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Media Credit: Michelle Arras

University administrators want to develop a new program to help freshmen adjust to university life, but the process is not moving as quickly as they might have hoped.

Don Rice, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said he hoped to work with other administrators and faculty members to develop a program that would help students learn how to manage time, take notes and use university resources.

"We need to get an individual onboard to help marshal creation of a good, strong first-year experience - and not one that's just an introduction to where the library is," Rice said.

He said the program could improve the university's retention levels. From fall 2006 to fall 2007, the university lost 671 of 2,222 first-time, full-time freshmen. The enrollment reduction resulted in an estimated $2.3 million loss in tuition and fees per semester.

A committee under Thomas Calhoun, the previous associate provost for academic affairs, completed a significant amount of work on the program, Rice said. But he said the effort lost momentum when Calhoun left in July.

Rice said he wanted to implement a First-Year Experience program for freshmen by fall 2008, but was frustrated because he believed it would take longer to continue Calhoun's work.

Larry Dietz, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the program would work best as a collaboration between academic and student affairs because both areas contributed to a well-rounded freshman year.

"Students usually going through (the program) will all be required to take an intro course which will involve how to utilize the library, how to utilize the other resources on campus, study skills, career issues, multiculturalism," Dietz said.

Both administrators said first generation college students could benefit most from the program.

Rice said he was the first in his family to attend college, and his parents encouraged him to attend college but did not know how to prepare him for the experience. A First-Year Experience program would provide students with extra support to adjust to the higher level of dedication needed at a university, Rice said.

In 2006 the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in Transition surveyed 2,646 institutions of higher learning, according to the center's Web site. Of the 968 institutions that responded, 821 said they offered some type of First-Year Experience seminar. More than half of the respondents said their programs helped students develop academic skills and learn more about campus resources.

Dietz said the program could help students improve their time at the university overall.

"In my estimation, the person that only went to class and that's the only contact they had, they're missing out on a very enriching experience. Similarly, the person who just visited class occasionally, they're not going to make it here academically." Dietz said. "You've got to be wiser about the choices you're making."

Allison Petty can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 259 or allison.petty@siude.com.

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