| Recruitment/Retention Reports |
| Report Title | Abstract |
| Academic Planning and Support Services at St. Edward's University |
Academic Planning and Support Services (APSS) was created to streamline student services at St. Edward's University (Austin, TX) by consolidating several isolated service areas under the administration of a single director. APSS supports the university's mission of championing broad-based learning and developing independent, productive students. APSS assists students in transitioning to college, helps them acquire the skills to be successful in school and beyond, and provides an atmosphere of respect, excellence, and collegiality in which students may explore and develop their own unique potentials. Perhaps the most important measures of APSS's impact on students are both the first year fall to spring and the first year to second year retention rates. In 1998, 90.1% of first year students were retained from fall to spring and 71.5% were retained for the following fall. In 2005, 97% of first year students continued in the spring and 86.4% proceeded to their sophomore year. |
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Contact: Mr. Greg MacConnell |
| Linking English Composition Courses with the First-Year Success Course at OLLU |
In order to orient and support English composition instructors and foster their participation in the linked sections of the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) composition courses and the first-year success course (known at "Touchstone"), a six-week composition program development session was held in which the English faculty and the Touchstone instructors worked closely with the Teaching and Learning Technology Center staff and the OLLU library staff to develop an approach to these two linked courses that included an increased emphasis on the use of technology, on information literacy, and on pedagogy and curriculum development. The product of the program development session, the Guide for English Composition Faculty at OLLU, contains guidelines that outline expectations, standardize curriculum, and allow for continual development of new ideas and approaches. |
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Contact: Mr. Michael Lueker |
| The Effect of Supplemental Instruction on Student Learning: Preliminary Evaluation Report |
The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Supplemental Instruction (SI) program on student learning outcomes at Our Lady
of the Lake University. The SI program was developed as an academic assistance program in response to a high rate of student attrition (more than 30% percent). The program targets traditionally difficult courses – those that have a high percentage of “D” or “F” grades and withdrawals. The program provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class or “external” peer-facilitated help sessions to students in the SI courses. Participation is voluntary and students decide how many sessions to attend.
The design and methodology was oriented around
the following questions:
1. To what extent does the SI program lead to
improvements in student learning?
2. What are the reactions of the SI participants, the SI leaders, and faculty
members to the SI program at Our Lady of the Lake University? |
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Contact: Dr Lei Wang |
| Summer Challenge Program 2005 Evaluation Report |
The purpose of the present study is to assess both learning and affective outcomes associated with the completion of the Summer Challenge
Program (SCP) by its participants. The Summer Challenge Program at Our Lady of the Lake
University (OLLU) is a pre-college experience for students who are not eligible for regular admission but who give evidence of having collegiate potential.
During the 5-week program, students take intensive preparatory courses in math, reading and English. The SCP model is based on the rationale that these students can be successful in college if they are provided with preparatory
academic assistance.
The evaluation questions addressed in this report are as follows:
• To what extent did the math, reading and writing of the participants improve
from pretest and posttest?
• How did the participants react to the different aspects of the Summer Challenge Program? |
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Contact: Dr Lei Wang |
