College of Basic and Applied Sciences Advising/Retention Report

What is CBAS Presently Doing for Retention?

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Engagement

• Professional organizations • • Faculty open door policy Classes introducing the major •

Academics

• Living Learning communities • Dual credit programs • Tutoring opportunities • Experiential learning experiences (study abroad) • Use of technology in teaching (Facebook) • Exit interviews for curriculum improvement • Increased scholarships • Curriculum reform •

Career Development

• Career fairs • Job pipelines with business • Capstone courses

What is CBAS Presently Doing Related to Advising?

• Have 4 full-time advisors in the college • 2 advisors for 8 majors in the college • 1 advisor for Aerospace • • 1 Advisor for the Pre-Health Professions More than 50% of faculty in college are involved in advising • Additional • Contact students to see why not registered • Visit classes to announce “Priority Registration” • • • • • • College Advisors follow up on academic alerts as suggested by instructors All departments have completed 4 –year maps Mandatory or intrusive advising in some departments Increase in advising material online and in print Being advised by experts in your field Group advising - The college advisors are knowledgeable, readily available and an excellent resources for the students.

•

Challenges

• Serving large number of students with a small advising staff • More follow up/programing needed for students on academic probation • • Finding faculty available for advising in the summer No standardized advising training for faculty

Where has all This Effort got Us?

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Retention: Freshman (2011-12)

Fall 2011 College MTSU Basic and Applied Sciences Behavioral and Health Sciences Business Education Liberal Arts Mass Communication University College Fall 2011 Enrollment 3,368 851 700 280 102 370 442 623 Total Total Total Total Total Total Total College Enr. Fall 2012 # Returned Fall 2012 2,364 597 491 204 79 266 319 408 % Retained Fall 2012 70.2% 70.2% 70.1% 72.9% 77.5% 71.9% 72.2% 65.5%

Retention: Freshman by Major (2011-12)

Fall 2011 College/Major MTSU Basic and Applied Sciences Aerospace Agribusiness Biology Chemistry Computer Science Concrete Industry Management Engineering Technology Mathematics Physics Fall 2011 Enrollment 3,368 851 96 12 95 13 65 13 87 26 14 Fall 2012 Major Total Retained by MTSU

Aerospace

Total Retained by MTSU

Agribusiness

Total Retained by MTSU

Biology

Total Retained by MTSU

Chemistry

Total Retained by MTSU

Computer Science

Total Retained by MTSU

Concrete Industry Management

Total Retained by MTSU

Engineering Technology

Total Retained by MTSU

Mathematics

Total Retained by MTSU

Physics

# Returned Fall 2012 2,364 8

6

49

34

22

17

9

7

597 66

52

10

6

65

35

6

3

43

28

% Retained Fall 2012 70.2% 70.2% 68.8%

54.2%

83.3%

50.0%

68.4%

36.8%

46.2%

23.1%

66.2%

43.1%

61.5%

46.2%

56.3%

39.1%

84.6%

65.4%

64.3%

50.0% University Retention – 70.2% ; CBAS Retention Rate – 70.2%

CBAS Freshman Retention Rates

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Returned to MTSU Returned in same major 2007 72 56,9 2008 71,5 47 2009 63,4 44,4 2010 76,8 54,6 2011 70,2 45,3

CBAS Degrees Conferred

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Undergraduates 2007-08 576 2008-09 652 2009-10 635 2010-11 668 2011-12 729

Comparison Retention Data

Freshman rate

65 60 55 50 85 80 75 70 MTSU FIU Central Florida Georgia State New Orleans North Texas Southern Miss UT Arlington

Comparison Retention Data

Graduation rate

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 MTSU FIU Central Florida Georgia State New Orleans North Texas Southern Miss UT Arlington

Retention Conclusions

• • • • • • Average freshman retention for CBAS is 70.2% (same as university); retention within majors in CBAS is 49.2%.

Overall retention is similar to other colleges, but retention in majors is 4 th out of the 7 colleges.

Freshman retention rates in the major range from a low of 23.1% in Chemistry to a high of 65.4% in Math.

Retention rates for CBAS students returning to MTSU and return to MTSU in the same major have remain relatively stable since 2007.

Number of degrees conferred by CBAS has been increasing since 2007.

In comparison to our peer institutions we are at or above the average for freshman retention and graduation rates.

Even though we have seen retention rates remain relatively stable and number of degrees conferred increase, the numbers illustrate a need to do a better job retaining students in the CBAS majors both at the freshman and junior levels.

College Initiatives to increase Retention and Improve Advising

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Retention

• Supplemental Instruction - is an academic support model that uses peer assisted study sessions to improve student retention and success within targeted historically difficult courses. - $70,000 • Freshman Forum - is a required course in each discipline designed for freshmen and transfer students majoring in one of the disciplines in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences to enhance their transition to Middle Tennessee State University by introducing them to their specific major, providing an overview of the major and core requirements, and addressing specific skill sets necessary for success in the major. – No Cost •

Advising

• Pre–Health Professions Advising Program - developing a multifaceted, well organized approach to supplying students with much needed information and educating faculty on the nuances of advising pre-health professional students, students will more efficiently obtain the information they need to gain acceptance into professional health programs. - $50,000

Department Retention Ideas

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Engagement

• Travel money for faculty and students to travel to National Conferences and Meetings • Create an Umbrella Committees to coordinate club activities within departments • Install digital displays to advertise career and department activities • Create student engagement rooms for reading, tutoring and study areas • Increase the use of social media to update and engage the student community • Create boot camps to prepare students for the college experience

Department Retention Ideas

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Innovative Programs

• • Increase dual credit programs Increase women and minorities in underrepresented sciences (Harvey Mudd) • Increase partnerships with community colleges • • Develop faculty student mentoring program Increase student research and travel grants; especially summer stipend programs • Modify P/T guidelines to reward faculty who are engaging students in academic process • Increase study abroad opportunities

Department Retention Ideas

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Academics

• • • Increase tutoring programs/supplemental instruction Revamp introductory courses to reduce D and F grades Investigate requiring admission into the major • Develop Advisory Council (Boards) to help with curriculum improvement and internships • • Increase access to buildings and computer labs Investigate the development of additional degree programs, especially in the applied field • • Major specific introductory seminar courses or colloquium course Increase undergraduate research opportunities • Increase experiential learning activities in major courses

Department Advising Ideas

• • • • • •

Advising Changes

• • • Investigate mandatory advising option Investigate mandatory advising at 75 credit hour Investigate the use of group advising Investigate the use of open door advising Develop advising maps for transfer students Workshops to educate faculty on advising Develop an evaluation process for student advising Have majors orientation session prior to first semester on campus • Increase advising staff in the college

Conclusions

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The College of Basic and Applied Sciences’ vision of what the college is committed to in student retention is articulated in the following statement:

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By fostering a supportive and nurturing environment that emphasizes best practices in teaching effectiveness, student support and use of educational resources, the college strives to increase student achievement, leading to higher levels of retention and graduation. Emphasis is placed on developing students with higher levels of critical thinking and life skills that are important for academic and professional success.