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Colleges organize orientation programs to pave the way for first-year
students making the transition to higher education. Most of these
programs are two- or three-day introduction sessions that end when
classes begin.
However, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology takes its responsibility a
little farther, with a 10-week College & Life Skills first-year
experience course during the fall academic quarter. The program has
become a model for other colleges wishing to address retention problems,
especially among engineering institutions.
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Happy Start To College Life: A Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology freshman showcases his excitement at being a member
of the Class of 2014. He walks through a tunnel of upperclass students that
welcomed the first-year students to the college. |
Small group classroom experiences offer incoming students the
opportunity to understand those skills that will help them navigate the
rigors of an engineering, science and mathematics curriculum.
The program’s goals are to help students make a smooth transition to
Rose-Hulman, the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate engineering
institution. It also provides informative class discussions, allows
students to learn from one another, gives students the opportunity to
engage with staff members, and helps students gain the skills needed to
be successful at Rose-Hulman and their future career. Each small group
has an assigned staff mentor, who gets to know each student and becomes
available for students throughout the freshman year.
“Engaged students are successful students,” acknowledged Tom Miller,
Rose-Hulman’s associate vice president and dean of student affairs who
coordinates the program. “It’s essential that students get involved and
connected to the Rose-Hulman family. It also helps for the students to
get to know persons that can enhance the college experience.”
The 10 classrooms sessions feature the following topics: Campus
involvement and leadership; time management; professional etiquette;
stress management, study skills and health & wellness; and money
management. There will also be an academic degree presentation on Sept.
21 that will provide valuable curriculum information; a panel discussion
with Rose-Hulman graduates about career opportunities; a “Building Your
Career” session, with corporate recruiters; and tours of the campus
library and learning center, two valuable educational resources.
Students receive one credit hour for successfully completing the course.
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Learning Together: Brian Dyer (center), Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology’s executive director of alumni affairs, talks with freshmen
in his session of the College & Life Skills course. |
This year, all freshmen have also been provided copies of “Self
Leadership and The One Minute Manager,” a concise, easy-to-read guide
that demonstrates three very practical management and leadership
techniques.
The College & Life Skills course has contributed to Rose-Hulman becoming
a leader in retention among engineering colleges. Rose-Hulman’s freshman
retention was above 90 percent from 1999-2011, with an all-time high
95.6 percent in 2001. The college’s graduation rate has also topped the
national average for engineering institutions –- better than 80 percent
for eight of the nine years between 2000 and 2008.
“We found that students needed a better, more engaging first-year
experience,” Miller said. “The small group sessions allow for students
to learn from one another. We want students to walk out of each
classroom session saying ‘I’ve learned something today that will help me
succeed at Rose-Hulman.’”
A session on “Building Your Career,” provided by the Office of Career
Services, is important to paving the way for career success, and
preparing freshman to seek internships and co-op work opportunities at
Rose-Hulman’s Fall Career Fair on October 6. Kevin Hewerdine, Rose-Hulman’s
director of career services and employer relations, reports more
colleges are reaching out to freshmen and sophomores to educate them
early on the importance of learning skills that lead to employment
opportunities. He points out that Rose-Hulman has been making its career
services available to freshmen for several years, and it is a reason for
the college’s strong track record in career placement. (The job
placement rate for the Class of 2010 is currently 95 percent.)
“More and more colleges are doing outreach such as (Rose-Hulman’s
College & Life Skills course) because of the realization that learning
these skill sets early makes the students much better prepared when they
are seniors trying to secure their first jobs,” Hewerdine said. “More
colleges are really making an effort to reach students early on and not
waiting for a student to stroll through their door as a senior.”
The small group mentors for this year’s Rose-Hulman freshman class
feature 58 staff members from throughout the campus.
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