From 0 to 60+:
Revving up FYE at Warp
Speed
Nancy Casey
Mary Piccioli
Ann Lehman
St. Bonaventure University
~ Live ~ Learn ~ Serve ~ Lead
Framework for Discussion
 Who
we are
 Where we were
 What we did
 What happened
 Why
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
SBU at a Glance




A Catholic University in the Franciscan
tradition
A highly residential campus, located in
Western New York state
2,000 undergraduates/500 graduate students
Liberal arts core, majors in arts and sciences,
as well as strong professional preparation in
education, business and journalism/mass
communication
“At St. Bonaventure University, we come to know our students on an
individual basis and become their mentors. We strive to bring out the
best in every individual. “
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
January 2006
Where We Were




Lower than desired enrollment
A dip in retention rates
Several ad hoc groups, individuals and
committees were discussing and
researching on freshman issues, resulting
in tentative and not-so-tentative
suggestions for change from multiple
individuals and committees across campus
An “invitation” from the Provost to design
living and learning structures for freshmen
St. Bonaventure University
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What Was In Place?


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20 years’ experience with multiple versions
of freshman seminars
“Required” UNIV 101 (freshman seminar) in
two schools
Peer mentors in two of five schools
Passion: Many faculty and staff who were
committed to doing something for freshman
Finally, “buy-in” from the University
Strategic Planning Committee and cabinet
St. Bonaventure University
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What We Did…and What We
Learned
 We
rolled up our sleeves and dove in
head first
 Gathered those who had been
passionate about the issues
 We listed our dreams and visions
 We identified the “must dos” for fall
2006
 And we learned…
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
FIRST: It Takes A Campus…
The FYE @ SBU
initiative was a result
of an unprecedented
campus-wide
collaboration,
involving more than
60 individuals from
all areas of the
University:
•Administration
•Faculty
•Staff
•Students
St. Bonaventure University
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SECOND: It COULD Be Done
Moving at Warp Speed
St. Bonaventure University
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THIRD: It’s All about
Conversations
We talked ….
and we talked …
and we talked…
and then we talked!
You must originate, and you must sympathize; you must
possess, at the same time, the habit of communicating and
the habit of listening. The union is rather rare, but irresistible.
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We Talked …

With Faculty from all schools
–
–
–

Who taught freshmen courses
Who advised freshmen
Who were concerned with teaching and
learning
With Staff
–
–
–
Who worked with freshmen in residence halls
Who provided academic support services
Who had regular contact with freshmen and
their parents
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We Talked…
With
our Trustees
With the religious
community
With individuals and
committees wrestling with
related issues
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Most Importantly, We Talked
with Students
 The
very first formal thing we did
was to have focus groups of
freshmen and sophomores
– We explored orientation
– We asked about their residential
experiences
 There
were student members on all
committees
St. Bonaventure University
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Articulating
the VISION:
What Did
We Dream?
St. Bonaventure University
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What MUST We Have? What
Would NOT work?
St. Bonaventure University
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We Articulated Our Mission:
FYE @ SBU
The mission of the First-Year
Experience program at St.
Bonaventure University is to support
students as they transition to University life
and to promote success in academic and
residential environments by providing
integrated learning and living programming
designed to engage them fully in the life of
the University.
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We Set FYE Goals
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Improved student engagement
Improved student academic
performance
Improved retention
Improved residence life experience
Increased Opportunities for
Campus Community to be involved
in Student Engagement
St. Bonaventure University
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The First-Year
Experience at
SBU: 5 Major
Components
St. Bonaventure University
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The Residence “Pieces”

“Original” Plans
–
–
–
–
–

Freshman-only residence halls
Opt-in affinity groups (themed living)
Alliance with Office of Residence Life
New training for residence life staff
FYE mentors
“Modifications and Additions” -Fall ’06
– Freshman-focused weekend
programming
– FYE mentor role adjustments
– Rethinking Affinity Groups
St. Bonaventure University
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The Academic “Pieces”

“Original” Plans
– Enroll all students in UNIV 101
– No freshman takes more than 1 “core
curriculum” course
– Learning Communities “lite”
– All Bonaventure Reads
– SBU Planner

“Modifications and Additions” -- fall
‘06
– New spring semester class for students
on probation
– FYE mentors holding study hall hours
– FYE mentors providing supplemental
instruction
– Additional Learning Communities
St. Bonaventure University
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Common Reading “Piece”
 Original
Plans
– Announce the book at
Orientation
– Video & Group discussion
at Welcome Days
– Author visit and talk
– Use of the book in UNIV
101
St. Bonaventure University
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Acknowledging the Franciscan
Commitment to Service
 “Original”
–
–
–
Plans
Plans for a Day of Service
Collaboration with on-campus service groups
A “local service” Affinity Group
 “Modifications
and Additions” -- fall ‘06
– Alliance with Journey Project to combine their
First Year Service with FYE
– Addition of service component to UNIV 101
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Assessment-Driven Action
 We
started with an assessment plan
– We analyzed where we were
– We developed a vision of where we wanted
to be
 We
examined existing data
 We set goals and identified data sources
– We planned to use all available data
– We designed some new research
 And
we focused on key principles
St. Bonaventure University
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Results: Impact on Academic
Achievement
2005-06
% (of
original
class)
#
# incoming Freshmen
Average GPA at end of 1st semester
2006-07
% (of
original
class)
#
478
461
2.68*
2.77
Academic Standing After 1st Semester
# in academic difficulty after 1st semester (CUM < 2.0)
108
22.6%
85
18.4%
Students with GPA between 1.70 and 2.0
33
6.9%
36
7.8%
Students with GPA < 1.70
53
11.1%
49
10.6%
Students dismissed
15
3.1%
9
2.0%
6
1.26%
7
1.5%
132
28%
164
35.6%
Students who withdrew during 1st semester
Students on Dean's List for first semester
St. Bonaventure University
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Results: Learning Communities
for Active and Collaborative
Learning
Goal
# Opting for participation in a Learning
Community
Actual
#
Actual
%
10.0%
40
9%
95.0%
40
100%
of the LC participants…
#/% in LC returning after 1 semester
3.3
Average 1st Semester GPA
#/% of LC students in academic difficulty (<2.0)
after 1 semester
10.0%
0
0%
Data on affinity groups is identical….
St. Bonaventure University
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Results: Retention
2005-06
2006-07
%
#
# incoming Freshmen
#/% returning after 1
semester
%
GOAL
478
437 91.4%
St. Bonaventure University
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#
(of original
class)
461
92.5%
426 92.4%
Residence Life Goals
 Increased
programming
 Increased positive living behaviors
 Increased interaction between living
and learning environments
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Results: Residence Life
 Freshman
residence halls established
 Noted decrease in
–
–
–
–
Alcohol-related incidents
Drug-related incidents
Property abuse/misuse
Interpersonal disrespect
St. Bonaventure University
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What Next? Back to Dreams,
Musts, Don’ts
St. Bonaventure University
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Plans for 2
nd

Year
Development and assessment of additional
components
– Academics
 Freshman Foundations
– SERVICE
 Formalize service activities in UNIV 101
 Offer service opportunities as a natural part of the
freshman year
– LEADERSHIP
 Modifications to FYE mentor positions
 Increased use of peer mentoring
– SYE – The Sophomore Year Experience
St. Bonaventure University
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Deeper Assessment: Additional
Data Source
 Ongoing
projects
–
–
–
faculty & staff research
The Biggest Problem
Parents’ Perceptions of The Biggest Problem
Student well-being
 NSSE
 CIRP
 Focus:
keeping our eyes wide open
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
The Most Important Thing We
Learned: It Takes A Campus
Good discourse sinks differences and seeks agreements.
Amos Bronson Alcott
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Conversation Was Key
There is no such thing as
a worthless conversation,
provided you know what
to listen for. And
questions are the breath
of life for a conversation.
James Nathan Miller
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Contact Information
Nancy Casey ~ [email protected]
Mary Piccioli ~ [email protected]
Ann Lehman ~ [email protected]
St. Bonaventure University
LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE