Investing in Wisconsin s future UW-RIVER FALLS A growth agenda accountability report, 2011-12
Status At-A-Glance Core Strategy 1: Prepare Students A total of 145 first-year students are participating in residential learning communities during the 2011-12 academic year with a first- to second-year retention rate for learning community students of 83.3%. Core Strategy 2: More Graduates The Adult Degree Completion (ADC) program in Business Administration focuses on providing a degree completion option in Business Administration for adults located in or near the St. Croix Valley and currently has 60 students. Core Strategy 3: Well-Paying Jobs The College of Business and Economics (CBE) has increased the effort to provide internships to a large number of CBE students. During the 2010-11 academic year, CBE had 46 interns, up from the previous year s 35 interns. Core Strategy 4: Stronger Communities UW-River Falls Small Business Development Center (SBDC) continues to provide assistance to businesses with one on one counseling, workshops, and classes. Core Strategy 5: Resources In March 2011, $63.5 million was approved for the advance enumeration of the Health and Human Performance project at UW-River Falls. Core Strategy 6: Operational Excellence In FY10, UW-River Falls was recognized as the leader in energy efficiency in the UW System as measured by BTU/GSF. Core Strategy 7: Collaborations UW-River Falls is actively pursuing and evaluating partnership opportunities with international universities for bilateral student exchange agreements, faculty exchanges, and curriculum and program development. This report illustrates UW-River Falls contributions to the UW System s Growth Agenda for Wisconsin. Progress is reported within the seven core strategies of the UW System s Strategic Framework (facing page and inside back cover). Each core strategy includes one or more indicators of progress that are common among UW institutions, supplemented with additional information reflecting activities and outcomes of particular relevance to UW-River Falls. For similar information on the UW System as a whole, as well as links to additional resources and 2
Core Strategy 1 Prepare Students Ensure that students are prepared with the integrative learning skills, multicultural competencies, and practical knowledge needed to succeed in and contribute to a rapidly changing, increasingly global society. UW-River Falls prepares students for a global society through a variety of experiences, both as part of the curriculum and outside of the classroom. Among these experiences are the high impact practices in the table below. Student participation in these activities has been shown to contribute to gains in critical thinking, one of the fundamental outcomes of learning, as well as to gains in practical skills and in personal and social development. UW-River Falls National Master s High Impact Practices: First-Year Students Learning communities 12% 19%* 16%* Service learning 28% 38%* 38%* High Impact Practices: Seniors Research with faculty 21% 19% 16%* Service learning 48% 46% 50% Internship 52% 48% 46%* Senior experience 35% 29%* 29%* Critical Thinking: Seniors Thinking critically 87% 86% 87% Application of theories 78% 81% 82% Analyzing ideas 84% 86% 86% *Significant differences from the UW-River Falls percentage at the 0.05 level. Note: All participating national and master s-level public colleges and universities. Source: 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement. Study abroad and exchange programs help students gain a basic understanding of, respect for, and appreciation of cultural differences. Of UW-River Falls graduates in 2010-11, 19.2% studied abroad, a decrease from 20.8% in 2009-10 and an increase from 14.6% five years previously. In April 2011, the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development hosted the Sustainability across the Curriculum workshop. Fifteen faculty members participated and received support to help sculpt curriculum around sustainability principles. The participants formed a Faculty Fellows group to design new courses or redevelop existing courses to integrate sustainability as interdisciplinary curriculum. A total of 145 first-year students are participating in residential learning communities during the 2011-12 academic year, with an additional community of 25 students to be added in the fall of 2012. The first- to second-year retention rate for learning community students is 83.3%. The Office of Student Life offers all students on campus opportunities to engage in educational experiences outside the classroom. Student Life provides support for approximately 165 student organizations that serve a unique purpose including multicultural advocacy, pre-professional, student governance, and special interest. In 2011, UW-River Falls sent 87 students to present their Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities (URSCA) at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Ithaca, NY. A 50% increase from the previous year. UW-River Falls also supported a Pilot Summer Scholars Program during Summer 2011. This program supported 10 students and faculty to work collaboratively on an URSCA project to promote the culture of research, scholarship, and creative activities at UW-River Falls. 3
Core Strategy 2 More Graduates Increase the number of Wisconsin graduates and expand educational opportunities through improving access and increasing retention and graduation rates. Providing access for new students and increasing their rates of success are key to producing more degree holders. The More Graduates initiative includes specific enrollment plans for UW- River Falls. UW-River Falls Total Headcount Enrollment Fall Semester 2006 2009 2010 Students Enrolled # % # % # % African American 82 1% 108 2% 95 1% American Indian 27 0% 20 0% 17 0% Southeast Asian 101 2% 104 2% 119 2% Other Asian American 95 2% 46 1% 59 1% Hawaiian/Pacific Is.* 5 0% 5 0% Hispanic/Latino(a) 60 1% 85 1% 111 2% Two or More Races* 63 1% 90 1% White 5,685 91% 6,326 92% 6,147 91% Unknown 121 2% 78 1% 59 1% International 58 1% 67 1% 86 1% URM 1 270 4% 368 5% 412 6% Transfer Students 355 423 423 Total Headcount 6,229 6,902 6,788 More Graduates Plan 6,947 6,926 1 Underrepresented minority (URM) students include all who indicate African American, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino(a), or Southeast Asian alone or in combination with other races/ethnicities. *New race/ethnicity categories were implemented in 2008. Success and progress rates in the chart below show the percent of students who graduate with a bachelor s degree, or are still enrolled, within four and six years of entering UW-River Falls. Success and Progress Rate for UW-River Falls, Fall 2005 cohort 4 Years Later 6 Years Later 4 Years Later 6 Years Later First Time Full-Time Students Full-Time Transfer Students 80% 79% 85% 84% Graduated from UW-River Falls Graduated at Another Institution Still Enrolled at UW-River Falls Still Enrolled at Another Institution Degrees conferred at UW-River Falls in 2010-11 totaled 1,327 an increase of 21.4% over five years earlier. UW-River Falls conferred 1,137 undergraduate degrees in 2010-11, fewer than More Graduates plans. UW-River Falls has a long-standing commitment to serving first generation college students. Of the enrolled freshman in fall 2011, 810 were first generation students. The Adult Degree Completion (ADC) program in Business Administration, which began fall 2010 with 23 students, focuses on providing a degree completion option in Business Administration for adults located in or near the St. Croix Valley. The ADC continues to grow as the program now has 60 students and expects 80 for spring semester. UW-River Falls is continually broadening its applicability to modern-day students. The online BS in Sustainable Management is applicable to students who are passionate about today s sustainability issues. The St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development offers limited fellowships and assists dedicated students with research and scholarly activity related to community and university sustainability. The Master s in Sustainable Community Development program brings in students who are dedicated to continuing their education and are passionate about promoting and supporting sustainability in the community. Source: Voluntary System of Accountability, College Portrait (www.collegeportraits.org) 4
Core Strategy 2 More Graduates Closing the Achievement Gap Reduce the Achievement Gap by half by 2015 among underrepresented minorities, lower income students, and for all races/ethnicities. Retention and Graduation Rates Each UW institution has the goal of raising retention and graduation rates for all students, and closing the achievement gap among underrepresented minorities (URM) and lower income students. Improving the success rate of all student groups is important to the plans of the More Graduates initiative. UW-River Falls New Freshmen Entering Full Time 2nd Year Retention Rate at Institution Where Started 2000 Fall Cohort 2010 Fall Cohort # % # % African American 14 57% 29 45% American Indian 7 * 3 * Southeast Asian 25 64% 32 75% Other Asian American 10 70% 11 73% Hawaiian/Pacific Is. 1 2 * Hispanic/Latino(a) 17 59% 20 70% Two or More Races 1 26 54% White 1,036 74% 1,104 73% Unknown 4 * 1 * International 6 * 2 * URM 2 63 60% 104 61% Pell Recipients 240 69% 400 75% Total New Freshmen 1,119 73% 1,230 72% More Graduates Plan 75% 1 New race/ethnicity categories were implemented in 2008. 2 Underrepresented minority (URM) students include all who indicate African American, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino(a), or Southeast Asian alone or in combination with other races/ethnicities. *Five or fewer students were retained or graduated. Accomplishing the More Graduates initiative means increasing graduation rates for students of all races/ethnicities. UW-River Falls New Freshmen Entering Full Time 6 Year Graduation Rate at Institution Where Started 2000 Fall Cohort 2005 Fall Cohort # % # % African American 14 * 13 * American Indian 7 * 7 * Southeast Asian 25 40% 28 32% Other Asian American 10 60% 26 46% Hispanic/Latino(a) 17 * 9 * White 1,036 55% 1,076 52% Unknown 4 * 30 50% International 6 * 3 * URM 1 63 37% 57 32% Pell Recipients 240 53% 255 41% Total New Freshmen 1,119 54% 1,192 51% More Graduates Plan 57% 1 Underrepresented minority (URM) students include all who indicate African American, American Status of the Achievement Gap The UW System has the goal of reducing the Achievement Gap by half compared to the baseline cohorts (1998 to 2000 combined) among underrepresented minorities (URM) and lower income students, and for all races/ethnicities by 2015. Closing the Achievement Gap in Retention Rates at UW-River Falls Baseline Fall 2010 Baseline Fall 2010 Closing the Achievement Gap in Graduation Rates at UW-River Falls Baseline Fall 2005 Baseline Fall 2005 10% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% URM Non-URM Pell Non-Pell 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% URM Non-URM Pell Non-Pell Gap: 18% 2015 Goal: 9% Gap: 12% Status: In Progress Gap: 1% 2015 Goal: 0% Gap: 0% Status: In Progress Gap: 19% 2015 Goal: 9% Gap: 20% Status: In Progress Gap: 0% 2015 Goal: 0% Gap: 12% Status: In Progress Indian, Hispanic/Latino(a), or Southeast Asian alone or in combination with other races/ethnicities. *Five or fewer students were retained or graduated. 5
Core Strategy 3 Well-Paying Jobs Increase the creation of well-paying jobs by expanding the university research enterprise while linking academic programs to entrepreneurship and business development. Part of UW-River Falls mission is to create new knowledge and prepare students to use that knowledge in the workforce. Research leads to the development of new industries and creates well-paying jobs in Wisconsin. Federal and privately funded research expenditures at UW-River Falls were $151,000 in fiscal year 2011 (FY11), down from $241,000 in FY10. Degrees in high-need and leading-edge fields are important to meet the demand for workers in fast-growing occupations, such as in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and health fields. In 2010-11, UW-River Falls conferred 331 STEM degrees and 32 degrees in health fields, both increases over five years ago. UW-River Falls graduates contribute to Wisconsin s economy through higher levels of discretionary spending and by paying higher taxes. The difference in earnings between college and high school graduates is $21,000. Overall, 48% of graduates from UW-River Falls remained in the state, with 30% living in the West Central region. 90% of Wisconsin residents who graduated from UW-River Falls remained in the state. The College of Business and Economics (CBE) has increased the effort to provide internships to a large number of CBE students. The CBE has a goal of doubling the number of internships for credit within three years and allocating additional resources to this effort. In efforts to increase the number of internships, in fall 2011, the CBE has created a new internship office to provide advising for students and management of the increased internship effort with an eventual goal of at least 70 interns. During the 2010-11 academic year, the CBE had 46 interns, up from the previous year s 35 interns. UW-River Falls is one of four UW System schools that worked together to develop an online BS in Sustainable Management. The program provides the knowledge and skills that students need to create profitable businesses, vibrant communities, and a healthy environment for Wisconsin, the United States, and the world. The broad-based curriculum is taught by faculty from each of the partner campuses, bringing together a broad degree base. 6
Core Strategy 4 Stronger Communities In partnership with communities, address Wisconsin s greatest challenges and priorities through intensified engagement, research, and learning. UW-River Falls has a positive impact on communities both by cultivating civic participation in students and through a variety of engagement efforts developed in partnership with communities. Encouraging students civic participation yields immediate benefits to communities while students are enrolled and builds a foundation for lifelong civic involvement of graduates. Participation by Seniors, 2011 Community service or volunteer work Community-based course project or service learning project Voting in local, state, or national elections UW-River Falls National Master s 64% 58%* 55%* 48% 46% 50% 29% 33% 34%* *Significant differences from the UW-River Falls percentage at the 0.05 level. Note: All participating national and master s-level public colleges and universities. Source: 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement. One of many ways UW-River Falls is active in community outreach and engagement is by offering non-credit courses for professional development and personal enrichment. In fiscal year 2011, the total of non-credit continuing education course enrollments for UW-River Falls was 641. The UW-River Falls Small Business Development Center (SBDC) continues to provide assistance to businesses with one on one counseling, workshops, and classes. Approximately 100 people are helped each year through the SBDC, where Experiential Learning students provide business plans for local businesses and accounting students provide tax preparation assistance to low income individuals in the River Falls area. The Center for Economic Research (CER) encourages economic research and promotes economic development in the upper Midwest. The CER maintains a website, supports student research, publishes a database of regional economic data, and provides consulting services to St. Croix Valley communities. The mission of the UW-River Falls Hudson Center is to serve as a base to strengthen relationships with the regional business community and educational partners with a focus on undergraduate courses for non-traditional and working adults seeking to complete a baccalaureate degree, or enroll in select graduate and continuing education programs. The Hudson Center offered 25 credit classes with a total enrollment of 389 in fall 2011. The St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development functions as UW-River Falls sustainability office, as well as a go-to source for local, regional, state, and global outreach and consulting for developing and modeling economic, environmental, and social sustainability principles as they apply in a community context. 7
Core Strategy 5 Resources Balance, diversify, and grow the university s financial resources and facilities while developing its human talent. The resources of people, money, and facilities are what enable UW-River Falls to fulfill its mission to students and the people of Wisconsin. Diversity of faculty and staff is an indicator of UW-River Falls efforts to develop its human resources. Faculty and staff diversity provides richer exchanges of ideas in the classroom, broader lines of inquiry in research, and a more welcoming climate for students from underrepresented groups. In fall 2011, 5.6% of UW-River Falls faculty and staff were of color, or 41 out of 729. UW-River Falls Faculty and Staff of Color by Employment Category, Fall 2011 7.7% 5.6% Faculty IAS Non-IAS Admin. Classified Total African American American Indian 7.7% 4.8% Asian American Hispanic/Latino(a) 2.9% 5.6% IAS=Instructional Academic Staff Total does not include Graduate Assistants In March 2011, $63.5 million was approved for the advance enumeration of the Health and Human Performance project at UW-River Falls. This project includes an expansion and renovation of the current Hunt/Knowles complex and renews approximately $775,000 of the maintenance needs in the complex. The Falcon Promise is a differential tuition initiative that will invest student funds in four initiatives of importance to students and to the success of UW-River Falls. The initiatives include tutoring, undergraduate research opportunities, increased student scholarships (The Falcon Scholars Challenge), and enhanced learning spaces. When fully implemented, the partnership between students and the University will generate approximately $554,440 to support student retention and success. The St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development continues to advocate for carbon-negative, net-zero energy buildings across campus. By creating buildings that produce more energy than they use, not only do the buildings offer positive cash flow in the form of energy available to sell to the grid and eliminate energy bills, but they also position UW-River Falls to tap into carbon credit values from reduced greenhouse gas emissions as the market materializes. The comprehensive facilities master plan at UW-River Falls was completed and delivered on November 15, 2011. The plan will address classroom, laboratory, office and other building space needs, as well as parking and road development. UW-River Falls relies on revenue from a variety of sources to fulfill its mission. Revenue from all sources increased from $78 million in fiscal year 2006 (FY06) to $103 million in FY11. Revenue from gifts, grants, and contracts increased from 8% of total revenue in FY06 to 13% in FY11. 8
Core Strategy 6 Operational Excellence Advance operational excellence by becoming more flexible, responsive, and cost efficient. UW-River Falls makes efficient use of its human, financial, and physical resources in a variety of ways. By encouraging progress toward degree completion, UW- River Falls helps ensure efficient use of students personal and financial resources and provides space for new students. Credits taken prior to graduation, an indicator of resources used by UW-River Falls students, are currently below the levels in 1993-94, when the goal to reduce credits to the bachelor s degree was adopted. Average Credits Taken by UW-RiVER FALLS Bachelor s Degree Recipients 150-145 - 140-135 - 130-148 137 137 Keeping administrative spending low allows UW-River Falls to concentrate resources on instruction and other studentrelated activities. Administrative spending at UW-River Falls was 48% of the national average in FY09, the most recent year of available national data. This means UW-River Falls spent $8.7 million less on institutional support than if spending at the national average. Reducing energy usage is a goal for UW-River Falls and all state agencies. At UW-River Falls, energy usage in fiscal year 2010 (FY10) was 16.5% below the amount in FY05, the baseline year for state agencies. 134 135 135 135 93/94 01/02 03/04 05/06 07/08 09/10 10/11 UW-River Falls continues to use the LEAN process to improve inventory control measures. As a next step, UW-River Falls plans to have a 2 day review with Grainger to further review the work order and inventory management system. The process involves staff input with the intent to further ensure the efficiency and cost effectiveness. We expect further refinement of our overall process. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions at UW-River Falls have been falling recently in part due to focused tracking and reduction efforts. GHG emissions for FY09 as reported to the American Colleges and Universities President s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) dropped over 6% from the previous year, despite an increase in both student population and total building space. In FY10, UW-River Falls was recognized as the leader in energy efficiency in the UW System as measured by BTUs/GSF. Several projects were instrumental in achieving this. Additional projects as well as additional operational changes are planned, which should result in even greater efficiency. The Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) is an international metric designed to level the playing field between all institutions of higher education and gauge performance across a broad base of environmental, economic, and social sustainability factors. UW-River Falls is one of four UW System schools that currently participate in STARS, which is quickly becoming the de facto standard for sustainability grading. As of December 2011, UW-River Falls has completed data collection and is seeking final approval. The data shows solid performance and clearly shows areas where UW-River Falls can improve, allowing a pointed focus on areas where efforts and dollars are best spent. 9
Core Strategy 7 Collaborations Further leverage UW System s strengths and impact through collaborations among the campuses and with other Wisconsin partners. UW-River Falls collaborations and partnerships with other UW institutions, other education sectors, businesses, community organizations, and governmental agencies allow it to have greater impact than by acting alone. UW-River Falls increases student access through collaborative degree programs, which are offered at multiple locations, integrate courses from different institutions, or both. UW-River Falls is a partner in five of these formal arrangements, listed below. Collaborative Degree Program Dual Degree - BS in Physics, BS in Engineering Dual Certification in Special Education BS in Sustainable Management Associate of Science BS in Health and Wellness Mgmt. Partner Institutions EAU, LAC, MSN, OSH, WTW EAU PKS, STO, SUP, EXT* EAU, STO, Chippewa Valley Technical College LAC, STP, SUP, EXT* EXT* - UW-Extension provides administrative, financial, and other support to a number of UW System Collaborative Degree Programs. UW-River Falls has a variety of other partnerships in academic and non-academic areas. UW-River Falls is a member of the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS). UMACS serves as a vital link between campuses in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to encourage the sharing of information and resources on campus sustainability through their website, meetings, discussion lists, and an annual conference. UW- River Falls was host to the 2010 UMACS conference. UW-River Falls is actively pursuing and evaluating partnership opportunities with international universities for bilateral student exchange agreements, faculty exchanges, and curriculum and program development. UW-River Falls is in conversations with higher education institutions in Chile and Kenya; has executed new agreements with institutions in Japan and South Korea; and the university is developing mutual cooperation agreements with a small number of German institutions under the Hesse/Wisconsin umbrella. UW-River Falls is also finalizing its Experience China program, a long-term study abroad program in Hangzhou, China, in collaboration with Zhejiang International Studies University. 10
UW-RIVER FALLS The University of Wisconsin-River Falls was founded in 1874 as the fourth State Normal School in Wisconsin and continues to carry out its original mission - to educate and prepare citizens for the future. The undergraduate curriculum offers a core of liberal studies that supports university degrees in the arts, letters, and sciences, as well as, specialized professional degrees at the baccalaureate level. Graduate degrees are offered in partnership with each of the four colleges and cooperative programs with other institutions within the state, region, and world. This report illustrates UW-River Falls contributions to the UW System s Growth Agenda for Wisconsin. Progress is reported within the seven core strategies of the UW System s Strategic Framework (above). Each core strategy includes one or more indicators of progress that are common among UW institutions, supplemented with additional information reflecting activities and outcomes of particular relevance to UW-River Falls. For similar information on the UW System as a whole, as well as links to additional resources and technical notes, see the systemwide Investing in Wisconsin s Future report: http://www.wisconsin.edu/opar/accountability/ 11
uw-river FALLS UW-RIVER FALLS The Accountability Report can be found at http://www.uwsa.edu/opar/accountability/