Promoting Persistence and Achievement: Meeting the Needs of Underserved Students at Bridgewater State University March 16, 2011 10:30-11:30 a.m. Session 455 Dr. Heather C. Smith Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services
Bridgewater State University Founded in 1840 The 4th largest public institution of higher education and the largest state university in MA
The Mission of the University BSU has a responsibility to educate the residents of Southeastern Massachusetts and the commonwealth, and to use its intellectual, scientific and technological resources to support and advance the economic and cultural life of the region and the state.
Institutional Overview: Fall 2010 Five (5) Colleges and (1) School: The College of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Social Work The College of Science and Mathematics The College of Business The College of Education and Allied Studies The College of Graduate Studies Continuing and Distance Education programs are also offered
Institutional Overview: Fall 2010 Total enrollment: 11,201 Total FTE: 8,919 95% are from New England 59% are female 84% are full-time 14% are students of color
Institutional Overview: Fall 2010 Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,328 Total FTE: 8,003 95% are from New England 59% are female 84% are full-time 37% of full-time undergrads live on campus 14% are students of color
Institutional Overview: Fall 2010 Total graduate enrollment: 1,873 Total FTE: 908 90% are from New England 73% are female 26% are full-time 5% are students of color
Institutional Overview: Fall 2010 First-time freshmen (n=1,459) Select Demographics*: 51% (746) are first-generation college students 31% (450) are low-income (Pell-eligible) 15% (215) are students of color *Percentages for first-generation college students and students of color are based on the number of first-time freshmen responding to relevant questions on the student profile card.
Background: Sustaining the University s mission to serve economically and socially disadvantaged students remains central despite growing demand for the University s programs. ADMISSIONS 2006 2010 Applied 7095 7478 Accepted 4640 4596 Enrolled 1399 1498
Project Compass Background: A comparison between the overall retention and graduation rates for the University and for the populations of students of interest in this project indicate a disparity in success.
Student Working Group Strategy 1.1 Structured study groups for high DFWI courses required in majors with high-concentrations of students in underserved groups
Faculty Working Group Strategy 2.1 Programming aimed at bringing Project Compass data and culturally inclusive, engaged learning pedagogies to all faculty members.
Research Working Group Strategy 3.1 Improve our ability to identify students in each of the three target populations
College and University Vol. 86 No2- Fall 2010 Campus Viewpoint The Orientation Student Profile Card: Improving the Collection of Student Demographic Information Dr. Michael Young, Director Dr. Marlene Clapp, Research Analyst
The Orientation Student Profile Card Project Compass Cohort: Fall 2009 Total number of first-time freshmen: 1,482 Not Compass (n=566) 38% Compass (n=916) 62% Full-time (n=897) 98% Part-time (n=19) 2%
The Orientation Student Profile Card Project Compass Research Strategies at BSC #1. Improve the University s ability to identify students in each of the three target populations: Students of color; First-generation college students; and Low-income students.
The Orientation Student Profile Card Project Compass Research Strategies at BSU #2. Through our enhanced ability to identify populations, improved tracking of academic performance, retention, satisfaction, and graduation will be made possible.
The Orientation Student Profile Card Project Compass Research Strategies at BSU #3. Improved tracking will in turn enhance the COP s ability to recommend intervention strategies and assess program achievements.
The Orientation Student Profile Card The New Student Profile Card Instrument Has helped to improve identification of the student population at the University, particularly: Students of color First-generation college students
The Orientation Student Profile Card The New Student Profile Card Instrument Percentage of 2009 first-time freshmen for which race/ethnicity is unknown/other: Based on Admissions data: Based on Student Profile Card: 5.1% (n=75) 1.2% (n=18)
The Orientation Student Profile Race/ethnicity Mismatches: Fall 2009 First-time Freshmen Card Banner Unknown Other White Black or African American White Black or African American Other Other Hispanics of any race Unknown Cape Verdean American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Other White American Indian or Alaska Native American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Asian Asian Black or African American Black or African American Unknown White Student Profile Card Number of Mismatches White 46 White 10 Two or more races 9 Hispanic or Latino 6 Unknown 6 Two or more races 5 Hispanic or Latino 5 Two or more races 5 White 4 Hispanic or Latino 4 Two or more races 3 White 2 Hispanic or Latino 2 Unknown 2 Unknown 2 Hispanic or Latino 2 Black or African American 1 Two or more races 1 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 Unknown 1 White 1 Cape Verdean 1 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 Asian 1 American Indian or Alaska Native 1 TOTAL 122
The Orientation Student Profile Card The New Student Profile Card Instrument Percentage of 2008 first-time full-time freshmen for which first-generation status was unknown: Based on CIRP survey data: Based on Student Profile Card: 24.2% (n=355) 1.3% (n=19)
The Orientation Student Profile Card Fall to Fall Retention of First-Time Freshmen: Fall 2008 Cohort Group All First-Time Project Compass First-Generation (FG) Low-Income (Low-Inc) Students of Color (SOC) Compass Overlaps FG Low-Inc FG SOC SOC Low-Inc Cohort* 1,502 976 856 333 189 To Fall 2009 1,213 (80.8%) 771 (79.0%) 667 (77.9%) 266 (79.9%) 150 (79.4%) 253 131 82 196 (77.5%) 100 (76.3%) 67 (81.7%) *Cohorts represent first-time freshmen including both full-time and part time. Note: FG=First-generation; Low-Inc=Low-income; SOC=Students of color
First-to-Second- Retention Rate for Students in Project Compass Target Groups as Compared to All First-Time Full-Time First- Students, by Cohort All FTFT Students of Color Low-Income Students First-Generation Students 2005 75% 68% 72% 2006 74% 71% 71% 2007 80% 73% 77% 2008 82% 81% 81% 79% 2009 81% 79% 81% 80%
Attachment 3.1: 2010 Cohort Statistics SOC Low-Income FirstGeneration # In Group 215 450 746 Total Cohort % In Each Group 1,459 1,459 1,459 15% 31% 51% Total number of freshmen: 1,459 Freshmen who are SOC, first-generation, and/or low-income: 934 Percentage of freshmen who are SOC, first-generation, and/or low-income: 64%
Attachment 3.3: Retention and Graduation Rates for Project Compass Groups First-Time Full-Time Freshmen (STUDENTS OF COLOR)3 Retention Rates Cohort 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Headcount Percent Continued to 2 65.3% 67.6% 71.0% 73.2% 80.2% 78.7% nd 121 139 155 168 162 188 to 3 55.4% 63.3% 62.6% 61.9% 73.5% rd to 4th to 5th to 6th to 7th 47.1% 33.9% 5.8% 3.3% 52.5% 34.5% 15.8% 57.4% 30.3% 60.7% Fresh-Soph1 SophJunior2 Retention Retention 65.3% 67.6% 71.0% 73.2% 80.2% 78.7% 84.8% 93.6% 88.2% 84.6% 91.5% Freshman-Sophomore retention is the percentage of students in the initial cohort who continued the following fall semester. Sophomore-Junior retention is the percentage of students enrolled in their 2 nd year who continued to a 3rd year. 3 Includes students who identify as American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Cape Verdean. 1 2 Cumulative Graduation Rates Cohort Headcount 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 121 139 155 168 162 188 Cumulative Percent Graduated in 4 s in 5 s in 6 s 10.7% 33.9% 37.2% 18.0% 33.1% 23.9%
FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMENT (NOT STUDENTS OF COLOR)3 Retention Rates Cohort Headcount Percent Continued to 2nd to 3rd to 4th to 5th to 6th to 7th 2004 1145 76.7% 65.7% 62.0% 32.6% 6.9% 2005 1175 75.8% 66.9% 63.3% 31.9% 9.7% 2006 1166 74.8% 66.7% 62.2% 32.1% 2007 1383 80.3% 72.6% 69.8% 2008 1302 82.0% 73.2% 2009 1265 81.3% 2.7% Fresh-Soph1 SophJunior2 Retention Retention 76.7% 85.6% 75.8% 88.2% 74.8% 89.2% 80.3% 90.4% 82.0% 89.3% 81.3% Retention Rates 1 Freshman-Sophomore retention is the percentage of students in the initial cohort who continued the following fall semester. 2 Sophomore-Junior retention is the percentage of students enrolled in their 2nd year who continued to a 3rd year. 3 Includes White students, non-resident aliens, unknown students, and other students Cumulative Graduation Rates Cohort Headcount 2004 Cumulative Percent Graduated 1145 in 4 s 25.6% in 5 s 50.5% 2005 2006 1175 1166 26.7% 28.4% 47.6% 2007 2008 1383 1302 2009 1265 in 6 s 54.8%
FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN (LOW INCOME) Retention Rates Cohort 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Headcount Percent Continued to 2 74.8% 72.1% 71.0% 77.0% 80.8% 80.9% nd 234 204 252 330 323 388 to 3rd to 4th to 5th to 6th to 7th 62.8% 56.4% 32.5% 5.1% 3.0% 64.7% 54.4% 29.9% 13.2% 62.3% 57.9% 29.0% 67.0% 64.8% 70.6% Fresh-Soph1 SophJunior2 Retention Retention 74.8% 72.1% 71.0% 77.0% 80.8% 80.9% 84.0% 89.8% 87.7% 87.0% 87.4% Retention Rates 1 Freshman-Sophomore retention is the percentage of students in the initial cohort who continued the following fall semester. 2 Sophomore-Junior retention is the percentage of students enrolled in their 2 nd year who continued to a 3rd year. Cumulative Graduation Rates Cohort Headcount 2004 Cumulative Percent Graduated in 4 s in 5 s in 6 s 234 20.1% 44.9% 48.7% 2005 204 22.1% 37.3% 2006 252 25.0% 2007 330 2008 323 2009 388
FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN (NOT LOW INCOME) Retention Rates Cohort 1 2 Headcount Fresh-Soph1 Soph-Junior2 Percent Continued to 2nd to 3rd to 4th to 5th to 6th to 7th 2004 1032 75.8% 65.1% 61.5% 32.8% 7.2% 2005 1110 75.5% 66.8% 63.6% 32.6% 9.8% 2006 1069 75.1% 67.2% 62.5% 32.6% 2007 1221 80.3% 72.6% 69.9% 2008 1141 82.0% 74.0% 2009 1065 81.0% 2.7% Retention Retention 75.8% 85.9% 75.5% 88.5% 75.1% 89.4% 80.3% 90.5% 82.0% 90.2% 81.0% Freshman-Sophomore retention is the percentage of students in the initial cohort who continued the following fall semester. Sophomore-Junior retention is the percentage of students enrolled in their 2nd year who continued to a 3rd year. Cumulative Graduation Rates Cohort Headcount 2004 Cumulative Percent Graduated in 4 s in 5 s in 6 s 1032 25.1% 49.8% 54.2% 2005 1110 26.5% 47.7% 2006 1069 28.5% 2007 1221 2008 1141 2009 1065
FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN (FIRST GENERATION) Retention Rates 1 2 Cohort Headcount 2008 831 2009 743 to 2nd 78.8 % 80.2 % to 3rd Percent Continued to 4th to 5th to 6th to 7th 70.3% FreshSoph1 SophJunior2 Retention Retention 78.8% 89.2% 80.2% Freshman-Sophomore retention is the percentage of students in the initial cohort who continued the following fall semester. Sophomore-Junior retention is the percentage of students enrolled in their 2nd year who continued to a 3rd year. FIRST-TIME FULL-TIME FRESHMEN (NOT FIRST GENERATION) Retention Rates Cohort 1 2 Headcount Percent Continued to 2 to 3 77.1% nd 2008 633 85.6% 2009 710 81.8% rd to 4th to 5th to 6th to 7th Fresh-Soph1 SophJunior2 Retention Retention 85.6% 90.0% 81.8% Freshman-Sophomore retention is the percentage of students in the initial cohort who continued the following fall semester. Sophomore-Junior retention is the percentage of students enrolled in their 2nd year who continued to a 3rd year.
The Orientation Student Profile Card Questions/Comments? Heather C. Smith: h2smith@bridgew.edu Michael Young: myoung@bridgew.edu