Foundation Year Redesigning the First Year of College

Foundation Year: Redesigning the First Year of College for First. Generation and Nontraditional Urban Students Molly Dugan, Ph. D m. dugan@neu. edu 1

A Startling Finding In the BPS class of 2000, only 35% of students who enrolled in college had earned a degree seven years later. That means that 65% didn’t earn a degree in seven years. 2

Out of 10 students, 3 ½ got a degree 3

What is Foundation Year? 4

…A new way of thinking • Designated faculty teach rigorous, creditbearing college level courses from day 1 • Cohort model, year-long program • Wrap-around, integrated support • Portability of college credits and college cultural literacy 5

Foundation Year: A First Year of College Experience • Enrolled in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern • Access to campus resources at Northeastern • 8 full-time faculty • Students live off-campus • Most classes cohort model 6

Student Ages: Cohorts 1, 2, 3, & 4 3 % 30% Ages 18 and Under 67% Ages 19 -20 Ages 21 -22 7

Racial Composition: Cohorts 1, 2, 3 & 4 5% Black 7% Hispanic 10% Asian/Pacific Islander 55% 23% Multiple Races/Not reported White 8

Pell Grant Eligibility: Cohorts 1, 2, 3, 4 17% Eligible 83% Not Eligible 9

Admissions Data Wide spectrum of Boston students are recruited for program No SAT or GPA requirement Designed to be financially accessible regardless of ability to pay Academic ability of incoming students varies greatly 10

Foundation Year Calendar Summer Academy July --August 5 Weeks Fall Term Sept. – Dec. 12 Weeks Winter Term Jan. - March 12 Weeks Spring Term April - June 12 Weeks 11

Foundation Year Curriculum* Summer CORE COURSES • Diversity • Professional Speaking ELECTIVE COURSES SUPPLEMENTAL COURSES *Subject to change Fall Winter Spring • College English 1 • Contemporary American History • • College English 2 Algebra 1, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus • • College Writing Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, or Statistics • Macroeconomics • Microeconomics • Business Law • Intro to Art • Psychology Fundamentals • Intro to Philosophy and Ethics • Biology 1 • Biology 2 • Biology 3 • Foundations of Math 1 • Foundations of Math 2 • Foundations of Writing • The College Experience • Personal Leadership: College Transfer Development • Personal Leadership: Career Readiness • Personal Leadership: Industry Exposure 12

Foundation Year: Committed to Providing Wrap-Around Support Personal Leadership Course Personal Leadership Individual & Group Advising Transfer Counseling STUDENT Transfer Counseling Tutoring Student Feedback from Faculty Regular Feedback from Faculty Tutoring Writing & Math Centers Writing & Math Center 13

Foundation Year Students Cohort # of Students Cohort 1 (2009 -2010) 41 Cohort 2 (2010 -2011) 60 Cohort 3 (2011 -2012) 60 Cohort 4 (2012 -2013) 72 14

Foundation Year Completion Rate % of students completing FY Cohorts 1, 2, 3 87% 15

College Persistence Data One Year Persistence rate Boston Public Schools graduates (2007*) Foundation Year Completers** 81% 59% All students Non-Exam School grads Enrolled 2 -year college 88% **Foundation Year persistence data compiled using the National Clearinghouse - Cohorts 1 & 2 16

College Persistence Data Two Year Persistence Rate Boston Public Schools Grads (2007)* Foundation Year Completers** 71% 42% All students Non-Exam School grads Enrolled 2 -year college 83% **Foundation Year persistence data compiled using the National Clearinghouse – Cohort 1 17

College Persistence Data Three Year Persistence Rate Boston Public Schools Grads (2007)* Foundation Year Completers** 62% 28% All students Non-Exam School grads Enrolled 2 -year college 63% **Foundation Year persistence data compiled using the National Clearinghouse – Cohort 1 18

New STEM initiatives: • Promote STEM majors and expose students to STEM fields • Encourage participation in STEM academic and professional associations • Increase collaboration to encourage STEM pathways 19

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