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

Questions?

www.slu.edu/x18240.xmlwww.slu.edu/fye

bertelsl@slu.edusfanale@slu.edu