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Structured Seminars forDomestic andInternational Freshmen:Their Impact on Studentsand RetentionKaren Bova and Gita MaharajaDuquesne UniversityNACADA National Conference 2015
Duquesne University
About Duquesne Private Catholic University inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania Founded more than 130 years ago bythe Congregation of the Holy Spirit(Founded in 1878) Only Spiritan Institution of HigherLearning in the United States
Students and Academics 9,757 Students– 6,101 Undergraduates– 3,656 Graduate and Professional StudentsNine Schools of Study76 Undergraduate Degree Programs84 Master’s Doctoral and Professional Programs21 Post-graduate Certificate ProgramsSource: Duquesne University website - September 2015
Freshmen Transition Courses Strategies – Academic Success – 1 credit– Designed to help students understand the academic rigorsof college Academic Strategies for International Students – 0-1 credit– Designed to help international students enhance theirstudy skills and understand American system of education Seminar New International Students – 0-1 credit– Designed to help new undergraduate and graduateinternational students adjust to the social and academicaspects of D.U. Intro to University Success – 1 creditDesigned to help students adjust to theirnew surroundings as University Students – sections forathletes and spiritan students
Freshmen Transition Courses (cont.)Gateway to Business – 2 credits– Provides an overview of the curriculum offerings andorganization of the School of Business AdministrationPre-Prof Pharm Development Seminar – 1 credit- Introduce students to the history of pharmacy andto various career paths of the pharmacy profession.Students will also be familiarized with policies andprocedures of the Mylan School of PharmacyFreshmen Seminar – 1 credit (School of Nursing)- Focusing on the new student as learner and nursingstudent the seminar will also explore the challenges ofsocial and emotional adjustment to college and the rigorsof a nursing program.
Freshmen Seminar – School ofNursing One Credit – Pass/Fail Mandatory for all Nursing Freshmen andTransfer Students One hour per week for 13 weeks– Content Navigating Technology– E-books– Blackboard– DORI– ATICollege SuccessActive Involvement
Freshmen Seminar – School of NursingContent (cont.)College SuccessActive InvolvementSocial Interaction and CollaborationPersonal ReflectionHigher Education and Liberal ArtsExpectationsValue of Liberal Arts EducationStudy SkillsSetting GoalsMath ProficiencyTest-takingProfessional Development
Methods of InstructionProjects Group Video Project on Campus Student ServiceOrganizations 2 Reflection Papers Math Exam Career PlanGuest Speakers Student Wellness Center Writing Center DU – Cares – Drug and Alcohol Awareness School of Nursing Faculty
School of Nursing Retention Rates
Seminar for New InternationalStudentsObjective: Social and AcademicAdjustment Optional for any new internationalstudents in any programs 0 to 1 credit Letter grade Meet twice for 7 weeks
Seminar for New InternationalStudents(cont.) Topics- Student/Faculty relationship- Expectations of Faculty- Classroom Etiquettes- American System of Education- Cross-cultural Communication- Campus and off-campus social life- Study skills
Academic Strategies forInternational StudentsObjective: Academic Skills Enhancement- mandatory course for students on academicprobation and warning- mandatory for students with one “F” grade inESL courses- ESL students taking both ESL and academiccourses- Offered as 0 (Pass/Fail) or 1 credit (lettergrade)- Meet twice for seven weeks
Academic Strategies forInternational Students(cont.) Topics- Study Skills- Self academic assessment- Students’ expectations of faculty- Faculty expectations of students- Communicating with teachers- Overcoming Public Speaking fear- Learning Styles
Retention of International Students inAcademic Strategies SeminarYear#of Students in Seminar Graduated/Currently Sp20152014Su201574Total13492 (69%)Source: Institutional Research Office, Duquesne University
Intro to University Success CourseObjective: College Expectations andadjustment Optional One credit Choice of twice a week for 8 weeks oronce a week for 15 weeks Letter grade
Intro to University Success (cont.)Topics: Campus Resources Student Organizations Multiple intelligence Major/Academic Requirements University Policies on campus life andacademic integrity Student and Faculty Expectations Academic and Social Skills
Strategies for Academic Successfor Domestic StudentsObjective: Understand academic rigors Optional One-credit Letter Grade Choice of twice a week for 7 weeks orone a week for 15 weeks
Strategies for Academic Successfor Domestic Students (cont.)Topics: Academic expectations of college life Study skills (note-taking, timemanagement, effective reading andwriting, critical thinking, text-taking andanxiety, stress management, publicspeaking ) GPA projection Social Skills
Research on Academic and PersonalDevelopment of Students Population: 110 total Freshmen enrolled in“Intro to University Success” and “Strategiesfor Academic Success” courses Demographic questionnaire Quantitative Pre and Post-test Open-ended questions at end of semester Likert-scale instrument
Demographic InformationPopulation 110 hnicity: WhiteAfrican AmericanAsianOthers85726Schools:7415821Liberal ArtsNatural SciencesEducationBusinessPharmacy
Results of ResearchDimensionsCritical ThinkingTest TakingNote TakingFriendshipSelf-awarenessKnowledge of andadaptability to evn.OverallPre Ave.4.74.64.94.64.3Post Ave. Diff.5.1.44.9.35.3.45.1.54.6.34.44.64.95.0.5.4
Pathways to SuccessObjective: Enhancement of study skills One credit Letter Grade Mandatory for all second semesterfreshmen with a GPA below 2.0 Once a week whole semester Domestic and international students (nottaking ESL courses)
Pathways to Success (cont.)Topics: Academic expectations of college life Study skills (note-taking, time management,effective reading and writing, critical thinking,text-taking and anxiety, stress management,public speaking ) GPA projection Social Skills Academic self-assessment
Retention of Students Completing University Success(Fall) andPathway to Success Seminars(Spring)Year# of Students1st Year P12475FL12/SP133100FL13/SP141100Source: Institutional Research Office, Duquesne University2nd Year Retention (%)865676567950856777NA77NA50256775100NAS
University Retention RatesFirst-time Full-timeFreshman Retention Rate (1) FA 2008 CohortFall 2009 CohortFA 2010 CohortFA 2011 CohortFA 2012 CohortFA 2013 CohortFA 2014 CohortFA SP95.095.095.795.495.397.094.9FA FA87.184.287.088.888.789.8?*National First to Second Year Retention Rates - Basedon data accumulated by ACT 2014*Degree Level/Control: PhD PrivateInstitutions - Average: 80.9%*Degree Level/Control: PhD PublicInstitutions - Average: 77.9%*Admission Selectivity: Private Selective Institutions OfferingBachelors, Masters & Doctoral - Average: 83.0%* Source: ACT, Inc. ACT Institutional Data(1)Initial cohort includes all first-time fulltime freshmen including new entrants intothe six-year Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Conclusion- Strategies to serve students requirecollaborative efforts of different departmentsand funding from the administration andschools.- Assessment of the strategies is important inorder to make changes and better serve theneeds of students- Seminars have a positive impact on thestudents and the university retention rate
Duquesne University NACADA National Conference 2015 . Duquesne University . About Duquesne Private Catholic University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Founded more than 130 years ago by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Founded in 1878) Only Spiritan Institution of Higher Learning in the United States 9,757 Students –6,101 Undergraduates –3,656 Graduate and Professional Students .
