Transcript Slide 1
CANADIAN SEM SUMMIT – Calgary 2013 Getting Serious About Engagement - Developing a Campus Plan to Enhance the Student Experience Clayton Smith, University of Windsor Susan Gottheil, University of Manitoba
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Our Style
No vendors Facilitators; not presenters No silos here Its all about conversation and learning from each other
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Introductions
Your name, institution and role Why did you sign up for the workshop?
Have you personally been involved in any student experience oriented strategic planning process? If so, in what capacity?
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Our Goals Today
Establish a common understanding of “student engagement” and the “student experience” Identify some institutional approaches and lessons learned Provide resources you can use 4
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What are the top three things you remember most about your university experience?
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Student Experience - UM
The Strategic Planning Framework promises students an outstanding student and learning experience.
“The University of Manitoba will be a student focused research university from the time of recruitment: a life-long academic home where students contribute to a diversity of ideas and experiences.”
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University of Windsor
“Provide an exceptional and supportive undergraduate experience that emphasizes independent learning, interdisciplinary opportunities, flexibility in degree completion pathways, and successful year-to-year transition.”
Thinking Forward...Taking Action, 2010 7
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Group Discussion - I
Does your institutional mission and/or strategic plan talk about student engagement or the student experience?
What is meant by that?
Is this concept widely understood/put into action?
Is it measured? If so, how?
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What is “An Outstanding Student Experience”?
Measures not difficult to identify: ⁻ Attracting students who persist through to graduation ⁻ High student satisfaction ratings ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Achievement of institutional and program learning outcomes (i.e., acquisition of desired knowledge, skills and competencies) Attainment of student’s educational objectives (further education, employment) Alumni loyalty 9
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What We Know
Students who are: Connected Involved on campus Deeply invested in learning and growth ….are more likely to persist and be satisfied with their educational experience The more important question is: How do we make this happen?
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A TED Talk to Get Us Going
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action – why, how and what?
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_le aders_inspire_action.html?utm_source=email&source= email&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ios-share 11
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Group Discussion - II
Why are we (PSE Institutions) focusing on enhancing student engagement and the student experience?
Why is it top of mind now?
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Why Now?
Focus on student retention and success Focus on student learning, learning outcomes Demographic shifts, fiscal realities Concern about outcomes of targeted populations (international, Indigenous, first-generation students) Reputational rankings, comparative surveys (NSSE, CUSC) Marketing and philanthropy campaigns (good “stories”) Public accountability 13
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Group Discussion - III
Are the concepts “enhancing student engagement” and “enhancing the student experience” referring to the same things? If not, what are the differences?
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What Does the Research Tell Us?
“What matters is the nature of the experiences students have: the courses they take, the instructional methods their teachers use, the interactions they have with their peers and faculty members outside the classroom, the variety of people and ideas they encounter, and the extent of their involvement in the academic and social systems of their institution.”
-Pascarella and Terenzini, 2005
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Student Engagement
…student engagement – the time and effort students devote to their studies and related activities and how institutions organize learning opportunities and provide services to induce students to take part in and benefit from such activities.
- Kuh, 2005 16
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Student Engagement
Embraces three key student success processes: 1. Active involvement: time and energy invested in learning experience inside and outside the classroom [Astin, Tinto, Pace] 2. Social integration: interaction, collaboration and interpersonal relationships between students and peers, faculty, staff and administrators; sense of belonging and community [Tinto] 3. Personal reflection : think deeply on learning experiences [Entwistle & Ramsen, Flavell, Svinicki, Vgotsky]
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NSSE Benchmarks
Kuh/NSSE uses “student engagement” as an indicator of quality of student experience Level of academic challenge Active and collaborative learning Enriching educational experiences Supportive campus environment Student-faculty interaction 18
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Importance of Faculty/Classroom
The most significant measures of student engagement in NSSE are those measures that involve faculty Students come to, and stay at, our institutions because of academic programs 19
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Student Success: Research
Evidence from decades of studies indicates that: ‾ The level of challenge and students’ time on task are positively related to persistence ‾ ‾ ‾ The degree to which students are engaged in their studies impacts directly on the quality of their learning and their overall educational experience The more opportunities a student has to build a connection to campus , the better their chances of success Some students – such as first generation students, males, transfer students and those who live off-campus – are generally less engaged than others 20
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Important Note
The relationship between student engagement & student persistence is not linear Increased level of academic engagement, when not connected with high levels of social engagement, is negatively related to student persistence High level social engagement in social activities is positively connected to student persistence - Hu, 2010 21
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Student Engagement: Key Concepts
Early studies focused on time-on-task behaviors, on students’ willingness to participate in routine activities, such as attending classes, submitting required work and following teachers’ directions in class But student engagement can also be inferred from more subtle cognitive, behavioral and affective indicators 22
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Do Engagement Measures Predict Learning Outcomes?
Yes (Conway, Zhao & Montgomery, 2011) Data linkages between NSSE & CCSSE survey responses and administrative data can provide a deeper understanding of student engagement, which can then be used to design or improve engagement strategies 23
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Group Discussion - IV
What are the Challenges to Enhancing Student Engagement and the Student Experience?
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Challenges
Changing student population ⁻ Increasing diversity ⁻ Commuting ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Part-time study Work and family responsibilities “Swirling” Diverse learning styles Mental health issues, stress, general lack of well-being 25
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Challenges...cont’d
University and learning environment Budgetary and resource constraints Large class sizes/high student-faculty ratios Increased reliance on part-time instructors and TA’s Focus on research Space constraints Impact of technology ⁻ ⁻ New ways of connecting – opportunities for enhanced communication, community building Enhanced service expectations 26
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Challenges...cont’d
Students’ pre-entry characteristics and post-entry experiences: impact access, persistence and engagement ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Preconceived notions of university environment Lack of academic preparation, including language and literacy Family and community support/role models Financial issues: tuition/fees/cost of living; debt aversion; lack of student assistance/band funding ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Work and family commitments Institutional policies and processes: admission criteria, advising Lack of interest, motivation Poor self-esteem and self-confidence Lack of general well-being: isolation, stress Campus climate: perception of unwelcoming/racist community 27
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Key Point
What happens during the student’s campus experience is as, or more, critical than student inputs … 28
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So….
….. How Do We Create an Enhanced Student Experience and Engage Our Students?
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Key Services/Programs
Intentionally and well-implemented academic and social orientation Academic advising Supplemental instruction/academic skill development - Hossler, 2006 30
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High-Impact Educational Practices
First-Year Seminar Common Intellectual Experiences (“core” curriculum) Learning Communities* Writing-Intensive Courses Collaborative Assignments and Projects Undergraduate Research* Diversity/Global Learning/Study Abroad* Community Service-Learning* Internships and Co-operative Education Capstone Courses and Projects* *Engagement Indicators -Kuh, 2008 31
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Revisiting the DEEP Study: 10 Years Later
High-Impact Educational Practices still important Emergence of early alert systems to enhance student success Additional practices of great importance: ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Emphasis on data-informed decision-making; focus on data that are actionable (not immutable institutional or student characteristics) Better collaboration between academic and student affairs Increasing faculty and staff understanding of conditions for success - NSSE Annual Results, 2012 32
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Group Discussion - V
What are the strategies your institution has employed to enhance student engagement?
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Programs and Strategies
Student Recruitment ⁻ ⁻ High school and community partnerships, outreach activities On- and off-campus events ⁻ “Student for a Day” Student Orientation Academic Advising Program and Curriculum ⁻ New course development ⁻ Undergraduate/Graduate Program Reviews ⁻ ⁻ Learning Communities Pedagogical support (Teaching and Learning Centres) Analyzing DFW Rates 34
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Programs and Strategies… cont’d
Academic policies ⁻ Progression and graduation requirements; student mobility Course scheduling/Program Planning ⁻ Use of Summer Session Space ⁻ To study, gather, interact, engage Supplemental instruction ⁻ Tutoring “student halls” ⁻ Writing Centres 35
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Programs and Strategies… cont’d
Experiential Education ⁻ ⁻ Study abroad programs (student exchanges) Community-service learning ⁻ Co-op, internships ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Enriching educational experiences Research mentorships Field trips, study tours Brown bags, lecture series Support of student societies Mentoring ⁻ Using faculty, alumni, student peers Career advising ⁻ Partnership between student affairs and academic programs 36
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And Some More Strategies…
Aboriginal student access/retention Academic civility Bridging programs Coaching (case managed access to student services, coaching first-year students on probation) Co-curricular record Cross-departmental collaboration 37
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Strategies…cont’d
Cultural sensitivity/cultural competency training Early Alert Emotional Intelligence interventions Faculty development Financial aid Graduate student teaching development workshops 38
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Strategies… cont’d
Learning & information commons Peer mentor programs Planning (staff/faculty retreats and symposia) Recognition for staff & faculty Residence (academic, bridging and transition programs) Teaching (clickers, critical thinking, early feedback, hybrid courses, idea incubator, technology in large classes) 39
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Vision
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University of Windsor Using NSSE to Create an Action Plan to Enhance the Quality of
http://nsse.iub.edu/
the Student Experience
QUALITY OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE 42
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Process
Created a Deans Council NSSE Working Group (2011) to identify the low-hanging fruit Identified “Building an Enhanced Sense of Community” as the over-riding key issue Subsequently identified a number of key issues (some went beyond NSSE to include Globe & Mail and other surveys Built a one-year plan for impacting each of the issues (that current resources could address) Deans Council updates periodically 43
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Major Areas of Focus
Sense of community Quality of teaching Variety and availability of courses Quality of academic advising Academic support services Student residences Financing education Study spaces in the Library Appearance of classrooms and labs 44
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Areas...cont’d
Career preparation and services Interpersonal skills for faculty and staff Housekeeping services Food services Second year experience External student awards Recycling and garbage 45
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Current Status
Will evaluate status of the plan at year’s end Consider looking at how we might address these issues with new resources See many of these issues as taking many years to fully address (especially sense of community) 46
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Current Status
… cont’d
Exploring putting our focus on issues that cannot be addressed by individual departments or units: ⁻ Sense of community ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ Quality of teaching Academic advising support Coordination of information related to academic support services How best to communicate with students Career preparation Second year experience 47
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University of Manitoba: Using the SEM Framework
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What is SEM?
Strategic enrollment management (SEM) is a goals.
concept and process that enables the fulfillment of institutional mission and students’ educational -Bontrager, 2004 49
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The Student Success Continuum
Traditional Enrolment Perspective
Recruitment/ Marketing Admission Orientation Classroom Experience Co-curricular Support
Student’s College/University Career
Financial Support Academic Support Retention
Attain Degree/Goal
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The Student Success Continuum
The SEM Perspective
Recruitment/ Marketing Admission Orientation Classroom Experience Co-curricular Support
Student’s College/University Career
Financial Support Academic Support Retention
Attain Degree/Goal
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SEM is…
The range of activities that influence a student’s initial & continued enrolment The programs, policies & processes that impact institutional enrolment The organizational framework & structure that supports institutional & student goals It is tied into the institutional academic & strategic plan 52
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UM’s Strategic Planning Framework: Objectives
Enhancing academic offerings (6 key areas) Providing an exceptional student experience Indigenous achievement Becoming an employer of choice 53
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The Student Experience
“…the student experience needs to transcend a rigorous focus on a particular discipline. Much of the learning that takes place at university does not occur in its classrooms, but in the many other opportunities offered for creative debate, exposure to a multiplicity of view points, involvement in campus associations and activities and interactions with other members of the university community.”
- University of Manitoba Planning Framework, 2009 54
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SEM Planning Framework
Strategic Plan notes one of the efforts to achieve an exceptional student experience should be the development of an enrolment management plan
Strategic enrolment management (SEM) provides an opportunity for us to reflect on who we are, where we have been, and where we want to go. It is a process that enables us to intentionally plan the size and composition of our student body, enhance the student experience, and support student success.
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What have we done?
Created Office of Student Life ⁻ ⁻ ⁻ CCR President’s Scholars Program Student Leadership and Peers Programs Campus-wide transition and orientation activities ⁻ Experiential education initiative ⁻ Community Service Learning Programs ⁻ Work Integrated Learning ⁻ Student exchange and mobility ⁻ Undergraduate research 56
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What have we done? (Cont’d)
Blended and E-learning Task Force 3 R’s review of academic policies and procedures Graduate advisor-student guidelines Mental health strategy Academic advising review Review of DFW rates Renovations to Dafoe Library Enhance program review process Administrative reviews (Aboriginal Student Centre, Career Services, Chaplains) 57
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Other Examples … Your Experience
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Group Discussion VI
What are the obstacles at your institution for implementing a successful student experience plan?
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No Blueprint
• In their book, Student Success in College, George Kuh and associates (2005) assert that, in their study of 20 institutions that performed better than expected with regard to student retention, there was no definite pattern in how these institutions succeeded. “a unique combination of external and internal factors worked together to crystallize and support an institution wide focus on student success. No blueprint exists to reproduce what they do, or how, in another setting” Kuh et al, 2005, p. 21 60
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… it seems clear that a genuine desire to improve, coupled with broad consensus and commitment among those whose choices most directly impact the undergraduate experience, are necessary ingredients for positive change.
- Alexander McCormick Director, NSSE NSSE Annual Results, 2012 61
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Why Do Plans Fail ?
Unclear vision/vague directions ‾ People responsible for executing strategies don’t understand the big picture & how they contribute/fit in Unmotivated people ‾ No reason to change behaviour/culture Unfocused leadership ‾ ‾ Fire fighting instead of managing strategically No accountability Disconnected resource allocation -Copeland, 2009 62
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Group Discussion VII What are the most important student engagement components to work on first at your institution to enhance the student experience?
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Partnership and Collaboration
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“ Participation & integration is the most important factor at both 4-year and 2-year public institutions in sustaining long-term SEM success.”
-Smith, 1997 65
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Educational Innovations and Praxis
“The success of institutional retention efforts ultimately resides in the institutions’ capacity to engage faculty and administrators across campus in a collaborative effort to construct educational settings, classrooms and otherwise, that actively engage students (all students, not just some) in learning.”
- Tinto, 2006 66
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“It is time for academic and student affairs professionals alike to realize that it is only through the breaking down of current barriers— real and perceived—that institutions will achieve the outcomes they seek. Through strategic collaboration, both segments…can develop and implement programs and
processes that add value and benefit students.” -Newton & Smith, 2009 67
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Some Collaboration is Common
“High levels of collaboration generally exist between academic and student affairs activities related to counselling, first-year experience programs, orientation and recruitment.”
-Kezaar, Hirsh & Burak, 2002 68
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However…
Many institutions mistake a series of joint events for true collaboration To truly be competitive and to meet the rigors of accountability, institutions must go beyond activities and embrace
collaborative dialogue
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Wrapping Up Lessons Learned?
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Wrapping Up Student Engagement Audit
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Wrapping Up Where will you begin to enhance the student experience and student engagement on your campus?
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Your toolkit
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Materials
Pre-SEM Summit Workshop PowerPoint presentation Student Engagement Audit http://www.uwindsor.ca/sem/sem-summit 74
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Resources
Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium (CUSC): http://www.cusc-ccreu.ca/home.htm
Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS): http://www.cags.ca/cgpss/ Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE): http://lssse.iub.edu/ Common University Data Ontario (CUDO): http://www.cou.on.ca/statistics/cudo Community College Survey on Student Engagement (CSSE): http://www.ccsse.org/ 75
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Resources
… cont’d
National Survey on Student Engagement Website: http://nsse.iub.edu/html/reports.cfm
National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition Web site: http://www.sc.edu/fye/ Canadian SEM Website: www.uwindsor.ca/sem (includes all SEM Summit materials) 76
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Contact Us @
Susan Gottheil [email protected]
Clayton Smith [email protected]
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