than adequate or exceptional in meeting
  students needs40 national average
• -72 report meeting with adviser 4 or more times
  during the year24 national average
• -100 of aggregate student responses on ACT were
  higher than the national average.

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CurriculumUSC 101/102A

• One hour two-semester required course Intro to
  University Education 1 2
• Four major themes Transition, Academic Success,
  Self Exploration, and Major/Career Development.
• THE Workbook and Summer Reading
• Curriculum and Career Directions Committees
• Emphasis on and use of technology
• Co-curricular requirements

First Year College
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Assessment What weve learned

• Teaching
• Student evaluations positive overall (course
  evaluations)
• Spring 2005
• Course value and content 3.907/5 was avg.
  response
• Meeting course objectives all items measured
  avg. between 3.954 4.374
• Instructor ratings 4.536/ 5 average
  response

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The FYC Village

• Established 2001
• Students in Tucker Owen Residence Halls
• Partnership with University Housing
• Linked GER courses with NCSU/FYI faculty
• 10 Resident Mentors (RMs) employed
• FYC Village Advisory Council
• Assessment plan

First Year College
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Assessment What Weve learned

• The FYC Village
• - From 2002-2007, students living in the FYC
  village have academically outperformed those not
  in the FYC village
• -more likely to be involved in other campus
  activities
• -Articulate a commitment to promoting and
  appreciating diversity

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Assessment What Weve learned

• Student Learning and Development
• FYC Students performed as well or better than
  comparison group in GPA, retention, and
  graduation rates (yearly assessment reports)
• Students have good understanding of most aspects
  of the career development model (final exam).

First Year College
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Assessment What Weve learned

• Students become more decided about a major after
  1 year (CDP)
• FYC students have changed majors significantly
  less than cohort group every year. (5 year
  yearly assessment reports)
• Students perform better when enrolled in 15
  hours/semester (2004 implementation)

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Requirements

• Must take at least 15 credit hours
• Students who live on-campus must live in FYC
  Village
• No transfers into FYC, just incoming

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Successes and Accomplishments External (cont.)

• One of 18 institutions selected to participate in
  the Boyer Partnership Assessment Project (BPAP)
  2003-2005
• THE Workbook recognized by NACADA as outstanding
  general advising publication (2001)
• FYC Career Development Model featured in latest
  NRC on FYE Monograph

First Year College
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Successes and Accomplishments External (contd)

• Several (6) advisers individually recognized by
  NACADA
• Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Advising
  Program (2006)
• One staff member recognized as outstanding
  first-year student advocate by NRC on FYE (2004)

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Successes Accomplishments (External)

• Recognized by the Templeton Foundation in 2001 as
  one of 60 exemplary first-year programs
• One of 25 programs profiled in the monograph
  "Strengthening First-Year Student Learning at
  Doctoral/Research-Extensive Universities"
  published in 2002 by the Policy Center on the
  First Year of College
• FYC was the focal point for a three-page article
  in USA Today (2002) on students attending a large
  research university in an urban setting. We were
  described as a model for aiding in student
  adjustment to university life
• Featured as an exemplary advising programs in
  NACADAs Advising Special Populations Monograph
  (2007)

First Year College
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Successes and AccomplishmentsInternal

• University Recognition.
• Student Satisfaction preparedness.
• Stronger partnerships.
• Demand for services to campus (training).
• Administrative commitment.
• Funding Allocation
• Space allocation.

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Challenges

• Outdated faculty perceptions
• Intracampus transfer requirements.
• Second-choice students
• Student tenure in program (to stay or not to
  stay)
• Change management/staff development
• Staff retention (good people are hard to keep)
• Always need more

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The next 10 years...

• Continued participation in all relevant
  university committees
• Continued research and publication about the
  program and students
• Develop and strengthen partnerships at N.C.
  Stateand with other educational entities (K-12
  and Community College)
• Continue to promote our program accomplishments
  at the national level

First Year College
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The next 10 years...

• Join The Policy Center National Resource Center
  in promoting foundations of excellence and
  educating others (internally externally) as to
  the uniqueness and importance of the first-year
  of college.
• Continue to be assessment driven in our efforts
  to maintain and/or improve the quality of the
  college experience for FYC students
• Diversity development/education

First Year College
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The next 10 years

• Commitment to change management that drives staff
  development
• Seek alternative funding strategies
• Participate actively in conducting and publishing
  research about the program and college students
• Enjoy our our new home!

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Questions?

• Website
• http//www.ncsu.edu/fyc

First Year College