First Year Program Annual Report 2004

Introduction

  1. This report is organized into eight major sections: Section 1 summarizes First Year (FY) student evaluations on two essential student outcomes: academic achievement and integration into the university community. Section 2 summarizes First Year faculty assessment of their First Year experience and student outcome. Section 3 summarizes Student Peer Leaders (SPL) participation in the First Year Program and their assessment of student outcomes. Section 4 presents campus initiatives. Section 5 reviews the First Year Program's impact on UNK faculty and instructional development. Section 6 looks at student peer leader training. Section 7 summarizes UNK's First Year Program's involvement in national organizations' plans for assessment. Section 8 includes summary comments and recommendations, including the First Year Program's potential for exerting broader, more systemic impact on institutional outcomes.
  2. The primary purpose of this report is to synthesize the empirical evidence and participant assessment to justify continuation and expansion of the First Year Program. It is offered with the hope that it will provide proponents with maximum persuasive power to propel their efforts toward attaining and maintaining support for this student-centered course.

Focus of Assessment

  1. Student Outcomes
    • Improve academic skills (e.g., written and oral communication, critical thinking, use of technology).
    • Enhance student involvement in the campus community (e.g., student-faculty interaction, participation in campus activites).
    • Build understanding of campus resources, services and procedures.
    • Integrate Academic Affairs and Student Affairs support for students.
    • Explore the definition of "diverstiy" as it exists on the UNK Campus.
  2. Campus Support
  3. Faculty/Instructional Development
  4. Involvement in national initiatives through the Policy Center for First Year of College
  5. Program Administration