Session I-06: Improving Retention & Student Success through Cohort-Building & Networking

Session I-06: Improving Retention & Student Success through Cohort-Building & Networking NSF STEP Grantees Meeting Workshop Dr. Anant R. Kukreti Lead PI Dr. Urmila Ghia Co-PI Mr. Kenneth Simonson Co-PI University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science March 2012 Dr. Latiera Brunson Evans Evaluator

Student Video 1 Cohort Building

Improving Retention & Student Success through Cohort Building & Networking Grant Goals Student Retention & Student Achievement Implementation Strategies Cohort Building Networking

Cohort Building What It Is Building productive academic relationships Among students Between students and faculty Between students and the UC administration

Cohort Building Strategies Summer Bridge Program Cohort course scheduling Collaborative learning Cooperative courses (calculus, physics)

Cohort Building Strategy Summer Bridge Academic interdependence Nightly study session Instructors and staff weekly meetings

Cohort Building Strategy Cohort Course Scheduling Summer bridge academic year course recommendations Math and science course registration Long-term affiliations formed

Cohort Building Strategy Supplemental Cooperative Learning Classes in Freshmen Math & Science Courses receive additional instruction time develop problem-solving skills study in groups of 3-4 build long-term relationships

Impact of Summer Bridge & Supplemental Cooperative Learning Classes Performance of STEP and Peer Cohort in Freshmen Math & Science Courses: 2008-2009 (participation in cohort building activities was on volunteer basis not all did) 3.5 Course Grade Comparison Cohort 1 Number above the bars shows the number of students in that category 6 3 2.5 4 396 577 7 2 334 208 510 4 258 2 13 1 163 6 322 GPA 2 128 3 137 4 5 STEP 1.5 1 Peer Cohort 158 1 0.5 0 Calc 0 (F08) Calc I(F08) Chem I (F08) Calc I (W09) Calc II (W09) Chem II (W09) Phys I (W09) CalcII (S09) Calc III (S09) ChemII (S09) Chem III(S09) Phys II (S09)

Impact of Summer Bridge & Supplemental Cooperative Learning Classes Performance of STEP and Peer Cohort in Freshmen Math & Science Courses: 2009-2010

Impact of Summer Bridge & Supplemental Cooperative Learning Classes Performance of STEP and Peer Cohort in Freshmen Math & Science Courses: 2010-2011

GPA Outcomes GPA of STEP and Peer Cohort for students who started in Fall 2008: Cohort 1 (participation in cohort building activities was on volunteer basis not all did)

GPA Outcomes GPA of STEP and Peer Cohort for students who started in Fall 2009: Cohort 2

GPA Outcomes GPA of STEP and Peer Cohort for students who started in Fall 2010: Cohort 3

Retention Outcomes Retention of STEP Cohorts 120% Retention - Spring 2011 100% 92.30% 93.60% 98.70% 96.10% 100% 85.90% 80% 60% 55% 65% Remain in STEP Remain in STEM Remain at UC 40% 40% 20% 0% Cohort 1 (2008 Cohort) Cohort 2 (2009 Cohort) Cohort 3 (2010 Cohort)

Cohort Building Group Activity Discuss activities that your project has used to build cohort relationships Discuss the key benefits from these activities Report back to group

Student Video 2 - Networking

Improving Retention & Student Success through Cohort Building & Networking Grant Goals Student Retention & Student Achievement Implementation Strategies Cohort Building Networking

Networking Strategies Monthly socials Progress reports STEP advisors Industry mentoring LeMons Competition project

Monthly Socials

Monthly Socials Socials bring students together to: meet representatives from the university, faculty, and industry discuss academic strategies for success learn about co-op opportunities investigate undergraduate research experience options explore the option for graduate school connect with each other

Progress Reports opportunity to meet instructors periodic feedback on performance long-term relationships with instructors research opportunities recommendation letters

STEP Advisors Quarterly Meeting Instructor reports Course work Community engagement Personal and academic concerns

General Electric Aviation Mentoring Program Students interact with engineering professionals to: assist in their overall academic and professional development help students understand the educational and career related skills needed for a successful engineering career 23rd Year

Toyota/E3 24 Hours LeMons E3 Students and Toyota engineers transform a couple of very old, beaten-up Toyotas into race cars for an endurance race called The 24 Hours of LeMons. Networking for industry Co-op recruitment for underrepresented engineers for Toyota Toyota has hired three E3 students in the past three years

Toyota/E3 24 Hours LeMons

Student Satisfaction Survey Summer Bridge - I feel prepared to succeed at UC

Student Satisfaction Survey The monthly socials and guest speaker sessions were informative.

Student Satisfaction Survey The required Progress Reports facilitated a positive relationship with my teachers.

Student Satisfaction Survey The quarterly mee-ngs with my Program Advisor were helpful in providing me personal support The quarterly mee-ngs with my Program Advisor were helpful in providing me academic support

Networking Group Activity Create an activity (not something someone is currently doing) that promotes networking Intended outcomes Report out

Summary: Strategy Assessment vs. Goals What strategies proved effective What strategies need review and realignment

Challenges Summary Goal 1: Retention Coordinating Student Participation in Various Programs (Bridge and others) Successes Retention: 82% vs. 74% for College

Goal 2: Achievement Challenges An early challenge was student participation in the activities. Successes Better performance in freshmen math and science courses Better performance in overall Everything needs to connect to student success

Questions/Discussion For more information on the UC STEP Program: http://www.e3.uc.edu/step/