Framing the Future: Helping Students Succeed
with Dr. Roxanne Cullen, Ferris State University
Dr. Roxanne Cullen is a Professor of English in the Language and Literature Department at Ferris State University. Since joining the faculty in 1983 she has also served as the Director for the Writing Center, administrative head of Department Head of Language and Literature, Interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Associate Vice President for Operations and Assessment. Currently she teaches a wide variety of writing courses while also serving as program coordinator for Liberal arts and the Bachelor of Integrative Studies. She has co-authored two books, Leading the Learner-Centered Campus and The Learner-Centered Curriculum: Design and Implementation as well as numerous articles on learner-centered pedagogy.
Remarks on Retention & Student Success at Fredonia
with Provost Terry Brown
Terry Brown is the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Fredonia, the State University of New York, where she has served since July 2013. She previously served for almost twenty-five years in the University of Wisconsin System, as a faculty member, dean, and provost on two campuses and as an academic planner in the UW System office in Madison. She has extensive experience in academic planning, program development, curricular revision and faculty development. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Florida. Her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English were attained at Virginia Tech.
Breakout Sessions:
Communicating Across Cultures
Presented by: Dr. Daniela Peterka-Benton, Criminal Justice, and Dr. Bond Benton, Communication
This program will focus on improving competency in intercultural communication. Learning objectives and outcomes will include:
- Improved understanding of cultural differences
- Development of strategies to manage cultural differences
- Identification of cultural values
- Application of cultural values to understanding actions and behaviors
- Exploration of the concept of intercultural competence -Application of intercultural competence to concrete circumstances
The scenarios and role plays used for the seminar have been developed and incorporated in various trainings and courses delivered to broad constituencies throughout the world.
Learning More About Our Students
Presented by Dan Tramuta, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services; Xiao Zhang, Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, and Erin Mroczka, Director of First Year and Transition Programs
This session will provide a greater understanding of who our students are and why they choose Fredonia. Retention data will be shared, as well as information on why students choose to leave.
Academic Advising: Theory, Application and Beyond
Presented by Amy Leclair, Coordinator of Academic Advising and Liberal Arts; Helen Leysath, Transfer Coordinator; and Dr. Lisa Walters, Business Administration
This session will explore academic advising as it relates to retention by presenting the body of literature relating to successfully advising. It will further provide a student center model of advising, tools to implement the model and provide a view into the future of advising at Fredonia.
Understanding Retention Issues for Underrepresented Students
Presented by Dr. Bill Boerner, Chief Diversity Officer
Research has demonstrated an urgent concern regarding the retention of minority students in higher education, which also holds true to the Fredonia population. The University has supported strong enrollment growth from historically underrepresented students, yet retention has not seen the same gains. This session will explore national trends in minority student persistence as well as consider ideas for local impact.
In Their Own Words: Strategies for Working Effectively with Our International Students
Presented by Cynthia Carlson, Language, Learning & Leadership
The presentation will begin with a short, interactive Prezi where international students from countries such as Puerto Rico, South Korea, Japan, and China describe their first reactions to an American college campus. Then, participants will explore international students’ perspectives on teaching & learning in the U.S., including; professors, grading, assignments, learning focus, and classroom discourse, as students compare our teaching and learning styles with those of their country of origin in an engaging set of materials-- an eye-opening student publication booklet that participants can take with them. Next, we will continue actively engaging participants by exploring some myths and quick do’s and don'ts, and end by practicing 4 practical research-based strategies for faculty and staff to keep in mind when working with international students. Outcomes include increasing quality learning environments through faculty awareness of and sensitivity to international students’ needs, perspectives and expectations, as well as insights into how to communicate their own course 6 expectations effectively to international students. Faculty will add several strategies to their repertoire that will have a positive impact on diverse students.
Responding to Distressed and At Risk Students
Presented by Dr. Tracy Stenger and Dr. Leanna White, Counseling Center
Many college students experience high levels of stress and a significant number of students have their education disrupted by psychological problems and difficult life events. When these issues go unaddressed, the results can be serious and include academic failure, or even withdrawal from the university. Faculty and staff members are often the first to notice when students are having serious trouble and many students go first to faculty or staff for help. >This session will provide faculty and staff with helpful strategies for responding to distressed and at risk students. Information on services provided by the Counseling Center staff in assisting you with responding to students in crisis will also be provided.
Creating a Positive Service Environment for Students & Colleagues
Presented by Christopher Taverna, Professional Development Center
The ability to provide consistent and fantastic support services to students has a important and beneficial impact on student retention. In this session, participants will learn to recognize positive individual and team behaviors, identify negative behaviors, practice listening, and individually assess positive behaviors.
Moving a face-to-face course to an online or blended course can be a substantial task, but with a valuable outcome. Online content encourages students to take ownership of their learning and can increase student collaboration. For this breakout session we will look at ways to incorporate learner-centered activities into a digital format and what digital tools can support this technique.
The First 6 Weeks
Presented by Jeffrey Janicki, Counselor (Counseling Center); David Kinkela, Associate Professor and Honor Program Coordinator (History); Amy Leclair, Coordinator of Academic Advising and Liberal Arts (Registrar); Michael Lemieux, Director of Campus Life; Erin Mroczka, Director of First Year and Transition Programs
Data can indicate in the first six weeks whether a student will stay or go, succeed or fail. How do we facilitate conversations that empower students, connect them early with their learning and with our campus in meaningful ways, build social networks that correlate with academic success and that help all of us together sustain a healthy, thriving campus? Faculty and professional staff from across campus will discuss how data provided by students has influenced change in programs and approach to supporting first-year students at Fredonia.