Ellen Bara Stolzenberg, Ph.D. Higher Education Research Institute - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ellen Bara Stolzenberg, Ph.D. Higher Education Research Institute University of California, Los Angeles

Overview ž Background ž Enrollment Management Report ž Adjustment by Choice

CIRP Student Surveys* College entry End of 1 st 2 nd or 3 rd year Senior year year College Your First Freshman Diverse Senior College Learning Survey Survey Year Environments (TFS) (DLE) (YFCY) (CSS) *Faculty Survey administered every 3 years

Background: Despite concerted efforts, attrition remains highest during first-year of college 20 18.4 15 % of Students 10 8.9 8.7 5 3.4 1.3 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Purpose of the First-Year Retention Calculator ž To examine how pre-college student and institutional characteristics are related to first-year retention ž To provide institutions with a tool to inform enrollment management ž Developed by Eagan and Ruiz Alvarado

Results: Financial Considerations and College Choice INCREASED ODDS DECREASED ODDS ž Aid: Family Resources ž Aid: Loans ž Aid: Grants/Scholarships ž Aid: My Own Resources ž First Choice College ž Financial Concerns: ž Reason for Choosing: Major Cost ž College Reputation ž Reason for College: To Gain a General Education

Results: Expectations and Intended Major INCREASED ODDS DECREASED ODDS ž Expectation: Change ž Expectation: Transfer Major ž Major: STEM ž Likelihood of College Involvement ž Major: Education

Enrollment Management Report 2013 TFS Findings ž 55% of incoming freshmen applied to four or more colleges (in addition to currently enrolled institution) — Highest it has been since question was introduced in 1974 ž 56.9% of incoming freshmen enrolled in their first- choice campus — Lowest it has been since 1974 ž 45.9% of incoming freshmen indicated that the cost of attending their current institution was a “very important” factor in their decision to attend — Highest it has been since question was introduced a decade ago

Enrollment Management Report ž Standard reporting feature (as of 2013) for the TFS survey provided to each participating institution ž Compares the responses from students who indicated they had enrolled in their first- choice institution with their peers who did not enroll in their first-choice campus

Sample Report

Methods: Sample & Analysis ž Approximately 7,600 students ž 2013 Freshman Survey (TFS) ž 2014 Your First College Year (YFCY) ž Analysis — Frequencies & Crosstabs — ANOVA & Post-hoc comparisons

Variables ž To create comparison groups (2013 TFS) — To how many colleges other than this one did you apply for admission this year? (None/ 1/2/3/4/5/6/7-10/11 or more) — Were you accepted by your first choice college? (Yes/No) — Is this college your: (First choice/Second choice/ Third choice/Less than third choice) ž Academic & social adjustment (2014 YFCY)

Students not attending first choice institution are LESS likely than those attending first choice to… LES ž Develop effective study skills ž Agree that faculty empower them to learn ž Feel that at least 1 staff member has taken an interest in their development ž Feel part of the campus community ž Feel valued at the institution ž Feel a sense of belonging on campus ž Interact with other students ž Feel an overall sense of community among students ž Recommend the institution to others ž Be satisfied with the amount of contact with faculty ž Be satisfied with first-year programs ž Be satisfied with the overall college experience

Sense of Belonging Construct 100.0% 90.0% 23.9% 26.1% 32.7% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 44.8% 45.1% 50.0% 45.9% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 31.4% 28.8% 21.4% 10.0% 0.0% Got in to first choice but went elsewhere Did not get in to first choice Attending first choice Low Average High

Overall Satisfaction Construct 100.0% 90.0% 21.3% 24.1% 31.8% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 37.6% 37.7% 50.0% 39.3% 40.0% 30.0% 41.1% 20.0% 38.2% 28.9% 10.0% 0.0% Got in to first choice but went elsewhere Did not get in to first choice Attending first choice Low Average High

Satisfaction with orientation and first year programs % Satisfied or Very Satisfied 80.0% 67.0% 70.0% 61.6% 60.9% 60.4% 56.5% 60.0% 53.2% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Got in to first choice but went elsewhere Did not get in to first choice Attending first choice Orientation for new students First-Year Programs

Students who were not admitted to their first choice LESS likely than all others to… institution were LES ž Interact with faculty during office hours ž Interact with faculty outside of class or office hours ž Ask a professor for advice after class ž Receive advice from professor regarding their educational program ž Communicate regularly with professors ž Know how to achieve career goals ž Take a first-year seminar designed to help students adjust to college level academics ž Take a first-year seminar designed to help students adjust to college life

% Taking a first-year seminar designed to help students adjust to college academics 57.3 .3% 58.0 .0% 56.9 .9% 55.8 .8% 56.0 .0% 54.0 .0% 52.0 .0% 49.3 .3% 50.0 .0% 48.0 .0% 46.0 .0% 44.0 .0% — Attend — Attend — Admi — Not a nding ng 1 1st c cho hoice nding ng 1 1st c cho hoice mitted t to 1 1st admi mitted t to t the heir (appli lied t to mu mult ltiple le (appli lied t to o only 1 nly 1 cho hoice b but w went nt first-c -cho hoice i ins nstitution n ins nstitutions ns) ins nstitution) n) els lsewhe here

Students who were not admitted to their first choice MORE likely than all others to… institution were MORE ž Have difficulty managing time effectively ž Rate themselves lower on academic ability ž Feel that there is a lot of racial tension on campus ž Be interested in seeking information about current social and political issues

Students who were admitted to first choice institution but went elsewhere were… LESS likely to: MORE likely to: ž Be satisfied with the ž Be concerned about overall quality of their ability to pay for instruction college ž Choose to enroll at the same institution if the given the choice over again

If you could make your college choice over, would you still choose to enroll at your current college? % Definitely or Probably Yes 100.0% 90.0% 82.2% 80.0% 72.2% 67.9% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Got in to first choice but went Did not get in to first choice Attending first choice elsewhere

Utilizing financial aid advising % Frequently or Occasionally 60.0% 47.8% 50.0% 42.1% 38.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Got in to first choice but went elsewhere Did not get in to first choice Attending first choice

Future Research ž College Choice ž Financial Concerns ž Types of Financial Support

Contact Info Higher Education Research Institute www.heri.ucla.edu Ellen Bara Stolzenberg, Ph.D. Assistant Director, CIRP stolzenberg@gseis.ucla.edu 310-825-6991