By Catherine Gray Beuten
Integrated University Communications
(Oct. 5, 2009) The University of Colorado Denver has come a long way the past few years in attracting and retaining more undergraduate students. But still, with a 37 percent six-year graduation rate, there’s more to be done.
“We must assess and challenge the way we’ve done things in the past and change things as we go forward,” said Provost Rod Nairn. “No more business as usual.”
Nairn addressed about 120 participants at the fifth annual Undergraduate Experience Symposium on Friday, Oct. 2, in St. Cajetan’s on the Auraria Campus. The event brought learning leaders from across the campus to listen, brainstorm, evaluate and put into action means to improve education for undergrads.
Keynote Scott Evenbeck, dean of University College at Indiana University and Purdue University (IUPUI) in Indianapolis, stressed the importance of recognizing every student as a winner. “We have to have high expectations for everybody,” he said. “No reading between the lines and thinking ‘this one’s not going to make it!’”
IUPUI engages students on several levels, including a Bridge program and summer programs that enable students to bond. Building learning communities, they have found, has little affect on learning; but bumps up engagement among the students, which does positively impact learning, he said.
Students at IUPUI are required to fill out a plan that details:
- This is where I am now.
- This is where I’m going.
- This is what I’m going to do to get there.
Advising and mentoring are key to the university when looking at overall student retention.
“Get students engaged in questions that have meaning to them,” Evenbeck said. “That’s a lot more meaningful than memorization.”
The event was presented by the Undergraduate Experiences, the Provost’s Office and the Center for Faculty Development.
Event participants explored the results of the Foundations of Excellence report, a self-examination by the university that highlights its key strengths and weaknesses in undergraduate education.
“The 5th annual Undergraduate Experiences Symposium had the highest participation in the history of the series. The Symposium break-out sessions prioritized initiatives for improving the first-year experience around assessment, transition to college, academic excellence, and the roles of faculty and staff,” said John A. Lanning, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Experiences. “The Symposium provided a platform for faculty and staff to move first-year student issues toward implementation.
The keynote speaker presentation materials will be available on our Web site: http://www.cudenver.edu/ue.
Photo: Keynote Scott Evenbeck discusses what has helped bolster student retention and engagement at IUPUI. Below, more than 100 people attended the event.