Getting Ready for Getting Ready for The Naked RoommateThe Naked Roommate

Building a College Building a College Transition Program on Transition Program on

Your CampusYour CampusCarolyn Stoddard, Hammond School

Alex Scovel, University of South Carolina

Background & RolesBackground & Roles

►Higher Education & Student Higher Education & Student AffairsAffairs

►First-Year Experience CourseFirst-Year Experience Course►Job FunctionJob Function

AdmissionsAdmissions College CounselingCollege Counseling

What we’re hoping to do…What we’re hoping to do…

►Understand first-year Understand first-year transition issuestransition issues

►Learn about relevant campus Learn about relevant campus services and programming for services and programming for students in transitionstudents in transition

►Gain ideas on initiating a Gain ideas on initiating a college transition program in college transition program in your high schoolyour high school

““The class of 2015 was mostly born in The class of 2015 was mostly born in 1993, and they have grown up with 1993, and they have grown up with email, cell-phones and Starbucks. Most email, cell-phones and Starbucks. Most were in third grade on Sept. 11, so were in third grade on Sept. 11, so they are accustomed to heavy security they are accustomed to heavy security and trusting adults in positions of and trusting adults in positions of authority. Their academic successes authority. Their academic successes have been measured in standardized test have been measured in standardized test scores, and their social ones are scores, and their social ones are documented in Facebook newsfeeds.”documented in Facebook newsfeeds.”

- August 10, - August 10, 20112011

Words that best describe Words that best describe the 2011-12 cohorts of the 2011-12 cohorts of First-Year Students First-Year Students

► ““Millennials”Millennials”► OptimisticOptimistic► High High

AchievingAchieving► Civic-MindedCivic-Minded► MoralMoral► Over-Over-

programmedprogrammed► Tech-savvyTech-savvy► EntitledEntitled

► Group-Group-orientedoriented

► FollowersFollowers► DependentDependent► MulticulturalMulticultural► CollectivistCollectivist► Non-politicalNon-political► ConformistConformist

National Resource Center National Resource Center for the First-Year for the First-Year

Experience and Students Experience and Students in Transitionin Transition

►Founded in 1986Founded in 1986►Clearinghouse for research, Clearinghouse for research, policy, and best practices for policy, and best practices for all postsecondary student all postsecondary student transitionstransitions

►Supporting and advancing efforts Supporting and advancing efforts to improve student learning and to improve student learning and transitions into and through transitions into and through higher educationhigher education

Two Challenges for Two Challenges for First-Year StudentsFirst-Year Students

►Economic RealitiesEconomic Realities

►Emotional Health & Emotional Health &

Wellness Wellness

Economic Realities Economic Realities ► 40% of all undergraduates in the US are 40% of all undergraduates in the US are from low-income familiesfrom low-income families 58% of low-income undergrads are women58% of low-income undergrads are women 48% of low-income undergrads are students of 48% of low-income undergrads are students of colorcolor

► National Spending on Pell Grants has National Spending on Pell Grants has increased but not kept up with the increased but not kept up with the increase in college costsincrease in college costs

► Rate of unemployment has increased; Rate of unemployment has increased; currently at 8.2% nationally and 9.1% in currently at 8.2% nationally and 9.1% in SCSC

Economic Realities Economic Realities College Choice College Choice

► Have “major” concerns Have “major” concerns about financing about financing collegecollege

► Less likely to:Less likely to: go to college over 100 go to college over 100 miles from homemiles from home

Attend their first-Attend their first-choice collegechoice college

► More likely to:More likely to: live with their familylive with their family structure college structure college decisions around decisions around financial aidfinancial aid

Economic RealitiesEconomic RealitiesStudent Employment Student Employment

► ““Many Undergraduates Work Long Hours Many Undergraduates Work Long Hours Balancing Jobs with Studies” Balancing Jobs with Studies” THE CHRONICLETHE CHRONICLE

23% of FT students work 20 or more hours/week23% of FT students work 20 or more hours/week 62% of PT students work 20 or more hours/week62% of PT students work 20 or more hours/week

► The greater the number of hours worked, The greater the number of hours worked, the more likely students are engaged in the more likely students are engaged in off-campus employmentoff-campus employment

► Over half of first-year students report Over half of first-year students report that their job responsibilities that their job responsibilities “interfere with their schoolwork” at “interfere with their schoolwork” at least occasionallyleast occasionally

Personal Challenges Personal Challenges During the First Year During the First Year

Physical Health & Physical Health & Wellness Wellness

► High school drinking among new students is High school drinking among new students is decreasingdecreasing Drinking goes up 10-12 percentage-points during Drinking goes up 10-12 percentage-points during the first yearthe first year

41.6% of male & 27.5% of female colleges students 41.6% of male & 27.5% of female colleges students regularly binge drinkregularly binge drink

Students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and Students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and psychological disorders report higher rates of psychological disorders report higher rates of drinkingdrinking

► First-year students experience a decline in hours First-year students experience a decline in hours per week spent on exercising or sports & leisure per week spent on exercising or sports & leisure activitiesactivities

► 41.7% of undergraduates reported getting enough 41.7% of undergraduates reported getting enough sleep to feel rested 2 or fewer days per weeksleep to feel rested 2 or fewer days per week

Emotional Health & Emotional Health & Wellness Wellness

► The number of student self-injury cases is The number of student self-injury cases is risingrising

► Significant increases in students who enter Significant increases in students who enter college already on psychotropic medicationcollege already on psychotropic medication

► Directors of campus counseling centers Directors of campus counseling centers report:report: 44% of their clients have “severe psychological 44% of their clients have “severe psychological problems”problems”

7% have impairments such that they cannot remain 7% have impairments such that they cannot remain in school or do so with extensive psychological or in school or do so with extensive psychological or psychiatric helppsychiatric help

► Increased pressure to share concerns about Increased pressure to share concerns about troubled students who might pose a risktroubled students who might pose a risk

College ServicesCollege ServicesHow do we Help at USC? How do we Help at USC?

► Counseling CenterCounseling Center► Office of Student Office of Student ConductConduct

► University 101 University 101 ► Living Learning Living Learning Communities Communities

► Student Success Student Success Center Center

► Student Disability Student Disability Services Services

► Service LearningService Learning► Campus WellnessCampus Wellness► Multicultural Student Multicultural Student Affairs Affairs

► Off-Campus Student Off-Campus Student Services Services

► Leadership Programs Leadership Programs ► Substance Abuse Substance Abuse Prevention & Prevention & EducationEducation

► Student Organizations Student Organizations

What Colleges Expect of What Colleges Expect of StudentsStudents

►Autonomy & Independence Autonomy & Independence ►Responsible for their college Responsible for their college experienceexperience

►Engaged Learners who can contribute Engaged Learners who can contribute to the campus communityto the campus community

►Interests, goals, and dreams Interests, goals, and dreams ►Bonus traits: Maturity, Resiliency, Bonus traits: Maturity, Resiliency, Drive, Authenticity, Honesty, Self-Drive, Authenticity, Honesty, Self-Awareness Awareness

How Does this Translate How Does this Translate to High Schools?to High Schools?

►Duty to PrepareDuty to Prepare►Transitional Transitional CycleCycle Brings the Brings the college process college process full circlefull circle

►SearchSearch►ApplyApply►ChooseChoose►TransitionTransition

Goals for High School Goals for High School ProgramProgram

►Dispel myths and convey realityDispel myths and convey reality►Provide opportunities for discussion Provide opportunities for discussion about anxieties, plans, hopesabout anxieties, plans, hopes

►Offer advice to make an effective Offer advice to make an effective academic and personal transition academic and personal transition while emphasizing that the while emphasizing that the experience is up to themexperience is up to them

►Build confidence that they can do Build confidence that they can do it!it!

Sample ModelSample Model

►Half-day ProgramHalf-day Program►Split into small Split into small groupsgroups

►SessionsSessions 20 – 30 minutes20 – 30 minutes Students rotate Students rotate through sessionsthrough sessions

Several presenters Several presenters or moderators per or moderators per sessionsession

Balance of Balance of discussion and discussion and activityactivity

►Session TopicsSession Topics AcademicsAcademics Money ManagementMoney Management Defending Defending YourselfYourself

WellnessWellness Getting to Know Getting to Know Campus & Making a Campus & Making a Place for Place for YourselfYourself

Student Panel of Student Panel of AlumsAlums

Sample Model continued…Sample Model continued…

►ActivitiesActivities Budget PlanningBudget Planning Roommate Roommate ScenariosScenarios

Laundry Laundry Self-DefenseSelf-Defense Fears ExerciseFears Exercise Goal SettingGoal Setting Talking to AlumsTalking to Alums

Presenters

TasksTasks►Convey the Convey the right messageright message

►FamiliarityFamiliarity►RespectRespect►AttentionAttention►Come PreparedCome Prepared

Who?Who?►FacultyFaculty►AdministratorsAdministrators►College College ProfessionalsProfessionals First-Year First-Year Experience CoursesExperience Courses

Student Affairs Student Affairs ProfessionalsProfessionals

Campus SafetyCampus Safety Credit UnionCredit Union Career CenterCareer Center

ScheduleSchedule

►8:00 – 8:50 a.m.8:00 – 8:50 a.m. Cap & Gown PhotosCap & Gown Photos►8:50 – 9:00 8:50 – 9:00 Introduction & Introduction & SchedulesSchedules

►9:00 – 10:25 9:00 – 10:25 SessionsSessions►10:25 – 10:45 10:25 – 10:45 Break with SnacksBreak with Snacks►10:45 – 12:1010:45 – 12:10 SessionsSessions►12:10 – 12:3012:10 – 12:30 Laundry CompetitionLaundry Competition►12:30 – 12:4512:30 – 12:45 Wrap UpWrap Up►12:4512:45 BBQBBQ

ConsiderationsConsiderations

►TimingTiming When to begin transition work?When to begin transition work?

►Campus CultureCampus Culture Backgrounds, disabilities, Backgrounds, disabilities, activitiesactivities

►Student ConcernsStudent Concerns RoommatesRoommates Branching OutBranching Out

►Pairing with Another EventPairing with Another Event

11stst Attempt Challenges Attempt Challenges

►PresentersPresenters Efficient guidance & setting Efficient guidance & setting expectationsexpectations

►TimingTiming Balance – enough time for discussion but Balance – enough time for discussion but not too long so as to lose attentionnot too long so as to lose attention

►Buy-InBuy-In Students, Faculty, AdministrationStudents, Faculty, Administration

►CoordinationCoordination

Involving ParentsInvolving Parents

►Suggestions for ProgrammingSuggestions for Programming Opportunity to give parents a voice Opportunity to give parents a voice and expose them to college and expose them to college transition issuestransition issues

►Types of ProgramsTypes of Programs Morning Coffee TalkMorning Coffee Talk Optional Evening PresentationOptional Evening Presentation Combined Student/Parent ProgramCombined Student/Parent Program

Suggested ReadingSuggested Reading

► The Naked RoommateThe Naked Roommate – Harlan Cohen– Harlan Cohen

► Letting Go, A Parents’ Letting Go, A Parents’ Guide to Understanding Guide to Understanding the College Yearsthe College Years

– Coburn and – Coburn and TreegerTreeger

► You’re On Your Own (But You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me) I’m Here If You Need Me)

– – Majorie SavageMajorie Savage► I’ll Miss You Too I’ll Miss You Too

– – Woodacre Bane & Woodacre Bane & BaneBane

Questions for the GroupQuestions for the Group

►What have your alums What have your alums experienced?experienced?

►What are you doing at your What are you doing at your school for transition support?school for transition support?

Additional questions from the Additional questions from the audience?audience?

SourcesSources

►National Resource Center for The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.Students in Transition. (Slides 6-11 created by Dr. (Slides 6-11 created by Dr. Jennifer Keup, Director of NRC)Jennifer Keup, Director of NRC)

►““Principles of Good Practice for Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs.” Student Affairs.” www.acpa.nche.edu/pgp/principle.www.acpa.nche.edu/pgp/principle.htmhtm

Contact InfoContact Info

Alex ScovelAlex ScovelUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina

scovel@sc.edu

Carolyn StoddardCarolyn StoddardHammond SchoolHammond School

cstoddard@hammondschool.org