“It Takes a Village”
Creative Collaborations to Optimize
Student Learning & Campus Resources
California State University
Fullerton
Freshman Programs
Presenter Bridget E. Driscoll
Director of Freshman Programs
The CSU System
The California State University
(CSU) is the largest system of
senior higher education in the
country, with 23 campuses,
nearly 408,000 students and
45,000 faculty and staff.
Since the system was created in
1961, it has awarded about 2
million degrees.
The CSU is renowned for the
quality of its teaching and for the
job-ready graduates it produces.
Its mission is to provide highquality, affordable education to
meet the ever-changing needs
of the people of California.
With its commitment to
excellence, diversity and
innovation, the CSU is the
university system that is working
for California (Office of the
Chancellor-Public Affairs, 2003).
California State University, Fullerton
…where learning is preeminent
•Freshman Programs learning communities were
established in 1997 as a collaboration between Student
Affairs and Academic Affairs.
•These learning communities are driven by the goal to
enhance student learning while creating a more coherent
and integrated learning experience for First -Time
Freshmen.
•The curricular and co-curricular components of our
learning communities are organized around a theme of
Academic Success, Campus
Involvement and Civic Responsibility
Why Are Learning
Communities Needed?
– The high attrition (drop-out) rates for freshmen have
been attributed to lack of support from a social group
– Students working together toward a common
educational or community service goal develop a
shared sense of purpose
– This leads to feelings of social success, increasing
feelings of self-efficacy and decreasing feelings of
isolation
Bean, John and Shevawn Eaton. 2001. “The Psychology Underlying Successful
Retention Practices.” in Decisions: A Call to Action compiled by Seymor Eiseman
and Robert Eiseman. Baywood Publishing Co. Amityville, NY.
Some Goals of Learning
Communities
For Students
– Improve retention
– Increase learning &
achievement
– Develop student leadership
– Increase entry & completion in
certain majors
For Parents
– Enroll their student in an
institution that promotes
student success, active
learning and intellectual
engagement.
http://learningcommons.evergreen.edu/docs/Goals_for_LCs.doc
For Institution/Curriculum
– Enhance quality of
undergraduate education
– Increase sense of community
within the institution
– Infuse skills such as writing
and speaking across the
curriculum
For Community
– Increase connection between
the academy and the
community by building
learning communities with
service learning components.
Freshman Programs at CSUF
Freshman Programs is a
department that offers learning
communities to serve various
populations on campus.
The purpose of each
community is to help that
population be successful in
college and graduate in a
reasonable amount of time.
Approximately 500 freshman
students are involved this year.
“Through experiences in and out of the
classroom…students will become productive
citizens…”
Excerpt from CSUF Mission Statement
Collaboration & Learning
Communities
Peer Mentors
Academic Affairs
Student Affairs
Faculty
New Student Programs
Librarians
Athletics
Academic Dept.
EOP Summer Bridge
Academic Advisement
Judicial Affairs
Service Learning
Women’s Center
Freshman Programs Students
Structured Learning Communities
For First-time Freshmen
Fullerton First Year
Compass
Live ‘n’ Learn
Freshman Success
Freshman Future Teachers
Trail Ratified Experiential Knowledge
(TREK) 2001-2003
Service-Learning
Learning Objectives are directly tied to service
activities.
Faculty receive intensive service-learning course
development training
– Individual Syllabus “Enhancement”
– Workshop through FDC or individualized sessions
Current courses
– Health Sciences 101, Sociology 101, Geology 110
Service Learning Collaboration
Successes & Lessons Learned
Successes
Opportunity in guiding faculty
and students to understand
that the service is
INTEGRATED not an
additional part of the course.
Redirecting student and faculty
resistance in a positive way.
Served 6700 hours of service
to their community while
accomplishing learning
objectives
Lesson Learned
One on one consultations with
faculty
Providing direct feedback on
specifics within the syllabus
Providing support
Positive Terminology!!
Real integration with
coursework
Peer Mentors
CSUF Mission & Goals: “Through experiences in and out of the
classroom, students develop the habit of intellectual inquiry, prepare
for challenging professions, strengthen relationships to their
communities and contribute productively to society.”
UPS 411.600 “Policy on Service-Learning”
The Women’s Center
A Collaboration with local institutions
CSUF Internship Opportunity
Links to the community
Education for new faculty
Campus community education
Classroom education
Gender Alliance Program
Prevention of Crimes Against Women Education Model
Gender Socialization
Sexual Assault Awareness
Gender Alliance
Women’s Center Collaboration
Successes & Lessons Learned
Successes
•Opportunity to participate in
facilitated conversation to
improve communication
between men and women.
•Contribute to the universities
effort and success in being
compliant with education
code 67390.
•Workshops increased
student awareness of sexual
assault related issues (2003
data presented at NASPA)
Lesson Learned
•Front load into curriculum
•Share data with
instructors
•One on one consultations with
faculty
•Providing direct feedback on
specifics within the syllabus
•Providing support
•Positive Terminology!!
•Include a sample lesson for
faculty prior to classroom
experience
Freshman Future Teachers
Designed to help perspective K-12 teachers to
develop a solid network on and off campus.
Develop connections with students and staff in
Liberal Arts & Sciences, Child & Adolescent
Studies and Education departments.
Service learning in local schools to provide field
experiences essential to prospective teachers
Build relationships with other future teachers.
Freshman Future Teachers
Successes & Lessons Learned
Successes
Demand
Helping to support our society by
producing strong, dedicated
teachers for our children
Diversify our LC pool
Students learn university policies &
procedures
Appropriate utilization of on and off
campus resources
California Standards for the
Teaching Profession (CSTP) are
introduced
The Subject Matter Standards for
elementary and subject teachers are
introduced
Specialized academic advisement
for general education coursework
Lesson Learned
•Increase understanding
of the intricacies of LC
•Creative funding a
necessity
•Maintain flexibility during
implementation while
sustaining LC standards
Student Enrollment in FFY 1997-2005
Assessment
Lone Ranger
Recipe for disaster
Assessing Learning Communities
Utilize on site resources Analytical Studies &
Institutional Research
Establish baseline knowledge
Focus groups
Stakeholder interviews
Utilize external evaluators (EBI&FYI)
– First Year Initiative Study
http://www.webebi.com
– Foundations of Excellence in the First College
http://www.brevard.edu/fyfoundations
– Your First College Year (YFCY)
http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/yfcy
Graduation Rates
1998-1999
43% of CSUF
students graduated in
6 years.
46% of Freshman
Programs students
graduated in 4 years.
Learning Communities
“Coming together is a beginning, staying
together is progress, and working together
is success.” –Henry Ford
“Alone we can do so little; together we can
do so much.” –Helen Keller
Contact Information
Bridget E. Driscoll, Director of Freshman Programs
California State University, Fullerton
[email protected]
(714) 278-3709
www.fullerton.edu/FreshmanPrograms
Jennifer Lukridge-O’Connor, Coordinator of Freshman Programs
California State University, Fullerton
Internships & Service-Learning
[email protected]
(714) 278-4185
www.fullerton.edu/FreshmanPrograms
Creating a common
experience
Linking curricular and
co-curricular experiences
Explaining the culture of
the university
Peer mentoring
Academic advising
component