From 0 to 60+: From 0 to 60+: Revving up FYE at Warp Revving up FYE at Warp Speed Speed Nancy Casey Nancy Casey Mary Piccioli Mary Piccioli Ann Lehman Ann Lehman St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure University ~ Live ~ Learn ~ Serve ~ Lead ~ Live ~ Learn ~ Serve ~ Lead
Framework for Discussion Framework for Discussion Who we are Who we are Where we were Where we were What we did What we did What happened What happened Why Why St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
SBU at a Glance SBU at a Glance A Catholic University in the Franciscan A Catholic University in the Franciscan tradition tradition A highly residential campus, located in A highly residential campus, located in Western New York state Western New York state 2,000 undergraduates/500 graduate students 2,000 undergraduates/500 graduate students Liberal arts core, majors in arts and sciences, Liberal arts core, majors in arts and sciences, as well as strong professional preparation in as well as strong professional preparation in education, business and journalism/mass education, business and journalism/mass communication communication “At St. Bonaventure University, we come to know our students on an At St. Bonaventure University, we come to know our students on an “ individual basis and become their mentors. We strive to bring out the individual basis and become their mentors. We strive to bring out the best in every individual. “ best in every individual. “ St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
January 2006 January 2006 Where We Were Where We Were Lower than desired enrollment Lower than desired enrollment A dip in retention rates A dip in retention rates Several ad hoc groups, individuals and Several ad hoc groups, individuals and committees were discussing and committees were discussing and researching on freshman issues, resulting researching on freshman issues, resulting in tentative and not-so-tentative in tentative and not-so-tentative suggestions for change from multiple suggestions for change from multiple individuals and committees across campus individuals and committees across campus An “invitation” from the Provost to design An “invitation” from the Provost to design living and learning structures for freshmen living and learning structures for freshmen St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
What Was In Place? What Was In Place? 20 years’ experience with multiple versions 20 years’ experience with multiple versions of freshman seminars of freshman seminars “ “Required” UNIV 101 (freshman seminar) in Required” UNIV 101 (freshman seminar) in two schools two schools Peer mentors in two of fjve schools Peer mentors in two of fjve schools Passion: Many faculty and stafg who were Passion: Many faculty and stafg who were committed to doing something for freshman committed to doing something for freshman Finally, “buy-in” from the University Finally, “buy-in” from the University Strategic Planning Committee and cabinet Strategic Planning Committee and cabinet St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
What We Did…and What We What We Did…and What We Learned Learned We rolled up our sleeves and dove in We rolled up our sleeves and dove in head fjrst head fjrst Gathered those who had been Gathered those who had been passionate about the issues passionate about the issues We listed our dreams and visions We listed our dreams and visions We identifjed the “must dos” for fall We identifjed the “must dos” for fall 2006 2006 And we learned… And we learned… St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
FIRST: It T akes A Campus… FIRST: It T akes A Campus… The FYE @ SBU initiative was a result of an unprecedented campus-wide collaboration, involving more than 60 individuals from all areas of the University: •Administration •Faculty •Staff •Students St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
SECOND: It COULD Be Done SECOND: It COULD Be Done Moving at Warp Speed Moving at Warp Speed St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
THIRD: It’s All about THIRD: It’s All about C onversations onversations C We talked …. We talked …. and we talked … and we talked … and we talked… and we talked… and then we talked! and then we talked! You must originate, and you must sympathize; you must You must originate, and you must sympathize; you must possess, at the same time, the habit of communicating and possess, at the same time, the habit of communicating and the habit of listening. The union is rather rare, but irresistible. the habit of listening. The union is rather rare, but irresistible. Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfjeld Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfjeld St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We T alked … We T alked … With Faculty from all schools With Faculty from all schools – Who taught freshmen courses Who taught freshmen courses – Who advised freshmen Who advised freshmen – Who were concerned with teaching and Who were concerned with teaching and learning learning With Stafg With Stafg – Who worked with freshmen in residence halls Who worked with freshmen in residence halls – Who provided academic support services Who provided academic support services – Who had regular contact with freshmen and Who had regular contact with freshmen and their parents their parents St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We T alked… We T alked… With our Trustees With our Trustees With the religious With the religious community community With individuals and With individuals and committees wrestling with committees wrestling with related issues related issues St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Most Importantly, We T alked Most Importantly, We T alked with Students with Students The The very fjrst very fjrst formal thing we did formal thing we did was to have focus groups of was to have focus groups of freshmen and sophomores freshmen and sophomores – We explored orientation We explored orientation – We asked about their residential We asked about their residential experiences experiences There were student members on all There were student members on all committees committees St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
Articulating Articulating the VISION: the VISION: What Did What Did We Dream? We Dream? St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
What MUST We Have? What What MUST We Have? What Would NOT work? Would NOT work? St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We Articulated Our Mission: We Articulated Our Mission: FYE @ SBU FYE @ SBU The mission of the First-Year Experience program at St. is to support Bonaventure University is to support students as they transition to University life students as they transition to University life and to promote success in academic and and to promote success in academic and residential environments by providing residential environments by providing integrated learning and living programming integrated learning and living programming designed to engage them fully in the life of designed to engage them fully in the life of the University. the University. St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
We Set FYE Goals We Set FYE Goals Improved student engagement Improved student engagement Improved student academic Improved student academic performance performance Improved retention Improved retention Improved residence life experience Improved residence life experience Increased Opportunities for Increased Opportunities for Campus Community to be involved Campus Community to be involved in Student Engagement in Student Engagement St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
The First-Year Experience at SBU: 5 Major Components St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
The Residence “Pieces” The Residence “Pieces” “ “Original” Plans Original” Plans – Freshman-only residence halls Freshman-only residence halls – Opt-in affjnity groups (themed living) Opt-in affjnity groups (themed living) – Alliance with Offjce of Residence Life Alliance with Offjce of Residence Life – New training for residence life stafg New training for residence life stafg – FYE mentors FYE mentors “ “Modifjcations and Additions” -- Modifjcations and Additions” -- Fall ’06 Fall ’06 – Freshman-focused weekend Freshman-focused weekend programming programming – FYE mentor role adjustments FYE mentor role adjustments – Rethinking Affjnity Groups Rethinking Affjnity Groups St. Bonaventure University LIVE ~ LEARN ~ SERVE
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