Helping Students Thrive in CollegeA focus on student-faculty interactions

Kelly Hogan, Viji Sathy, Phillip Edwards, Candice Powell, Katie Cartmell

Think of faculty who helped you thrive as an undergraduate student. How did they do it? What techniques or approaches from these faculty helped lay the foundation for your success?

It’s not them, it’s me.

Student Perspectives: Why does engagement matter?

Nakesha Spellman

Colleen J. Watson

What is thriving? Being fully engaged, energized, and and making the most of the college experience.

Three key areas that contribute to student success and persistence: • academic engagement and

performance• interpersonal relationships, and • psychological well-being

(Schreiner, 2010)

Academic

SocialEmotional

Four major pathways for students:

• Campus involvement• Spirituality

• Student-faculty interactions• Community

How do you know a student is engaged in their learning?

What evidence do you have?

Engaged learning:a positive energy invested in one’s own learning

There are three components:

meaningful processing focused

attention active participation

(Schreiner and Louis, 2006)

Look beyond the surface.Active participation

Focused attention&

Meaningful processing

Surface learning• Connects learning to life not

simply regurgitation for test•Made connections in class

to concepts already known• Creates foundations for

future learning.

Deep (meaningful) learning

• Focus on memorization• Concerned about what is on

the test rather than learning• Learning confined to

classroom

“There are four major implications of our findings about engaged learning and its contribution to student success.”- L.A. Schreiner

There is more to engagement

beyond behavior in

class.

Students can be taught strategies

for engaging more fully in the learning process.

Partnerships between faculty and

student-life professionals engage

more students on campus.

Educators can influence

students’ engaged learning.

Syllabus

If you need to contact me, you may email me or call and leave a message. I will return

your call.

Individual assistance is always available by

appointment. I look forward to seeing you during student

hours. Stop in.

First Day of Class

Look around the room, 20% of you won’t make it.

This class will be challenging, but I have no doubt you are

capable of succeeding.

Exam Feedback

The average on the exam was too high. Expect the next

exam to be really long and hard.

The average on the exam was high. Great job! You all

did really well. And that means so did we as

instructors! Let’s keep it up!

What are strategies to increase the quality of your connection with students in the following areas?

Pre-course Messages & Syllabus First Day of Class Office Hours

In-Class Communications Email/Announcements Assignment/Exam

Feedback

What are strategies to increase the quality of your connection with students in the following areas?

Pre-course Messages & Syllabus First Day of Class Office Hours

In-Class Communications Email/Announcements Assignment/Exam

Feedback

Good news! Schreiner also wants you to know…

Students can be taught strategies to engage more fully in the learning process.

By partnering, student life professionals and faculty can create seamless learning environments that can engage a higher percentage of students on campus.

Questions? Thoughts?

2016 Student Success Conference

GROWTH MINDSET

studentsuccess.unc.edu