Ensuring Student Success

1. Ensuring Student Success Strategic Planning Retreat Dorothy Zeisler-Vralsted November 1, 2007

2. Why pursue a college degree? Quantifiable Measures for College Graduates • Healthier lifestyles, more likely to exercise, and longer lifespans • Better jobs with better benefits and insurance plans • More likely to vote • More likely to volunteer • Lower divorce rates Intangible Measures for College Graduates • Appreciation for art, music and the humanities • Better understanding of the natural world • Develop the ability to reason and conceptualize • Learn a foreign language

3. EWU student profile • First-generation college student • Majority are women • Approximately 19% represent diverse cultures • Higher than average percentage of non-traditional students • A large number are placebound

4. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Study: Student Success in State Colleges and Universities: A Matter of Culture and Leadership A Report of the Graduation Rate Outcomes Study, Spring 2005 Study Campuses California State University, Stanislaus Murray State University, Kentucky Clemson University, South Carolina Northwest Missouri State University City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Truman State University, Missouri Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina University of Northern Iowa Louisiana Tech University University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Montclair State University, New Jersey Virginia State University Selection Process • High six-year graduation rates Study Team Leaders • Academic/staff leaders from universities throughout the U.S. Initial Impressions • Motivations—program quality, shared culture • Retention is a byproduct

5. Characteristics of a Shared Culture High expectations • Changed admissions requirements (demography is not destiny) • Faculty commitment(retention occurs one student at a time) • High performance expectations from faculty and staff Promoting Community • Recruit students who have a prior connection • Establish traditions • Recruit faculty with liberal arts background Purpose and Place • Reinforced with faculty and staff recruitment • Mentoring faculty and staff

6. Importance of Leadership • No Silos • Shared responsibility • Crossover roles—faculty and staff serve in more than one capacity • Enabling or servant leadership • Stable leadership

7. Advantages of Policy and Place • Selectivity • Similar purpose • Limited size • Physical isolation or configuration

8. Program Characteristics • Intentional—selection of faculty and staff for advising, First Year Experience, partnerships across departments • Pro-active—early warning, assisting students in navigating the institution • Mandatory participation—meeting advisors, freshmen seminar, etc. • Integrated—align student services, collaborations • Collaborative—partnerships with academic affairs and student services • Academic—curricular features, flexible scheduling, course requirements, recognition and reward

9. The President’s Role • Articulate a collective vision • Assess campus culture • Act strategically • Invest • Reinforce the message of student centeredness

10. Eastern’s Response • Academic Programming • Creative Writing • Forensic Science • Biology • Dental Hygiene • Physical Therapy • Psychology • Faculty Quality • Student Affairs Initiatives • Living Learning Communities • Washington Achievers • Academic Affairs Initiatives • Undergraduate Research • High Demand Support • Collaborative Initiatives • First Year Experience • Eastern Advantage

11. Discussion Implementing best practices at EWU