The Issues and The Issues and The Action The Action PlanPlanAugust 2008August 2008

PartnerinPartnering g for for Student Student SuccessSuccess

With the assistance of a higher education retention consultant, With the assistance of a higher education retention consultant, RTF RTF members identified key issuesmembers identified key issues and and developed strategies and developed strategies and action plansaction plans to address their concerns. to address their concerns. Partnering for Student Partnering for Student Success Success is the result of their workis the result of their work..

Between 2006 and August 2008,Between 2006 and August 2008, Partnering for Student Success Partnering for Student Success was was developed by faculty, staff & administrators on two campuses who developed by faculty, staff & administrators on two campuses who served on a served on a Retention Task Force (RTF). Retention Task Force (RTF). The RTF was led by Teresa The RTF was led by Teresa Branch, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Arlene Walker-Andrews, Branch, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Arlene Walker-Andrews, Associate Provost,Associate Provost, with critical support from Bob Duringer, Vice with critical support from Bob Duringer, Vice President for Administration and Finance.President for Administration and Finance.

Previous retention initiatives have helped The University of Montana Previous retention initiatives have helped The University of Montana maintain its reputation as an excellent, student-oriented institution. maintain its reputation as an excellent, student-oriented institution. Partnering for Student Success Partnering for Student Success builds on those past efforts and builds on those past efforts and proposes new programs and initiativesproposes new programs and initiatives

A Brief History

GOALGOAL Improve student successImprove student success at The University of Montana.

METRICMETRIC UM will consistently place in the top quartiletop quartile of

public, research- intensive institutions.

Partnering for Student Success

1st to 2nd Year Retention Rate:

6-Year Graduation Rate

1-Year Retention Rate- COT

Completion Rate - COT

~71%

80%80%

45%45%

57%57%

43%

60%60%

TARGETSTARGETS

Partnering for Student Success

ISSUES* ISSUES*

K-12 Preparation for collegeK-12 Preparation for college

Transition to collegeTransition to college

Integrated early curriculumIntegrated early curriculum

Student engagementStudent engagement

Student supportStudent support

Faculty & staff developmentFaculty & staff development

Partnering for Student Success

* * with exampleswith examples

ISSUEISSUEK-12 Preparation for collegeK-12 Preparation for college

Ensure Adequate Student PreparationEnsure Adequate Student Preparation

Partnering for Student Success

Example:Example: Identify specific learning outcomes for a college-prep Identify specific learning outcomes for a college-prep high school curriculumhigh school curriculum

Example:Example: Create embedded assessment tools used across Create embedded assessment tools used across MontanaMontana

Example:Example: Investigate feasibility of electronic high school Investigate feasibility of electronic high school transcriptstranscripts

Example:Example: Implement a “Preparing for College” communication Implement a “Preparing for College” communication program for pre-high school students, parents & schoolsprogram for pre-high school students, parents & schools

Example:Example: Continue development of Programs of Study with high Continue development of Programs of Study with high schools schools

ISSUEISSUETransition to collegeTransition to college

Obtain BOR Approval for Obtain BOR Approval for Admissions Standards that Admissions Standards that are appropriate for College-Level Work are appropriate for College-Level Work

Partnering for Student Success

Develop/Implement Accurate Placement SystemsDevelop/Implement Accurate Placement Systems

Enhance Orientation CommunicationsEnhance Orientation Communications

Improve Affordability Improve Affordability

Review Business Policies and Procedures re: RetentionReview Business Policies and Procedures re: Retention

Examples:Examples: Introduce online math placement for new, transfer Introduce online math placement for new, transfer students; evaluate accuracy of placement systems students; evaluate accuracy of placement systems

ISSUEISSUEIntegrated early curriculumIntegrated early curriculum

Introduce the Context-Based, “Big Questions” CurriculumIntroduce the Context-Based, “Big Questions” Curriculum

Partnering for Student Success

ProvideProvide AccessAccess to to DevelopmentalDevelopmental Coursework Coursework for Under-prepared Students for Under-prepared Students

Expand Winter Session courseworkExpand Winter Session coursework

Example:Example: Create a more intentional undergraduate experience Create a more intentional undergraduate experience starting with the First Year that integrates with General Education starting with the First Year that integrates with General Education

ISSUEISSUEStudent engagementStudent engagement

Offer Co-curricular OpportunitiesOffer Co-curricular Opportunities

Partnering for Student Success

Plan for Living/Learning CommunitiesPlan for Living/Learning Communities

Raise “Millennial Generation” Awareness Raise “Millennial Generation” Awareness throughout campus communitythroughout campus community

Example:Example: Increase number, variety of service learning, civic Increase number, variety of service learning, civic engagement, study/work abroad, undergrad research engagement, study/work abroad, undergrad research opportunities and internshipsopportunities and internships

ISSUEISSUEStudent supportStudent support

Establish an Office for Academic SuccessEstablish an Office for Academic Success

. .

Partnering for Student Success

Implement Special Programming for At-Risk StudentsImplement Special Programming for At-Risk StudentsExamples:Examples: Targeted support programs for struggling student; Targeted support programs for struggling student;Careers courses for Undecided studentsCareers courses for Undecided students

Expand Early Alert InterventionsExpand Early Alert Interventions

Expand Support for Nontraditional StudentsExpand Support for Nontraditional Students

Expand Support for Students of ColorExpand Support for Students of Color

Example:Example: Online orientation for nontraditional, returning students Online orientation for nontraditional, returning students

ISSUEISSUEFaculty & staff developmentFaculty & staff development

Fund Innovations in Teaching and Learning ProjectsFund Innovations in Teaching and Learning Projects

Partnering for Student Success

Offer Staff Training on student success issuesOffer Staff Training on student success issues

Improve Campus Communication about student successImprove Campus Communication about student success

Offer Multicultural Training Offer Multicultural Training

Example:Example: Offer training for faculty, grad students in multicultural Offer training for faculty, grad students in multicultural teaching, advising teaching, advising

Progress Progress Monitoring & Monitoring & Reporting ScheduleReporting Schedule

Units Report MilestonesUnits Report Milestones Deadline for units to report Deadline for units to report achievement of milestone achievement of milestone targets; Quarterly Report targets; Quarterly Report issued 15 days later.issued 15 days later.

Units Report on Annual Units Report on Annual Progress Progress Deadline for units to report Deadline for units to report on annual progress and on annual progress and proposed modifications to proposed modifications to Plan. Plan.

Annual Progress Report Annual Progress Report published.published.

Partnering for Student Success

The Issues and The Issues and The Action The Action PlanPlanAugust 2008August 2008

PartnerinPartnering g for for Student Student SuccessSuccess