[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things
Colleges Do To Mess up Their Freshman
Programs
Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience
Phoenix, Arizona Feb 4-8, 2005
Joel Nossoff
Director, New Student Programs
University College
The University of New Mexico
[email protected]
www.unm.edu/freshman
505/277-6518
Joel Nossoff is recipient of the 2003 "Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award" from the
National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. He
co-authored (with Dan Young) "Using Learning Communities to meet Diverse Student
Needs at a Research University", in Integrating the First-Year Experience: The Role of
First-Year Seminars in Learning Communities , Monograph 39, National Resource
Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, 2004. He received a
Distinguished Service Award from Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. In his career
in California and New Mexico, he has been Special Assistant to the Dean of
Engineering, Director of Minority Engineering Programs, Associate Dean of Students,
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Acting Dean of Undergraduate Studies,
Director of Orientation, and Director of New Student Programs. He has developed and
directed first-year seminars in four of the five seminar models described in the FYE
literature.
His M.A. is from UCLA in Educational Research and Evaluation, and his B.A. is from
California State University, Los Angeles, in Sociology.
With 30+ years developing freshman programs at 3.3 colleges, and consulting at
several other colleges around the country, Joel Nossoff has seen most of these stupid
things up close and personal. He has even done some of them himself. He has been
at UNM ten years, for the past five directing the highly popular Freshman Learning
Communities (www.unm.edu/~freshman). He brings to us a collection of practices and
policies that can de-rail and set back freshman programs, limit their effectiveness, and
waste time, energy and money. This is not so much a workshop as a rant and public
confession. The names will be changed to protect the guilty. You may disagree with
him, and some of his highly opinionated conclusions may provoke you, but you will
definitely think about them.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
This file is a reproduction of the hand-outs and slides used at my presentation at the
conference. There is no full text or script for the presentation. The slides followed an
outline, and I spoke from the outline and notes, and responded to the audience. So, to
derive full benefit from the “material”: “You had to be there!”
And, I love to travel and frequently visit other campuses to provide consultation, training,
program review, etc. Contact me if you want me to come to your campus.
Joel Nossoff
February 10, 2005
[Approximately] Ten Stupid
Things Colleges Do To Mess up
Their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff
Director, New Student Programs
University College
The University of New Mexico
[email protected]
www.unm.edu/freshman
505/277-6518
Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience
Phoenix, Arizona Feb 4-8, 2005
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
“Stupid”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Not well thought out
Not based on practice or research
Counter-productive
Self-defeating
Time wasting
Money wasting
Mis-directed
Poor use of scarce resources
Ego-building but not program building
Prestigious but not productive
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
2
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
“Mess Up”:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stall progress
Invite opposition
Waste money
Waste time
Do not help students succeed
Do not improve the University
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
3
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
“Freshman Programs”:
Intentional, organized efforts to help freshmen make
a successful transition to college and ultimately
graduate
• Orientation
• Mentoring programs
• Freshman seminars
• Freshman learning communities
• Living learning communities
• Freshman interest groups
• Developmental studies
• Student organizations
4
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
CATEGORIES OF
FRESHMAN SEMINARS
9Extended Orientation seminars.
:Academic seminars with generally
uniform academic content across
sections.
9 Academic seminars on various topics.
9Professional seminars.
9Basic study skills seminars.
National Resource Center for the Freshman Year Experience, 1991
National Survey of Freshman Seminar Programming (Monograph
Series Number 10), 1992, P. 2
5
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
“Ten”:
•
•
•
•
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
6
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Caveats and Disclaimers
The opinions expressed here….
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
7
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Categories
1. Innovation and Creativity
2. Committees and Task Forces
3. Conferences
4. Data
5. Surveys, questionnaires and similar
6. Expectations
7. Staffing
8. Studies and Research
9. Territoriality
10.“Silver Bullets” and panaceas
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
8
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Innovation and Creativity
• Universities reward creating something
NEW
• Foundations will pay to develop something
NEW
• We feel better when we develop something
NEW
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
9
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
10
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
“That something is new
only means it has
not had time to
disappoint us”
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
12
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
13
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
14
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Committees and Task Forces
• Essential for institutional change and
ownership
• Provide political, administrative and
personal support
• The antidote to institutional isolation
• The antidote to being marginalized
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
15
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Committees and Task Forces
•
•
•
•
Hand Pick your members
Shared ownership
Involve people who are involved
Make it as LARGE as possible
– But divide it into sub-groups
• This is NOT a Board of Directors
• Don’t Ask if you won’t listen
• Your charge to members:
– Represent your department to our program
– Represent our program to your department
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
16
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Conferences
•
•
•
•
•
Why are they presenting?
Premature dissemination
Rarely a critical look at their own work
Look for evidence of assessment
Look for broad experience and general
principles
• Pre-Conference Workshops
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
17
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Data
•
•
•
•
•
•
Look for vital signs
Establish baselines
Measure what you can change
Input – Environment - Outcomes I-E-O
Measure frequently
“Compared to What?”
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
18
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
(Not real Data)
100%
80%
60%
69.0%
40%
Freshman
Retention to 3d
sem
20%
0%
19
2001
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
(Not Real Data)
70.0%
69.5%
69.0%
69.0%
2001
2000
1999
1998
68.0%
1997
68.5%
Freshman
Retention to 3d
sem
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
20
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
(Not Real Data)
100.0%
80.0%
69.0%
60.0%
Freshman
Retention to 3d
sem
40.0%
2001
2000
1999
1998
0.0%
1997
20.0%
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
21
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
(Not Real Data)
100.0%
Freshman
Retention to 3d
sem
80.0%
60.0%
Not in Our
Program
40.0%
20.0%
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
0.0%
In Our Program
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
22
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
(Not Real Data)
69.0%
100.0%
Freshman
Retention to 3d
sem
80.0%
60.0%
Not in Our
Program
40.0%
20.0%
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
0.0%
In Our Program
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
23
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
(Not Real Data)
100.0%
80.0%
60.0%
Freshman
Retention to 3d
sem
40.0%
2001
2000
1999
1998
0.0%
1997
20.0%
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
24
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Percent of Students Retained, Learning
Communities Versus Non-learning
Communities, 1999-2002
1999 Cohort
80
70
60
50
FLC
Non-FLC
All
40
30
20
10
0
1 Year
2 Years
3 Years
4 years
Real Data from a published monograph
25
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Percent of Students Retained After Oneyear, Learning Communities Versus
Non-learning Communities
80
70
60
50
FLC
Non-FLC
All
(Not Real
40
Data)
30
20
10
0
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
1999
26
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Freshman Retention to the 3rd Semester
The University of New Mexico
ALL Freshmen
80%
76.3% 76.2%
73.7% 74.0%
75%
68.3%
72.1%
70.8%
70.3%
70%
72.8%
73.5%
71.6%
75.2%
73.4%
71.6%
71.5%
70.2% 69.9%
69.9%
68.3%
66.4%
65%
64.5%
60%
55%
50%
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
27
2003
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Freshman Retention to the 3rd Semester
The University of New Mexico
ALL Freshmen
100%
90%
80%
70% 64.5%
68.3%
66.4%
70.3% 68.3%
73.7% 74.0%
70.8%
73.5%
73.4%
72.8% 72.1%
71.5% 69.9% 71.6%
70.2% 69.9% 71.6%
76.3% 76.2% 75.2%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
28
2003
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
E-Mail Messages from Hell
To the FYE ListServ (real):
“Hello all, My office is currently working on
surveys of the freshman class. We are
looking for any surveys currently being
used for any reason. Specifically, we are
looking for the students’ experience and
needs as they move through the terms as
they leave college, but we’ll take anything.”
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
29
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Surveys and questionnaires
• The Social Scientists’ approach when you
don’t know the answer, or even the
questions!
• What will you do with the information?
• What do you have to compare your results
with?
• Consider: standardized instruments
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
30
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Expectations
• Watch your Language.
– Job Titles.
– Program Names.
• Goals, objectives and mission.
• Time.
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
31
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
TIME
“Time is nature’s way of keeping
everything from happening all at
once”
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
E-Mail Messages from Hell
To the FYE ListServ (composite):
“Hi, I am a graduate student at Podunk
university and I have been asked to plan a
freshman seminar. Will all the members of
this list serv please tell me everything they
know in an e-mail that I have to have by
tomorrow for a report to the Provost.” Not
signed
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
33
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Staffing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stability
Continuity
Connectedness
Investment
Standing
Maturity
Faculty Roles
Staff Roles
Graduate Student Roles
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
34
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
IDEAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Tenured Faculty Member
(Preferably Dean or Provost)
DIRECTOR
Professional/Administrative Staff Member
Full Time
No other duties
Associate Director(s)
Graduate Assistants
Student Assistants
FACULTY
Administrative Assistant
Professional Staff
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
Technical Staff
Peer Facilitators
35
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Studies and Research
•
•
•
•
•
Graduate Students.
Faculty Members.
Wannabes.
Intellectual curiosity.
Don’t let them hijack your program for their
research interests. They will steal your time
and your students will get nothing in return.
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
36
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Territoriality
•
•
•
•
•
•
Insularity
Bridges and walls
Student Affairs and Academic Affairs
“Ownership”
Takes Leadership
DECIDE: are you teaching a class? Are you
changing the way your university teaches
freshmen?
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
37
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
“Silver Bullets” and panaceas
• New student transition and success are
complex, with many, varied contributing
factors.
• There is not ONE THING that should be
done; there are MANY.
• Don’t think “PROGRAM”; think
“INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.”
Joel Nossoff - University of New
Mexico
38
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
FIRST TIME FRESHMEN – Full Time
Beginning Fall Semester:
Total Enrollment:
Change from Previous year:
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2,118
+31.4%
2,625
+23.9%
2,714
+3.4%
2,587
-4.7%
2,368
-8.5%
2,760
+16.6%
2,944
+6.7%
3,023
+2.7%
FIRST TIME FRESHMEN IN FRESHMAN ACADEMIC CHOICES - Fall Semester
Program
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
HONORS - University Honors Program:
184
242
198
145
330
303
FLC - Freshman Learning Communities
& Freshman Seminars:
°
°
76
349
408
493
LLC-Living & Learning Communities:
°
°
°
30
46
69
FIG-Freshman Interest Groups:
°
°
°
°
389
409
I.S. – Introductory Studies Courses:
721
759
598
617
679
777
FISC-Freshman Introductory
Studies Cluster
°
°
°
°
°
24
Total in FAC:
905
1,001
869
1,141
1,852
2,075
% in FAC*: *33.9% *36.2% *32.9% *47.4% *65.6% *69.0%
°No students enrolled because program not established
2004
353
628
73
541
823
50
2,468
*81.6%
*Does not discount for students in more than one program
FIRST TIME FRESHMEN MEAN GRADE POINT AVERAGES AFTER FIRST SEMESTER-Full Time
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2.58
2.60
2.69
2.75
2.94
2.89
2.93
2.92
FIRST TIME FRESHMEN ACHIEVING LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP
Beginning Fall Semester:
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
% of Eligible Freshmen
achieving the Lottery
Scholarship :
53.1%
56.2%
60.8%
63.6%
67.5%
68.8%
69.8%
# of Freshmen achieving the
Lottery Scholarship:
855
1,230
1,364
1,417
1,367
1,606
1,769
FIRST TIME FRESHMAN RETENTION TO THE THIRD SEMESTER (Full Time)*
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Beginning Fall Semester:
Total
71.5
69.9
71.6
73.4
76.3
76.2
75.2
American Indian
57.8
62.0
67.0
69.2
69.7
68.1
63.4
Black
67.4
72.6
64.7
63.0
74.0
72.4
78.0
Asian
83.8
77.1
74.5
81.4
83.1
84.4
83.3
Hispanic
72.0
69.0
72.9
74.3
76.9
76.4
74.0
White
72.0
70.3
71.2
72.8
75.8
76.2
76.3
Foreign/No Response
72.0
78.0
69.7
77.9
80.0
78.9
78.1
*Interpretation example:
Of the 2,760 full time Beginning Freshmen enrolled at UNM in Fall 2002, 76.2% returned in Fall 2003
REVISED Feb 1, 2005
Office of the Dean / University College
505/277-9302
2004
69.9%
1,898
2004
(available Sept
2005)
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
[Approximately] Ten Stupid Things Colleges Do to Mess up their Freshman Programs
Joel Nossoff - The University of New Mexico
Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Feb 4-8, 2005
Freshman Retention to the 3rd Semester
The University of New Mexico
ALL Freshmen
100%
90%
80%
70% 64.5%
68.3%
66.4%
70.3% 68.3%
73.7% 74.0%
70.8%
73.5%
73.4%
72.8% 72.1%
71.5% 69.9% 71.6%
70.2% 69.9% 71.6%
76.3% 76.2% 75.2%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
28
2003