This course is designed to engage participants in an exploration of the fundamental aspects of first-year student success. Drawing from multiple perspectives, participants in the course will be challenged to (a) use current theory, research, and best practice literature to identify, explore, and understand the definitional parameters of FYE;  (b) move beyond generational characteristics to fully understand who first-year students are and what issues potentially impact their success; (c) apply the information generated through readings, reflective assignments, and discussion to examine existing tools and innovate practices aimed at fostering first-year student success; and (d) understand and develop approaches to implement the tenets for quality in FYE concept and delivery.  

Course Objectives

As a part of this course, participants will:

• understand and apply the definitional parameters of terms and concepts used within the scholarly and best practice conversations around the first-year experience;
• examine and understand the characteristics and needs of today's first-year college students;
• explore the tools and strategies we have, to meet first-year students' academic, developmental, personal, and interpersonal needs;
• understand and apply the tenets for quality in first-year experience concept and delivery ; and 
• consider and develop strategies and techniques to integrate an institutional approach to the first-year experience.

Jennifer Keup

Executive Director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, University of South Carolina

Dr. Jennifer Keup is the executive director of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition where she provides leadership for the Center’s operational, strategic, and scholarly activities in pursuit of its mission “to support and advance efforts to improve student learning and transitions into and through higher education.” During her time as director, Jennifer has worked to spearhead the National Resource Center’s increase in national and international collaboration and partnerships. The Center’s thought leadership, advancement of publication and professional development outlets, grant acquisition, research productivity, and expansion of channels for resource sharing and communication, including online and social media also have been areas of focus in her time at the Center. Dr. Keup’s research interests focus on two complementary areas of scholarship: (a) the first-year experience and students in transition and (b) high-impact practices and institutional interventions. She is a co-author of the book Designing and Sustaining Successful First-Year Programs: A Guide for Practitioners and of the CAS Cross-Functional Framework for First-Year Experiences. Jennifer also serves as an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policies in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina and is a proud multi-degree alumna of UCLA.

Registration Deadline: Sept. 18, 2020
Course Capacity: 25 registrants 
Fee: $425

Current research on growth mindset has exploded in the past two decades, and many student success professionals are grappling with how best to take what we know works and implement it into a first-year course or program. This course will first focus on a foundational understanding of growth mindset. Then, the course will cover opportunities to infuse growth mindset into a first-year program so participants can create a plan that provides opportunities for students to encourage, develop, or enhance these traits. Each week of the course will be centered on current research and strategies that can enhance student success. This course will encourage participants to identify where they could include growth mindset information and intervention into their first-year program.  

Course Objectives

As a part of this course, participants will:

• discuss the current research of growth mindset;
• describe how incorporating a focus on growth mindset into the first-year can lead to long-term gain for students;
• describe the key components of effective interventions related to growth mindset; and
• create a plan for incorporating growth mindset into their first-year student success course or program.

Required Text:  Baldwin, A., Bunting, B., Daugherty, D., Hardman Lewis, L., & Steenbergh, T. (2020). Promoting Belonging, Growth Mindset, and Resilience to Foster Student Success. Stylus Publishing.

Amy Baldwin

Director of Student Transitions, University of Central Arkansas

Amy Baldwin is the director of Student Transitions at the University of Central Arkansas. Her scholarship is focused on first-generation, at-risk, and first-year college students. In addition to chairing a department focused on first-year students, she also teaches composition, literacy, and student success.

Baldwin wrote the first student success book for the community college market for Pearson: The Community College Experience. She has authored and co-authored additional student success texts including The College Experience, The College Experience Compact, and The First-Generation College Experience. She is also a co-author of Promoting Belonging, Growth Mindset, and Resilience to Foster Student Success, a book published by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. A chapter on growth mindset appeared in the summer 2019 issue of New Directions for Student Leadership: Leadership Development Through Campus Employment. She also writes on student success topics for Collegiate Parent, NBC Toolkit, and Higher Ed Parent.

Baldwin earned her bachelor's degree in English literature at Rhodes College in Memphis and a master’s degree in British literature from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her Ed.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her previous positions include Chair of College Studies and faculty member at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College. She served as the state project director for the Arkansas Complete College America (CCA) grant from 2011-2013 and is a CCA content expert for corequisite developmental courses.

Registration Deadline: Nov. 3, 2020
Course Capacity: 25 registrants 
Fee: $425