Division of Undergraduate Education Strategic Plan Mission

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1 Mission The mission of the Division of Undergraduate Education is to promote academic excellence through collaboration with colleges and support units across the University. The mission is realized through both administrative supervision and support of premier undergraduate programs and academic support units for students and faculty, as well as administrative leadership for curricular reform. Central to this mission is campus leadership on issues pertinent to student retention, curriculum reform, and innovation in teaching and learning. Vision The Division of Undergraduate Education will be instrumental in promoting excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning and will be the catalyst for enhancing undergraduate student success at the University of Kentucky. Values As we work to achieve our Mission, we do so while maintaining our dedication to the following values: Educational Excellence: We have high standards for achievement in all we do and we communicate those standards externally. Life- long Learning: learning is not a discrete activity, but rather a continuous, and life- long endeavor. We must continue to learn for personal and societal growth. Creative Innovation: Embracing openness to change, experimentation, curiosity. Student- Centered Focus: We are committed to the success of all students at UK. Diversity: Our strengths lie in the differences among us. We are from many cultures and lands and we must learn from one another to improve our world. Collaboration: We will only be successful if we leverage the strengths of all units on campus, including colleges and other administrative units of the University of Kentucky. Respect: we treat students, faculty and staff with the respect they deserve in order to build and maintain a productive and meaningful learning and work environment. 1

2 Preamble The Division of Undergraduate Education serves the needs of undergraduate students across all academic colleges at UK. Our areas of responsibility and influence include units that provide services in one or more of the following areas: Student Academic Support Student Academic Enrichment Undergraduate Program Administration Our programs directly address the strategic goals of the University of Kentucky strategic plan, with emphasis on the following UK Strategic Plan goals: UK Goal 1: Prepare Students for Leading Roles in an Innovation- driven Economy and Global Society UK Goal 4: Promote Diversity and Inclusion UK Goal 5: Improve the Quality of Life of Kentuckians through Engagement, Outreach and Service The major goals of the Division of Undergraduate Education are derived from the UK goals, as well as our three mission areas. The strategic goals for the Division of Undergraduate Education are: Goal 1: Goal 2: Goal 3: Goal 4: Enhance Success for Students in Transition Ensure Continued Student Success Toward Degree Attainment Provide Enriching Educational Programs for All Students Ensure the Quality of Undergraduate Academic Programs Below is a list of the units and programs administratively housed in the Division and key reform efforts in which the Division provides University- wide leadership. 2

3 Administrative Units Academic Enhancement Center Center for Academic Tutoring Services (CATS) Chellgren Center for Undergraduate First Scholars Program Excellence Gaines Center for the Humanities Honors Program Intercollegiate Debate Robinson Scholars Program Undergraduate Research Academic Preparation Program Chellgren Fellows Programs J.W. Stuckert Career Center Service Learning and Engagement Center Undergraduate Studies Appalachian and Minority Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Majors (AMSTEMM) External Fellowships and Scholarships National Student Exchange Oswald Research and Creativity Program Peer Tutoring Program at The Study UK Core Implementation and Oversight Society for the Promotion of Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Advising Network Leadership for Curricular/Co- Curricular Reform Chellgren Endowed Professors and Teaching Academy Retention and Student Success Center for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) Discovery Seminar Program Transfer Center Services UK and EXP course offerings UKy Second Life Island Undergraduate Council Writing Initiative 3

4 Goal 1: Enhancing Success for Students in Transition Our goal is to raise the retention rate of UK s first year students from approximately 80% to 85%. Students who are academically successful and engaged in co- curricular programming are much more likely to return for their sophomore year, which in turn results in higher rates of degree attainment. Objective 1.1 Increase first to second fall retention of first- time, full- time, degree- seeking first- year students to at least 85% 1 by developing new or enhancing existing student programs for the transition of first time freshmen. Strategy Develop multiple opportunities for Academic Preparation Program students to progress seamlessly into credit- bearing courses. Strategy Strengthen the collaboration between the offices of Undergraduate Education, Student Affairs, Diversity and the undergraduate colleges on learning initiatives such as UK 101, Common Reading Experience, Living Learning Communities, Communities of Practice and other initiatives. Strategy Develop bridge or first summer programming to give freshmen a headstart. Strategy Establish formal dual credit policies and high quality programming, working with colleges and high schools to partner in these opportunities. Objective 1.2 Provide access to first year courses that enhance experiences for all incoming freshmen. Strategy Expand access to University academic orientation courses, e.g., UK 101, for most freshmen. Strategy Encourage the development First Year Seminars and other introductory or discovery/exploratory courses in the major. Strategy Implement the new UK general education program (UK Core) to enhance the transition from high school through the first year and into the major. Strategy Fully implement goals of small breakout sections or small classes (30 students or less) and inquiry- based pedagogies in all UK Core courses. 1 Note that this is an over- arching objective. It is supported by strategies as outlined in this document and in a more comprehensive University of Kentucky Retention Strategic Plan found at 4

5 Objective 1.3 Enhance opportunities for transfer students to succeed at UK. Strategy Establish a comprehensive Transfer Center, in collaboration with Enrollment Management, to provide all services needed by potential and newly registered transfer students. Strategy Expand the BCTCblue+ program by developing formal articulation agreements with KCTCS to ensure that transfer students can easily transfer with an AA or AS degree and finish a bachelor s degree at UK in two years. Strategy Increase access to University Academic Orientation courses, e.g., UK 201, for transfer students. Goal 1 Metrics By 2014 the Division of Undergraduate Education will demonstrate achievement of Goal 1 as indicated by the following metrics: Metric 1.1 Metric 1.2 Metric 1.3 Metric 1.4 Metric 1.5 Metric 1.6 Increase first to second fall retention of first- time, first year students to at least 85%. The number of APP students who need developmental or remedial work in their first semester will be reduced by 75%. All APP students will progress into credit bearing course work by the second semester after admission. Establish 10 dual credit programs with surrounding high schools districts. At least 75% of incoming freshmen will have access to UK 101. Establish 10 articulation agreements with KCTCS for transition from AA/AS degrees to the relevant UK bachelors degree programs. 5

6 Goal 2: Ensuring Continued Student Success Toward Degree Attainment Our goal is to raise our six- year graduation rate from approximately 58% to 64%. Our first fall to third fall retention rates are too low, at approximately 71%. This means we are losing an additional 10% of our students after the sophomore year. In addition to focusing on our freshmen, we must target those areas that help all students to determine their pathways to success. Objective 2.1 Provide an environment for enhancing academic success for all UK students Strategy Enhance the visibility and desirability of Undergraduate Studies as a home for a formalized Exploratory program for students who arrive without a declared major, including major and career exploration. Strategy Develop uniform advising policies and practices to ensure that students experience seamless progress toward degree in and between all colleges. Strategy Create an integrated Student Success Center, bringing student success programming together in a centralized location to assist students in developing college level academic skills, provide supplemental advising support, and provide access to academic and student affairs programs in a personal and timely fashion. Strategy Establish programs and traditions for the "Sophomore Year" to provide new opportunities for a fuller engagement with UK and the community. Strategy Expand the First Scholars Program to become a First Generation Services Center to provide integrated support for all first gen students across multiple existing programs in Student Affairs and Institutional Diversity. Strategy Establish a second location of Academic Enhancement ( The Study ) to expand access for North Campus housing and off- campus students. Strategy Develop, implement and train users of a seamless Student Success Analytics dashboard that will provide for early, timely, and effective interventions for at- risk students. Strategy Create a leave of absence policy to educate and encourage student persistence at UK and to provide easy re- entry of students who must leave but intend to return. 6

7 Strategy Collaborate with academic colleges to increase the availability of courses during summer and winter sessions, in both face to face and on- line environments, to allow for more timely progress towards degree. Strategy Establish a Retention Ombud position to assist students in finding resources on campus and increase persistence rates. Objective 2.2 Establish a University College that expands services and access for traditional and non- traditional students beyond those currently available from Undergraduate Education. Strategy Develop an Interdisciplinary Bachelors degree program to provide a rigorous yet flexible degree path for exploratory and other students who have not established a good fit at UK with a traditional major. Strategy Develop and administer intercollege topical degree programs that provide flexibility and that respond to areas of inquiry outside any one discipline, e.g., a campus wide BA/BS in Sustainability or Environmental Sciences. Strategy Raise visibility of Exploratory Student status as a positive opportunity at UK. Objective 2.3 Provide high quality, professional advising and advising- based services for all undergraduate students. Strategy Champion the expansion of the ranks of professional advisors across all undergraduate colleges to provide academic advising and interventions to enhance student success and persistence, particularly in the freshman and sophomore years. Strategy Revise career classification ladder for professional advising staff to promote the profession and to elevate the visibility of advising on campus. Strategy Develop and institute an assessment instrument to evaluate effectiveness of advising campus- wide. Strategy Develop Degree Navigation and Audit software that allows advisors and students to track progress to degree and provides predictive data on a timely basis for the high demand courses required for timely graduation. 7

8 Objective 2.4 Provide major and career counseling to ensure that students are progressing through a major with a clear vision of their career goals. Strategy Continue to develop strong relationships between Stuckert Career Center staff and Colleges to provide timely information and career advising for students early in their academic career. Strategy Develop class- level career programming to provide freshman, sophomores, and juniors with timely, career- focused information and courses that reinforces their progress towards degree major. Strategy Provide more opportunities for students to evaluate their options proactively prior to changing majors. For example, a College Fair in the fall, near mid- term, to provide information on majors and careers. Strategy Expand opportunities for credit- bearing learning experiences for exploring majors; career courses, service learning, internships, etc Goal 2 Metrics By 2014 the Office of Undergraduate Education will demonstrate achievement of Goal 2 as indicated by the following metrics: Metric 2.1 Metric 2.2 Metric 2.3 Metric 2.4 Metric 2.5 Metric 2.6 Metric 2.7 First to Third Fall Retention will increase to 76% or better Four- year graduation rates will increase to 35% or greater. Six- year graduation rates will increase to 64% or greater. A University College representing all exploratory students and providing access to interdisciplinary degrees and other success programming will be in place. The number of professional advisors campus- wide will grow by 30%. All academic advisors will be classified in a new Academic Advising classification which will include annual professional development and evaluation. All undergraduate colleges will have strong relations with the Career Center, including one or more liaisons as needed to meet the needs of each college. 8

9 Goal 3: Provide Enriching Educational Programs for All Students The Division has responsibilities for providing a number of enrichment programs for students from all colleges, in a number of areas. Programs include the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, the Gaines Center for the Humanities, the Honors Program, and the Undergraduate Research program. We also promote Service and Community- based learning and Study Abroad opportunities. These programs provide deep learning outside the formal classroom learning that pays dividends for future careers and education options. Objective 3.1: Provide challenging and enriching experiences for high ability students. Strategy Revise the University Honors Program to provide greater access to our best faculty for honors students by encouraging the development of College Honors or Scholars Programs to complement the University Honors Program. Strategy Grow the Chellgren Student Fellows program to provide more opportunities for research and mentoring campus- wide. Strategy Expand mentoring and services for UK students to compete for prestigious external scholarships and fellowships. Strategy Increase the visibility and awareness of the National Student Exchange Program and Education Abroad as a way to expand and enrich their majors as well as deepen their lifelong learning skills. Strategy Explore and encourage the development of high quality accelerated programming and project- based capstone experiences in all the majors to impact students' readiness and motivation for graduate degrees. Objective 3.2: Expand involvement in undergraduate research Strategy Interact more directly with faculty in all colleges to promote undergraduate research and creative activities with students. Strategy Continue the growth and scope of the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars each spring semester. Strategy Develop funding streams to assist with costs associated with research, presentation, and publication of student work. 9

10 Objective 3.3 Prepare students for civic engagement and responsibility. Strategy Develop a Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, leveraging resources of the offices of Undergraduate Education, Community Engagement, and Student Involvement to promote student learning while serving the community. Strategy Expand opportunities for certificates or minors in Leadership, Civic Engagement, and Community Service. Objective 3.4 Promote the internationalization of campus, including increased student participation in study abroad and internationalizing the curriculum. Strategy Collaborate with the Office of International Affairs and Education Abroad to enhance the presence of international experiences into curriculum. Strategy Encourage the development of UK Core courses in the Global Dynamics area that incorporate education abroad experiences. Strategy Expand the use of communication tools such as Second Life or other multimedia and social technologies to encourage meaningful and rich interactions among students and faculty with partner institutions abroad. Strategy Explore opportunities for 2+2 and other programs to bring more international students to UK. Objective 3.5 Promote undergraduate excellence beyond UK in an effort to maximize opportunities for development and grant- funded initiatives. Strategy Develop an Undergraduate Education Advisory Council to assist in identifying opportunities for development funding. Strategy Work with the University of Kentucky Development Office and UKPR to create a development plan and promotional materials. Goal 3 Metrics By 2014 the Office of Undergraduate Education will demonstrate achievement of Goal 3 as indicated by the following metrics: Metric 3.1 The Honors Program will admit 10% of the incoming freshman class. 10

11 Metric 3.2 Metric 3.3 Metric 3.4 Metric 3.5 Metric 3.6 The number of applications for external scholarships will double from 5 to 10 for Rhodes/Marshall/Truman awards and from 7 to 14 for the Fulbright awards. The number of students in mentored undergraduate research and creativity activities will increase by 10%. The UK Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement will be established and used by faculty in all the undergraduate colleges. A catalogue of at least 75 courses that address defined Global Learning outcomes will be approved. 2 Significant funding will be procured to support Honors, Undergraduate Research and Service Learning activities. Goal 4: Ensure the Quality of Undergraduate Academic Programs The Division works with college and university faculty governance bodies to address the quality of undergraduate education and support programs through ongoing assessment and curriculum revision. Undergraduate Education initiates reform efforts while building strategic partnerships across and beyond the University. Objective 4.1: Serve as a champion for inclusive excellence in undergraduate education. Strategy Assure close relationships between curricular and co- curricular programming in design, implementation and assessment. Strategy Offer regular forums to faculty leadership on academic success initiatives. Objective 4.2: Streamline the process and make more transparent the decision- making for the development, approval and review of UK's undergraduate curriculum. Strategy Improve the technology associated with the UK course approval process. Strategy Develop and publish just- in- time guidelines and help for course developers and reviewers. Objective 4.3: Lead the assessment of the UK Core Program in partnership with the undergraduate colleges and the UK Assessment Office. 2 From the UK Strategic Plan for Internationalization, Metric

12 Strategy Identify, orient and task faculty assigned to assess learning outcomes. Strategy Lead regular forums and workshops in the understanding of the purpose and impact of the UK Core on the majors as well as statewide transfer. Strategy Encourage and incent innovation and creativity within the departments in developing, implementing and assessing their UK Core offerings. Objective 4.4: Improve regular assessment of Undergraduate Education Programs by including more faculty and community leaders in the process. Strategy All UGE units will provide opportunities for UK faculty input and outreach to the communities beyond UK, e.g., an advisory board. Goal 4 Metrics By 2014 the Office of Undergraduate Education will demonstrate achievement of Goal 4 as indicated by the following metrics: Metric 4.1 Metric 4.2 Metric 4.3 Metric 4.4 Metric 4.5 Metric 4.6 Meet with the undergraduate college deans at least once each semester to address critical issues pertaining to undergraduate student success and craft new policies. Co- host First Thursdays with Enrollment Management, Institutional Diversity and Student Affairs to raise awareness among student support units. Lead the UK Retention Workgroup in hosting an annual UG Success gathering with faculty leadership each year, co- facilitated by the Provost. All colleges will use the new course approval process with ease and efficiency. Expand and revise the Discovery Seminar Program to allow for exploration and experimentation by faculty leaders in the use of inquiry- based pedagogies and to enhance digital literacy skills. Partner with CELT and UKIT to provide high quality faculty development opportunities with evidence of reverberating impact on departmental offerings and program support structures. 12