Explore Ways to Expand Transition Programs Beyond the First-Year Susan Fanale &

1. Explore Ways to Expand Transition Programs Beyond the First-Year Susan Fanale & Susan Bertelsmeyer Saint Louis University

2. Learning Outcomes Participants will… • Learn about SLU’s comprehensive First-Year Experience, Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience, Senior-Year Experience • Understand lessons learned as SLU developed transition programs • Share information about transition programs at other institutions

3. Saint Louis University • Catholic, Jesuit University • Urban, residential campus • Total enrollment for fall 2009: 13,313 • Total undergraduate: 8,119 • 59% women, 41% men • 818 international students • 57% out-of-state

4. Undergraduate Initiatives Overview • First-Year Experience • Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience • Senior-Year Experience • Living Learning Programs • Commuter and Transfer Programs

5. Undergraduate Initiatives Overview • Student Leaders: • 20 SLU 101 Leaders • 130 Oriflamme Leaders • 6 Transfer Mentors • 2 Commuter Assistants • Division of Student Development • Professional Staff: • Director • 2 Coordinators • 2 part-time Coordinators • Graduate Assistant • 3 Student Workers • 2 Collateral Assignments

6. First-Year Experience • SLU 101 Summer Orientation • Welcome Week Fall Orientation • First-Year Summer Reading • Learning Communities/ FIGs • Freshman Commuter Programs • TRANSFERmations • Paraprofessional Mentors • First-Year Experience Courses • Freshman/Sophomore Residency Requirement • SLU Inquiry Courses • Academic Advising • Major & Career Exploration • Involvement & Leadership

7. First-Year Experience Learning Communities • Placed on one or more floors of a residence hall • Students of same/similar academic interests or majors • Social and educational environments

8. First-Year Experience First-Year Interest Groups • Connected to a Learning Community • Co-enrolled options for fall semester • Enrolled in two to three courses together with peers while living together • Assists with college transition

9. First-Year Experience TRANSFERmations Program • 6 week focus • Welcome Week Connections • Getting Involved • Being a Billiken • Service • Exploring Saint Louis • Academic Preparation • Transfer Mentors

10. Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience • Developing relationships with Jesuits and faculty • Reconnecting with Campus Community • Wellness • Career Development • Class Identity • Multicultural Competence • Involvement & Leadership

11. Senior-Year Experience • Senior Mailing • Senior Legacy Symposium • Senior Reception with the Jesuits • Senior Night at Billiken Basketball Game • Educational Sessions • Online Resources

12. Marketing • Text treatments • Facebook • Partnership with Enrollment Management • Transfer Newsletters • Individual program marketing • University News • SLU Connections • Transition Checklists

13. How We Got Here • Undergraduate Initiatives Committee with task forces: • First-Year Experience • Sophomore/Junior-Year Experience • Senior-Year Experience • Key leadership of task forces – faculty and staff co-chairs • Top-down support of Vice Presidents • Culture of change at SLU • Focus on retention from Student and Academic Affairs • Partnership with Institutional Research • Student receptiveness to data driven culture • Student Development Learning Outcomes

14. Lessons Learned • Involve Campus Partners early and throughout the process • Collaborative v. cooperative • Partnering with key departments • Marketing is key • Student feedback • Utilizing assessment data • Start with outcomes • Align resources – financial, personnel, time • Identify campus champions

15. Future Goals • Assessment of new programs • Redefine relationship with new Vice President of Frost structure • Integrate more technology into programs • Incorporate more diversity into programs and services • Incorporate Jesuits and Jesuit Mission into programs • Educating campus community

16. Roundtable • What does your campus do particularly well? • Gaps in your transition programs • Suggestions for new initiatives • Tips for success

17. Questions? www.slu.edu/x18240.xml www.slu.edu/fye bertelsl@slu.edu sfanale@slu.edu