UCUAADA MEETING 11-26-08 MINUTES
Caroline Miller, Senior Associate Vice President – Enrollment Management, reported on a presentation she recently made at the National Retention Conference. In 2000 UC’s drop out rate was over 30%. At that time, the University applied for and received funding through Success Challenge to address this issue. The grant funding was specifically for PELL eligible students and “at risk” students – students who are first generation/low income/minority. Over 30% of students at the Uptown Campus are PELL eligible – the 3rd highest rate of similar research institutions.
Success Challenge funds are co-managed by Enrollment Management and the Provost’s Office. Institutional Research conducts the annual assessment of grant funded programs.
Efforts focused on the First Year – Orientations, Placement Testing, FYE Programs, and Mandatory Advising; also the integration of Learning Assistance, Faculty Student Interactions, Learning Communities, and FYE. The goal of these initiatives is higher rates of graduation in a timely manner.
Caroline’s Power Point presentation is attached.
Caroline also announced that the Semester Conversion has been approved by the Board of Trustees with a target date of 2012. The budget submitted was cut and decisions will be made for reallocation of funds.
Dr. Mary Benedetti - Director of the ESLCenter which is in CECH. The Center offers ESL classes for students who need additional English classes. The majority of students are graduate students. Undergrad ESL courses have just been re-introduced. Previously, students who tested low on the EPT were put in CAT English courses.
For non-native English speakers – the EPT’s are reviewed by ESL faculty who determine if ESL is needed and if so, how many quarters will be recommended.
A concern was raised about how taking ESL courses can put a student off track for degree completion. The suggestion was made to have students needing ESL come the summer prior to the beginning of their academic program. The problem is that many times students do not get Visa’s far enough in advance for this to be an option. An additional concern is that if a student takes 6-12 credit hours of ESL, this impacts their utilization of Financial Aid – they will use up their eligibility before they complete their degree requirements. This concern was not addressed.
Kim McGinnis – Senior Academic Adviser/Assistant Director – College of Business presented updates in CoB. All new students will start in CoB as a “pre-major”. The pre-requisites are a GPA of 2.5 and 1 college level math courses completed or the appropriate MPT score for transfer students. Student must maintain a 2.5 GPA to continue.
If a student in the first quarter of enrollment decides they want to transfer to CoB for winter quarter, their high school record will be reviewed and the decision will not be made until fall quarter grades are posted. Students denied admission can call Kim - 556-7030 for advising.
Students can take the freshman core courses prior to admission to CoB; however, Pathways courses are restricted to CoB freshmen. Kim noted that the last 2 sections of 22 BA 151 and 152 are not blocked and are available to students considering transfer to CoB.
Nina Thomas, Assistant Dean, CoB, made the point that for transfers, CoB computes a GPA for all college level work completed at any college, in making the decision to accept a student.
Laura Micciche – Assistant Professor – Director Composition – English Department updated the group on ENGL 289. First year students can take ENGL 101 and 102 in the fall and winter or winter and spring. Students should not take ENGL 289 in the fourth quarter. The English faculty has found that students who have done so have struggled with the intellectual aspects of the course as well as the writing assignments. The English Department recommends that students have completed 45 credit hours of college level courses before enrolling in ENGL 289.
Anne Hoehn – Assistant Dean – College of Applied Science announced that the College of Engineering and CAS will be merging and that as of July 1st, 2009; there will be one dean of the new college whose name has not yet been determined. As of right now, CoE and CAS will become schools in the College and will retain their current program. CAS is not moving to Clifton anytime in the near future.
UCUAADA bid farewell to Nina Thomas, Assistant Dean, CoB and wishes her well in her retirement. A party will be held in her honor by the College of Business, Dec 8th on the 6th floor of Lindner Hall.
Sherry Spokas, UCAADA Convener reminded the group that our annual holiday party is Dec 10th at Kingsgate.