An Equal Opportunity University

Transitions: from High School to

the University of Kentucky

Kumble R. Subbaswamy

Provost

An Equal Opportunity University

Kentucky’s Flagship• Most comprehensive research university in KY

Who encourages our students to imagine what they want to do at UK (vs. other 4- or 2-year colleges)?

• Expectations/goals must be articulated early UK is big: 27,000 students (70% undergrads)diverse: students from 115 countriesresearch oriented: labs, libraries, professors focusing on global service and researchinterdisciplinary: arts/sci, agric, engineering, med

An Equal Opportunity University

UK’s Areas of Excellence

• Health care sciences: cancer, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, pharmaceutical sci/toxicology, neuroscience

• Digital and nanotechnologies• Environmental and energy studies• Plant bioengineering• Public policy• Teacher preparation• Vocal music and performance

An Equal Opportunity University

UK’s Areas of ExcellenceLIBRARIES HOLDINGS AND SERVICES• UK has largest book endowment of any US

public univ (2nd only to Harvard for all US univ)– 285,000 books and journals in circulation

• Something here re library services– Something here re branch campuses– Something here re Special Collections/Archives and Oral

History stuff– Something here re literacy info and gen ed reform

An Equal Opportunity University

UK’s Areas of ExcellenceINTERNATIONAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES• Individualized Projects for Undergraduates

– eUreKa! offers funds and faculty mentors for student research opportunities in every field of study

– 563 students studying abroad in 2007-08

• Research Projects in the Major for Undergrads– Capstone courses, departmental honors courses– Internships and cooperative education opportunities– KySat (pico-satellites) in Engineering/Computer Sciences

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

UK RETENTION STUDIES• Half of all students who fail to earn a bachelor’s

degree drop out during or just after their first year• Retention rates highly correlate to student

expectations and perception of UK as a “good fit”– Expecting to study more than 5 hours/week– Wage-earning job less than 15 hrs/wk and on campus– Planning to stay on campus/be involved most weekends

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

UK RETENTION STUDIES• Culture shock: 3.5 HS GPA will mean 2.7 at UK• In 2004, of UK’s first-year students who did not

return, 48.5% had earned a 2.0 or higher GPA• ½ of UK’s first-year students who do not return

(12% out of 23% total from 2002 cohort) enroll in KY colleges - mostly KCTCS, UofL, NKU and WKU

• UK has highest retention/graduation rates in KY

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

2004 Phone Survey of First-Years Not Returning

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

For UK's first-year students entering in 2008, the “mid-50 percent” ranges were:• ACT Composite: 22 - 27 • SAT I Total: 1020 - 1230 • High School Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.2 – 3.8

UK offers an academic scholarship to any student admitted to UK whose records include a minimum ACT composite score of 26 or SAT of 1170, and who achieve a 3.30 unweighted high school GPA.

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

UK RETENTION STUDIES POINT TO IMPORTANCE OF STRONG GRADES OVER ALL IN HIGH SCHOOL

• Students with 3.5+ HS GPA and 20+ ACT– Retention after first year = 80%-90%– Graduation within 6 years = 61-75%

• Students with less than 3.5 HS GPA or <20 ACT– Retention after first year = 61%-70%– Graduation within 6 years = 39-49%

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

UK RETENTION STUDIES POINT TO IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESS IN FIRST SEMESTER

Students who passed all their classes (or withdrew and stayed in good standing) tended to have:

– High school GPAs of 3.5 and above– Took AP courses in high school– Studied 10+ hrs/week during their HS senior year;

identified with being a good student; self-reported a “drive to achieve”

An Equal Opportunity University

What does it take to succeed at UK?

IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESS IN FIRST SEMESTER – FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADS AT UKFirst Fall

Headcount (10% of UK)

HS GPA (mean for UK is ~3.5)

First Fall UK GPA (mean for UK is ~2.8)

Retention Rate (average for UK is 78%)

Graduation Rate (average for UK is 59%)

COHORT

2001 328 3.55 2.7 81.4% 64.6%

2002 373 3.53 2.6 78.3% 56.6%

2003 393 3.64 2.6 78.6%

2004 407 3.65 2.5 80.1%

2005 378 3.63 2.5 75.9%

2006 422 3.63 2.4 70.4%

2007 394 3.60 2.5 82.7%

An Equal Opportunity University

Barriers to Success

• Too close to home and not getting involved at UK– With peers in campus activities or study groups– With instructors before/after class or during office hours– With faculty in research projects or service learning

• Keeping same work hours/job as in high school• Lack of curiosity or critical inquiry skills

– Fear of straying into unknown areas on campus, e.g., research labs, libraries, international organizations

An Equal Opportunity University

What can we do about it?

Together, FCPS and UK can…• Clever thing goes here• Another clever thing here• Always good to have 3 clever things at the end