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This comprehensive self-study and improvement-planning process was guided by the Gardner Institute—a nonprofit organization devoted to improving teaching, learning, retention and student success—and represented a partnership among Enrollment Management, Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education. Over 100 faculty members, staff members and students from across campus served on nine committees led by a steering committee of 18 members.

Each committee focused on a specific aspect, or what was termed a “dimension,” of the first-year experience. The self-study conducted by each committee was guided by specific questions from the Gardner Institute and was informed by five kinds of data:

• An inventory of all first-year programs collected from across campus
• Student data from Institutional Research (e.g., retention data, student demographics)
• Student and faculty surveys
• Student focus groups
• An “evidence library” consisting of relevant scholarly articles, recent campus reports and student surveys, as well as a survey of department chairs

Each committee produced a final report that assesses the current state of their particular first-year dimension, and that includes recommendations for changes so that campus can strive toward creating an excellent experience for all first-year students. The Gardner Institute reviewed each report and provided feedback to improve the committee reports.

To reduce duplication and produce a more holistic set of recommendations, the steering committee grouped the commendations from all nine committees into six themes. The recommendations were then judiciously combined and distilled into a final report (PDF) that was sent to the provost for his preliminary approval.

A longer discussion of Foundations of Excellence and its outcomes this year can be found here. Mary Kraus also will be hosting open forums to discuss with faculty and interested parties the initial Foundations of Excellence report and the next steps in implementing its recommendations.