Helen Doerpinghaus

Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies

February 26, 2010

Integrative Learning:Campus-wide Learning Landscape

Move toward “Integrative Learning”Across disciplinesAcross General Education and Majors/ProgramsWithin-Classrooms and Beyond-the-Classroom

Why the shift?Better equips students to answer complex 21st

century questionsMore fully utilizes available learning resources

Complimentary role of faculty and professional staffEnhances relevance, engagement, and learning

Higher Ed landscape

High impact educational best practices across entire university experience

Integrating “within-class” and “beyond-the classroom” opportunities for learning

Undergraduate Studies + Academic Support

Best practices todayAAC&U, The Reinvention Center

Focus today?

“It’s not an academic affairs v. a student affairs thing – it’s a student thing.”

Application to admissionOrientation to first-year studiesGeneral education to program majorSophomore & transition experiencesAcademic support programsBeyond-the-classroom engagementGraduationLife-long learning

Student viewpoint

Recruit well-prepared studentsTraditional indicators

Test scores, GPA, in/out of stateFaculty & staff involved in recruiting and selectionImportance of cultural diversity

Mitigate educational risk factorsSufficient academic preparationFinancial barriers

Goal: retain and graduate life-long learners

Application & Admission

Student assumes responsibility for educational experiencePlacement testsAdvisor assistance with scheduleOther factors with course choices

Risk factors addressedFinancial aidIndependent campus living Community code of conduct established

Carolinian Creed

Academic expectation set by day’s end

Student Orientation

First week on campus is critical Intentional programming introduces learning

environment & reinforces academic expectationsFirst-Night

Faculty charge & celebration

ConvocationFaculty speaker: Mungo Award recipientCarolina’s tradition of excellence

First-Year Reading ExperienceResidential programming

Goal setting: independent living, time-management Faculty engagement with studentsStudent connections develop

First-Year Studies

USC: national leader in first-year seminarsAssists transition to academic life at CarolinaResearch indicates U101 is a “best practice”

opportunity for students

http://www.sc.edu/univ101/

University 101

Students typically enrolled in first years of collegeCommon requirement for all USC undergraduatesTraditional knowledge areasNew core competenciesInterdisciplinary opportunitiesIntegration from foundational courses through the

program majorIntegration within- and beyond-the-classroom

www.sc.edu/generaleducation

General Education Carolina Core

Transitions require support for academic success

Choosing majors, changing majors, pursuing internships, undertaking research, investigating graduate schools…

USC National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition

National leader in best practices Last year: 85,000 publications, e-newsletters,

national and international conferences, etc.

http://sc.edu/fye/

First-Year and Beyond…

Developing a culture that encourages students to ask for the help that they need

End of first semesterAll students telephonedAssessment and intervention if needed

ACE – for all studentsMath tutoring, writing consultations, coaching and study

skill developmentLocated in the Library and in three residence hallsACE coaches are graduate students with certifications in

coachinghttp://www.housing.sc.edu/ace/

Academic Support

Student Success Center – for everyoneSupplemental instruction (math, science; DFW

courses)Tutorial (certified tutors)CAR (VIP faculty referral)http://www.sa.sc.edu/ssc/

Academic Support

Retention Committee since 1983Chaired by faculty with professional staff

leadershipAddresses needs of students at large and at-

risk groupsDemographics GPA requirements for scholarshipsProgression requirementsOther

http://kudzu.ipr.sc.edu/retention/

Retention and Graduation Rates

Importance of supporting our first-generation and low-income students Reflects Carolina’s missionDiversity required for 21st century learning

environment.

TRIOGamecock GuaranteeFinancial Literacy program – for everyone

Accessibility and Affordability

From the student perspective (thus far) Carolina academics spanCarolina Core classesClasses in the majorAcademic support programs

Integrative learning also extendsbeyond-the-classroom…

Integrative Learning…

Living/Learning CommunitiesResidential options: Preston, Green Quad,

Capstone21 theme communitiesSC Honors CollegeFaculty and professional staff leadershipAcademic programmingCollaborative engagement with students and

faculty

Academic EngagementBeyond-the-Classroom…

Undergraduate ResearchOUR led by professional staff with hundreds of

faculty mentoring studentsMagellan Scholars, Voyagers, ExplorersDiscovery DayUndergraduate Research Trackswww.sc.edu/our

Academic EngagementBeyond-the-Classroom …

Service LearningFaculty and professional staff leadershipAcademic coursework with a community

service engagement component requiredStudents apply what they learn in class to

address a community needEnhances relevance of course material and

develops students’ ability to problem-solve

www.sc.edu/servicelearning

Academic EngagementBeyond-the-Classroom …

International travel and study abroadFaculty and staff leadershipStudent exchangeInternshipsResearch experiencesService learning

http://www.sa.sc.edu/ips/

Academic EngagementBeyond-the-Classroom …

Fellowships and Scholar ProgramsIntensive preparation by students

Close work with faculty advisorsProfessional staff serve as guidesSelf-reflection and goal settingEssay preparation and interviewsEngaging in the process = teaching and learning

Assessment measure (Forbes ranking)http://www.sc.edu/ofsp/

Academic EngagementBeyond-the-Classroom …

Today’s renewed focus on “best practices” in higher educationFederal scrutiny about cost and value, retention and

graduation ratesPublic concern about access and affordabilityMoral obligation to our students and our communities

Partnership between faculty and professional staff allows us to better serve studentsFaculty bring disciplinary expertiseProfessional staff bring expertise in young adult

learning and development theory and practiceBoth bring passion for teaching and learning

Higher Education today