St. Mary’s University
San Antonio, Texas
An Academic and Student
Affairs Partnership for
First Year Student Success
Rosalind V. Alderman & Graciela Lopez
St. Mary’s University
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Founded by the Society of Mary
(Marianists) in 1852
Sister universities, University of
Dayton and Chaminade University
3 undergraduate schools, graduate
school and law school
2400 undergraduates
Our students
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78% freshman to sophomore year
retention rate
60% 6-year graduation rate
70% percent Hispanic students
39% Pell-grant eligible students
Our Freshman Year
Experience Program
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Anchored around required course for all first-time
freshmen and transfers coming in with less than 21
hours,
ND 101: Personal and Academic Development
New Student Orientation- required for students,
parallel parent program
Placement testing during orientation
Freshman Year Experience Halls- Resident
Assistants (RA’s) as well as STARS (Students
Together Reaching for Success)
FYE continued….
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Academic Enrichment Program (AEP)
of conditional admission
Welcome Week
Early Alert Checkpoint with all faculty
teaching freshmen
Faculty/academic advisor interview
Early Alert Report
ND 101: Personal and Academic
Development course
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Taught by student
affairs professionals
and some faculty
Instructors are given a
small honorarium and
have a 1.5 days
training
Most sections meet
2/3 times per week for
10 weeks
1 section offered in the
spring semester
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4 sections are
customized:
engineering (2),
Honors Program,
Marianist Leadership
Program
Associate Dean for
Student Life and
Director for Academic
Advising work closely
on all plans
FYE course continued…
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Eight required
components of the
course (all
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prescheduled):
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Technology
Library/Learning
Assistance Center
visit
Career Services
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Service Learning
Center
Visit to a Marianist
community
Money Matters
Rights and
Responsibilities
Be Advised
FYE course continued…
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Academic Advising ties with ND 101:
Academic Advising Handbook serves as the text for
the course
All instructors participate in the Early Alert
Checkpoint on the 3rd week of school
All students complete an academic adviser
interview assignment (all advisers are faculty
members in their major)
All instructors meet with each student twice in the
first 11 weeks- the second meeting includes
discussion of mid-term grades and completion of
the Early Alert Report as needed
First Year Initiative Survey
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Administered every other year (’02, ’04, ’06)
Highest factors ’06*:
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Course improved knowledge of academic services
Course improved knowledge of campus policies
Usefulness of course readings
Overall course effectiveness
Course improved connections with peers
Satisfaction with college/university
*All above the mean for participating
institutions
First Year Initiative Survey
cont.
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Greatest positive difference between our
data and all institutions (by question, n=48)
Course/experience increased my
understanding of:
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Financial aid procedures
How to obtain a tutor
Academic probation policies
Available library resources
The role of the academic advisor
How to obtain academic assistance
First Year Initiative Survey
cont.
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Greatest positive difference between our
data and all institutions (n=48)
To what degree:
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Student college experience was a high-quality
learning experience
Student would recommend this
college/university to a friend
To what extent did this course….contribute
to the ability to adjust to the college social
environment
New initiatives…..
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Learning outcomes better defined for
all course goals and modules
Outcomes assessment for all required
modules (course and department
specific)
Exploration of peer leaders
Other resources:
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Please feel free to contact us for any
of the following:
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Sample syllabi
Instructor job description
Instructor training agenda
Academic advising handbook available
on the web:
www.stmarytx.edu/advising
Q&A
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Your questions!
Presenter Contact Information:
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Rosalind V. Alderman
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Associate Dean for Student Life
[email protected]
210 431-2096
Graciela Lopez
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Director of Academic Advising
[email protected]
210 436-3736