A Seminar Course to Help With Transfer Shock Wafa Hakim Orman Brinda Mahalingam The University of Alabama in Huntsville ACHIEVE Conference, 2019 THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE • COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Transfer students often struggle with the transition to a 4-year university Transfer shock is a sadly common phenomenon ● What % of Alabama community college students who transfer to a 4-year ● university eventually earn a bachelor’s degree? According to the National Student Clearinghouse: only 33% ○
Why do transfer students struggle?
What can UAH already runs a 1-credit freshman seminar course ● we do about titled “First Year Experience,” or FYE FYE introduces students to campus and the study skills ● it? needed for success In 2015, colleges were allowed to develop their own ● FYE courses Many transfer students who heard about the course ○ told us they wished they had something like it!
Solution: BUS 300, Transfer Success An 8-week 1-credit seminar course modeled on FYE ● Tailored to the needs of transfer students ● They already know “how to do college” ○ But they need help fitting in & finding a community ○ And they need help getting a jump-start on career planning ○
Special They have succeeded so far with their current study ● challenges habits and time management routines They don’t know what they don’t know — and they ● for transfer don’t appreciate how different things are in college Stigma around tutoring/asking for help prevents them ● students from doing it in time They often “check out” or give up hope after one bad ● test Financial challenges: fewer scholarships available ●
How BUS Academic skills: study habits, math, reading, writing, ● 300 note-taking, even being part of a large class Reading? Really? ○ addresses Non-cognitive skills: grit/persistence, coping skills, ● collaborative skills, empathy these Human connections: Clubs, campus activities, friends, & ● even faculty challenges
Course Outline Session 7: Campus activities/clubs. Survey students Session 1: Introduction & icebreaker financial habits. Start spending diary Session 2: Dean’s presentation Session 8: Student Success Center presentation; study Session 3: Advising & developing a 4-semester habits and time management plan to graduation Session 9: Time management Session 4: Note-taking & study habits. Session 10: Stress management and coping skills Collaborative learning. Session 11: Grit, persistence, obstacles, mindset Session 5: Career development: Career Services Session 12: Financial planning & budgeting, review presentation, discovery of interests & talents, spending diary major assessment, resume development, resume Session 13: Library & information literacy assessment, career fair plan Session 14: Diversity, ethics, stereotyping & implicit All students attend Career Fair bias test Session 6: Professionalism and networking Session 15: Ethics, academic integrity, role-plays
Course Outline 33.3 33.3 33.3 Session 1: Introduction & icebreaker Session 3: Advising & developing a 4-semester Session 10: Stress management and coping Session 2: Dean’ s presentation plan to graduation skills Session 5: Career development : Career Session 4: Note-taking & study habits. Session 11: Grit , persistence, obstacles, Services presentation, discovery of interests & Collaborative learning . mindset talents, major assessment, resume Session 8: Student Success Center Session 12: Financial planning & budgeting, development, resume assessment, career fair presentation; study habits and time review spending diary plan management Session 14: Diversity , ethics, stereotyping & Session 6: Professionalism and networking Session 9: Time management implicit bias test Session 7: Campus activities/clubs . Start Session 13: Library & information literacy Session 15: Ethics , academic integrity, spending diary role-plays Academic skills Non-cognitive Human skills Connections
Activities to Advising ● build Advisors visit the class & guide the students ○ through the planning process; major selection & interest inventory academic Collaborative Learning ● skills “Lost At Sea” worksheet: rank items individually & ○ in groups & then compare with Coast Guard ranking Study Habits ● Student Success Center tutors visit class; “draw a ○ penny” exercise Time Management ● Weekly planners, priority matrix, students try out ○ different time management approaches Information Literacy ● Library activity: students compare information ○ sources & learn to discern between them
Activities to Stress Management ● build SWOT matrix ○ Grit ● non-cognitive Grit questionnaire, Obstacles to Success worksheet ○ Financial Planning ● skills Spending diary, Mint app, student loan discussion ○ Diversity ● Diversity Bingo ○ Ethics ● “Is it plagiarism?” flowchart ○
Activities to Icebreaker ● build human Concentric Circles ○ Dean’s Presentation ● connections College of Business culture ○ Career Development ● Career Services presentation, resume writing, ○ attend career fair & debrief Networking ● Business etiquette activities & networking reception ○ Campus Activities & Clubs ● Student Life representative visit & presentation; ○ students need to attend at least two club meetings
Results Year-over-year retention of students taking the BUS 300 course in Fall 2017 was 80% ❏ Compared to 48% for students who did not take the course ❏ And 66% in Fall 2016.
Questions? THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE • COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 14
FUELING INNOVATION. SPARKING IDEAS. LAUNCHING CAREERS. uah.edu/business THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE • COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 15
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