This course is designed to engage participants in an exploration of the fundamental aspects of first-year student success. Drawing from multiple perspectives, participants in the course will be challenged to: a) use current theory, research, and best practice literature to identify, explore, and understand the definitional parameters of FYE;  b) move beyond generational characteristics to fully understand who first-year students are and what issues potentially impact their success; c) apply the information generated through readings, reflective assignments, and discussion to examine existing tools and innovate practices aimed at fostering first-year student success; and d) understand and develop approaches to implement the tenets for quality in FYE concept and delivery.

Course Objectives

As a part of this course, participants will:

• Understand and apply the definitional parameters of terms and concepts used within the scholarly and best practice conversations around the first-year experience
• Examine and understand the characteristics and needs of today’s first-year college students
• Explore the tools and strategies we have to meet first-year students’ academic, developmental, personal, and interpersonal needs
• Understand and apply the tenets for quality in first-year experience concept and delivery
• Consider and develop strategies and techniques to integrate an institutional approach to the first-year experience

Required Text:

Young, D.G. & Keup, J.R. (2018). First-Year Experience Cross-Functional Framework (pp. 8-12). The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. [Available for purchase at https://www.cas.edu/store_product.asp?prodid=153]

Jennifer R. Keup, Ph.D.

Executive Director, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, University of South Carolina

Jennifer R. Keup, Ph. D., is the Director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition where she provides leadership for the Center’s operational, strategic, and scholarly activities in pursuit of its mission “to support and advance efforts to improve student learning and transitions into and through higher education.” During her time as director, Jennifer has worked to spearhead the National Resource Center’s increase in national and international collaboration and partnerships. The Center’s thought leadership, advancement of publication and professional development outlets, grant acquisition, research productivity, and expansion of channels for resource sharing and communication, including online and social media also have been areas of focus in her time at the Center. Dr. Keup’s research interests focus on two complementary areas of scholarship: (a) the first-year experience and students in transition and (b) high-impact practices and institutional interventions. She is a co-author of the book Designing and Sustaining Successful First-Year Programs: A Guide for Practitioners and of the CAS Cross-Functional Framework for First-Year Experiences. Jennifer also serves as an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policies in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina and is a proud multi-degree alumna of UCLA.

Registration Deadline: May 25, 2023
Course Capacity: 30 registrants 
Fee: $425

This course is a comprehensive introduction to first-year assessment and provides participants with the knowledge and tools needed to make sense of first-year assessment issues at their respective institutions.  More specifically, this course provides an overview of assessment models and methods; offers strategies for implementing effective assessment plans, including the development of learning outcomes; and explores instruments used to assess student learning, experiences, satisfaction, and change in their transition to college.  Both qualitative and quantitative assessment practices will be discussed.

Course Objectives

As a part of this course, participants will:

• Identify key learning outcomes for the first year of college
• Explore common tools for data collection
• Apply techniques for selecting appropriate assessment instruments
• Develop the knowledge needed to make sense of first-year assessment issues
• Understand data collection methods and models for first-year assessment

Required Text:

Friedman, D. B. (2012). The first-year seminar: Designing, implementing, and assessing courses to support student learning and success: Vol. V. Assessing the first-year seminar.

(A note about the required text: The subject for the text is the first-year seminar, one of many programs developed to support first-year student success.  The course is designed to focus on assessment foundations relevant to the entire first-year experience.  The text was selected because of its concise treatment of foundational concepts that apply to the assessment of the seminar and other first-year programs as well as many other functional units across institutions of higher education.)

Dallin George Young, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in College Student Affairs Administration and Student Affairs Leadership – University of Georgia

Dallin George Young, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the College Student Affairs Administration and Student Affairs Leadership graduate programs at the University of Georgia.  Dallin has presented and published widely on college student transitions, peer leadership, graduate professional preparation in student affairs, and assessment of student learning.  Before coming to UGA, Dallin was the Assistant Director for Research and Grants at The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and has held professional roles in housing and residence life as well as student affairs assessment at a variety of institutional types.

Registration Deadline: June 23, 2023
Course Capacity: 30 registrants 
Fee: $425