FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (FYE) FOR FACULTY

WHAT IS THE FYE?

New collaboration among Student Affairs and academic staff to provide support for improving freshman student success and retention

FYE FACULTY WORKING GROUP

Participant Program Participant Program

Virginia Adan-Lifante Foreign languages Heather Lanser Merritt Writing Program

Michael Dawson Evolutionary Biology, Ecology & Marine Science

Kelvin Lwin Computor Science & Engineering

Robin DeLugan Anthropology Carrie Menke Physics

Kamal Dulia Biology Adriana Signorini Center for Research on Teaching Excellence

Robin Geery Merritt Writing Program Elinor Torda Foreign Languages Program

Catherine Gilbert Biology Angela Winkey Merritt Writing Program

Petia Gueorguieva Chemistry

FYE FACULTY WORKING GROUP 2013-2014

Increase success of first year students by

supporting instructional faculty & staff

FYEFACULTY.UCMERCED.EDU

DID YOU KNOW?

Half of our freshmen are passing their classes at midterm.How can we reach the other half?

Most students spend only 1/3 of the recommended time studying…Want to change this?

Faculty can help.

PREDICTOR OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS

For many students, the strongest predictor of academic success isfaculty contactclass attendance

STATISTICSHTTP://IPA.UCMERCED.EDU/STUDENT.HTM

UC MERCED FIRST-YEAR RETENTION RATES

Year Retention Rate

2005 82%

2006 80%

2007 79%

2008 83%

2009 87%

2010 85%

2011 83%

2012 84%

Source: UC Merced data from IPAUC Average from

statfinder.ucop.edu

UC Average = 92%

FRESHMAN DEMOGRAPHICS*

A language other than English spoken at home:63%

First-generation college student: 69%Low income (eligible for Pell Grants):62%

Source: UC Merced IPA 2013 data

*these demographics are unique to our campus, as compared to other UC campuses, and are not meant to imply causation or correlation with low mid-semester scores.

STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS AND PREPARATION

Are ambitious and have been successful to get here.64% intend to earn a Masters or Doctoral degree

91% expect to get B’s or higher this year

Want support89% indicated that it was important or very important for the “institution to provide support to help you academically succeed”

According to BCSSNE 2012, University of California Merced

STUDENT PERCEPTIONS AND STUDENT ACTUAL EXPERIENCE

Typically ~50% of our freshmen are earning at least one grade of D+ or lower at mid-semester each fall.

Source: E. Boretz, Director of the Calvin E. Bright Success Center

FRESHMAN PREPAREDNESS

“How prepared are you to do the following in your academic work at this college?”

Indicated Very Prepared or Prepared

Write clearly and effectively 40%

Speak clearly and effectively 43%

Think critically and analytically 47%

Analyze math or quantitative problems 39%

Use computer and information technology

49%

Work effectively with others 69%

Learn effectively on your own 58%Faculty can help

According to BCSSNE 2012, University of California Merced

STUDENT SELF REPORTED TIME SPENT ON ACTIVITIES

Respondents to the 2012 University of California Undergraduate Experience student survey reported spending the most hours per week, on average, at the following activities: Attending class/lab 17 hours* Studying/doing homework 13 hours

Using computer or smart phone (non-academic) 12 hours

Socializing with friends 10 hours

Mean calculate from : 0=0, 1-5=4, 6-10=14, 11-15=28, 16-20=27, 21-25=15, 26-30=7, 30+=6

HOW ARE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS USING THEIR TIME IN COMPARISON TO THEIR EXPECTATIONS PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE UNIVERSITY?

How many hours spent in a typical 7 day week?

BCSSE/ Expected First YearReported in High School

UCUES / First YearReported during college

0-10 hrs/wk

11-20 hrs/wk

20+ hrs/wk

0-10 hrs/wk

11-20 hrs/wk

20+ hrs/wk

Preparing for class (academic activities)

11% 38% 51% 30% 45% 25%

Participating in co-curricular activities

55% 36% 9% 86% 10% 4%

Relaxing and socializing

71% 24% 5% 79% 13% 8%

POTENTIAL AY14-15 THEMES

Teamwork:Collaborating successfullyProviding and receiving constructive feedback

The SATAL (Students Assessing Teaching and Learning) provide workshops covering both of these topics. See the details at http://crte.ucmerced.edu/satal/satal-workshops