UAA FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE 15 Interviews 7 First-Year 7 First-Year - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UAA FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

15 Interviews 7 First-Year 7 First-Year 8 Second-Year 8 Second-Year 10 attended New Student Orientation. 7 took GUID150 Creating 14 said with confidence that Success in College. they will continue at UAA. 7 were recipients of the Alaska 15 met with an academic Performance Scholarship or advisor at least once. UAA Scholarship.

Reasons for Choosing UAA Affordability Affordability ALASKA ALASKA Scholarships Bring Scholarships Bring High Performing High Performing Cost & Location Cost & Location High School High School Students to UAA Students to UAA Ability to Stay in Anchorage Ability to Stay in Anchorage Proximity to Family Proximity to Family Support Support

APPLYING TO UAA EASY TO APPLY – LONG WAIT FOR ACCEPTANCE LETTER – REGISTERED FOR CLASSES WITHOUT MEETING WITH ADVISOR – CHALLENGE CONNECTING WITH APPROPRIATE ADVISOR

First Year Success FACULTY & STAFF WILLINGNESS TO HELP – SURPRISED BY NICE PEOPLE – NEW FRIENDS – FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING – ABILITY TO SELECT CLASSES OF INTEREST

FIRST YEAR BARRIERS POOR FOOD QUALITY & LIMITED AVAILABILITY – HIGH PARKING COST & LIMITED ACCESS – WEBSITE HARD TO NAVIGATE DIFFICULTY CONNECTING WITH OTHERS SLOW TO MAKE FRIENDS MORE CHALLENGING FOR STUDENTS NOT FROM ANCHORAGE TO CONNECT AT UAA

New Student Orientation Attended Orientation Attended Orientation Highlights Highlights See the Potential See the Potential Value of Information Value of Information Student Speakers Student Speakers Remembered very Remembered very little little Remarks from Professors Remarks from Professors Scholarship & Financial Info Scholarship & Financial Info Varying degrees of Varying degrees of college college Practical Guidance Practical Guidance preparedness preparedness Free Stuff Free Stuff Want more practical Want more practical advice advice

GUID 150 - Creating Success in College HIGH AWARENESS OF COURSE – ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE – EASY CLASS – GREAT INSTRUCTORS – LEARNED ABOUT CAMPUS RESOURCES – ONLY SEEN AS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED EXTRA HELP

ACADEMIC ADVISING MET ADVISOR AT LEAST ONCE – POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH ADVISORS – MULTIPLE CHANGES IN ADVISOR – PREFERENCE FOR SELF-SERVICE TOOLS – INCONSISTENCY IN EXPERIENCES – ADVISOR VERSUS COUNSELOR

Outside the Classroom Involvement Focus Focus Academic & Career Academic & Career Oriented Oriented Jobs & Internships Jobs & Internships Narrow view of Narrow view of Community Affiliations Community Affiliations involvement involvement Outside off UAA Outside off UAA How are we defining How are we defining Family Balance & Time Family Balance & Time involvement to involvement to Commitments Commitments students? students?

CONNECTEDNESS TO UAA MILD SENSE OF CONNECTEDNESS – STRONGEST CONNECTION WITH CLASSMATES & STUDY GROUPS – CONDUCIVE SPACES – SAFE, BUT NOT OPENLY WELCOME – PERSONAL CHALLENGES TO CONNECT – ENGAGED ADMINISTRATORS

Comparing Expectations to Realities EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS – MISPERCEPTIONS DRAWN FROM MOVIES – NOT AS BIG & SCARY – POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE – POSITIVELY CHANGED ATTITUDE ABOUT UAA

Student Recommendations for Student Affairs Keep it up! Keep it up! Build Community Build Community Emphasize Learning Emphasize Learning Resource Center Resource Center More School Spirit More School Spirit Advice for Students Advice for Students What is student What is student affairs? affairs?

UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION TO STUDENTS EMAIL – PHONE CALLS – PERSONAL CONNECTIONS – OPTIONAL TEXTS - CLUNKY WEBSITE

Continuing at UAA Finishing at Finishing at UAA UAA Cost Cost Personal Connections Personal Connections Ability to Stay in Alaska Ability to Stay in Alaska Changed Perceptions Changed Perceptions