2. Fall Exit Surveys for First-Year Students

CAPS Advisors, in collaboration with University Orientation Instructors, administered exit surveys to gather information that would provide insight into retention. Questions explored overall experience, factors that contributed to their experiences, suggestions for university improvement, their UNV 101 experience, factors that impacted their academic ability, and enrollment plans for spring semester. Upon preliminary analysis, most students had a favorable experience overall at KSU. Some students have indicated they are planning to not return to KSU to join the military or to transfer to other universities.

Fall Exit Survey Update: Highlights of Survey

  • Survey confirmed direction of restructuring UNV to be more project-based with more work completed in class than out of class. Students want more hands-on activities with more community service and group projects.
  • Top things student enjoyed about UNV were the topics and the connections with professors
  • Top suggested improvements for the University were housing and campus activities.
  • Top possible reasons for students not returning for the spring semester were family and finances.

See Appendix A for detailed results.

3. Race to the Finish Mid-term Intervention

The Race to the Finish Project was sponsored by the Academic Center for Excellence. The project consisted of mandatory study skills workshops presented by Dr. Wheeler, attendance at residential academic support sessions and the tutorial center, and an opportunity to take advantage of an academic make-up assignment in math or English. Students opted into the program and committed to attending the workshop, attending class and attending help sessions in order to receive the opportunity to make-up/re-submit an assignment.

  • An email requiring students to attend a “Race to the Finish” Workshop was sent to 497 students (383 upperclassmen and 114 first year students). Posters and flyers invited the entire campus. Sixty-nine students attended the workshops.
  • 25 students volunteered to attend
  • 44 students were required to attend
  • Students who earned a “D” or “F” at midterm in Accelerated English or Math courses totaled 114 and were eligible to participate in the additional make-up opportunity.

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