Tarleton part of AASCU project to redesign first-year college experience

Advertisement

STEPHENVILLE (February 3, 2016) — Tarleton State University is one of 44 American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) member institutions selected to participate in a three-year project to improve and sustain achievement for students who historically have been underserved by higher education: low income, first generation and those of color.

Leaders from all 44 participating universities meet in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 4, to kick off the project, named “Re-Imagining the First Year of College” (RFY).

With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USA Funds, RFY aims to redesign approaches that work effectively for all members of an increasingly diverse, multicultural, undergraduate student body, eliminating achievement disparities.

Participating universities will work together as a learning community to develop comprehensive, institutional transformation strategies that redesign the first year of college and create sustainable change for student success.

“RFY underscores our belief that a successful first-year university experience is paramount for students to continue and finish their educational pursuits,” said Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio. “We are pleased to work hand-in-hand with AASCU in a project that ultimately will identify best practices for supporting students and helping them succeed at Tarleton and in the careers they choose.”

Tarleton’s continuing transformation into the premier student-focused university in Texas and beyond makes the university a strong contributor in the AASCU project. Over the past four years, Tarleton has revamped its approach to first-year student engagement and aligned it with priorities centered on achievement and retention.

Students get a competitive edge on their first-year experience during a three-day summer camp (Duck Camp) that promotes self-confidence, builds relationships and explores university traditions. When first-time-to-attend-college students arrive for Transition Week—the week prior to the start of fall classes—they participate in a number of academic and social events that introduce them to campus life and the Stephenville community. In addition, Tarleton is home to Living-Learning Communities that promote shared academic, social and personal interests.

The university created the Office of Student Success and Multicultural Initiatives to make it easier for students to take part in everything from mentoring to tutoring programs, and Tarleton’s unique applied learning experiences provide true-to-life, hands-on opportunities that take education outside the traditional classroom.

For more information on RFY and a list of participating universities, visit www.aascu.org/RFY/. To learn more about Tarleton’s Transition Programs, visit www.tarleton.edu/transition.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.