The Academy on the First College Year
The first college year shapes students' entire postsecondary experience and subsequent outcomes including retention and completion.
The Academy on the First College Year draws on a broad array of research, practice-based literature, data, and expertise from Gardner Institute scholars specializing in the first year of college. In this online, 4-week Academy, participants will gain insight into what makes the first college year successful and what they can do to improve.
With evidence based and data driven learning, your institutional team will conduct an institutional audit and begin to develop a plan aimed at improving the first year of college so every student can succeed.
Academy Expectations:
After completing the Academy, participants will be able to:
Describe theories, policies, and practices surrounding student success in the first college year
Understand and be able to describe the diversity of their first-year students and the differential impacts (e.g., equity gaps) seen across systems of higher education and at their institution
Complete an audit of policies, practices, and programs available on their campus targeted at first year student success
Commit to the development of a plan to improve the experience of students in the first college year
Join an Information Session
Our Mission:
The Gardner Institute champions equity and social justice. It remains at the core of our mission. In the work that we do, equity is defined by a local context and the populations served. Our work focuses on equity through an anti-racist, anti-poverty lens. Research indicates that the best predictor of student success in American higher education can be linked to race/equity and family income. We assist institutions towards a cultural shift to spotlight equitable and inclusive practices at their institution.
The Academy on the First College Year:
Is an online, 4-week Academy designed to engage institutional teams of 3-8 in an exploration of the foundational aspects of student success in the first college year.
This academy is for faculty and staff at public and private, 2- and 4-year institutions of any size interested in creating systems that promote student success and strongly commit to improving experience and outcomes for all students during the first college year.
Types of Institutions:
Public and private, 2- and 4-year institutions of any size interested in creating systems that promote student success and strongly commit to improving experience and outcomes for all students during the first college year.
Evidence-Based:
The Academy draws on your institution’s publicly available Integrated Postsecondary Data System (IPEDS) data to help institutional teams see disaggregated outcomes for their students.
The data are provided in easy-to-read visualizations that the Gardner Institute are specifically constructed for the Academy. The visualizations can powerfully highlight differences and guide institutional teams toward action.
Institutional teams will also receive data visualizations that allow them to compare their own outcomes to those of institutions that have a similar admissions, enrollment, and endowment profile.
Who should participate?
Faculty and staff interested in creating systems that promote student success and strongly commit to improving experience and outcomes for all students during the first college year.
Teams should have 3-8 members and are encouraged to include:
Faculty who teach introductory and/or gateway courses
First-year program leaders and staff
Institutional research data staff
Chief Academic Officer’s staff
Students engaging with faculty and staff in institutional redesign efforts
Student success leaders and staff
Deans and Department Heads of first year enrollment programs
Your Institution has the option to create a team or utilize an existing team or committee. The individuals will vary by institution, a successful team is one most likely to design and create an equity-focused retention process at your institution.
Academy Facilitators:
Application:
Registration for the Academy on the First College Year is by application. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, we recommend early application so as to not be disappointed.
Fall Cohort: Begins October 15, 2023
Application Due by September 15, 2023
Applications now open for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
The application requires you to set up an account on the Gardner Institute's my.jngi.org platform, choose the Academy on the First College Year and complete a brief application.
Fees:
Fees are based on undergraduate enrollment as determined by College Navigator. Fees are assessed per institution, not per individual.
Undergraduate Enrollment:
Under 2,000 undergraduates- $5,800
2,001-5,000 undergraduates- $7.100
5,001-10,000 undergraduates- $9,000
10,000-15,000undergraduates- $11,100
Over 15,000 undergraduates- $13,200
Academy Schedule:
A pre-academy module will be available before the start of week one.
The synchronous meetings will begin on October 17 at 1 pm ET.
Other meeting days and times will be shared with registered participants once they are confirmed.
The academy is divided into the following four core content modules and an introductory overview:
Module topics and leads/collaborators
Module 0: Start Here
Module 1: How well do you know Your First-Year students?
Module 2: What does the first year academic experience look like?
Module 3: How do you create a supportive, inclusive, and responsive environment?
Module 4: What happens after the first year?
Academy Outcomes:
After completing the Academy on the First College Year, institutional representatives/teams should be able to:
Describe theories, policies, and practices surrounding student success in the first college year
Understand and be able to describe the diversity of their first-year students and the differential impacts (e.g., equity gaps) seen across systems of higher education and at their institution
Complete an audit of policies, practices, and programs available on their campus targeted at first year student success
Commit to the development of a plan to improve the experience of students in the first college year
About the Academy:
The Academy on the First College Year is:
the distillation of over 50 years of work in evidence-informed, task-force-driven strategic planning and implementation on the First Year
Institutions who have participated in Gardner Institute Academies:
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