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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/2/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
February 12, 2003 UWGB program eases students' transition to college Contact is assigned to answer questions, give support By Cynthia Hodnett
Many wrestle with questions: Where do I buy books? What types of courses
do I take?
The First Year Contact program, which was offered at the University
of Wisconsin-Green Bay for the first time last summer along with the Introduction
to College Program, is designed to make it easier for first-year students
to make the transition to college by providing them with a contact person.
The contact, who is assigned during the student's first year, is usually
a staff or faculty member who can answer academic, housing or other college-related
questions.
"I was nervous about starting college because I had no idea of what
it would be like," said Kristin Mauk, an 18-year-old psychology major
from Plymouth who was assigned to Regan Gurung. "Dr. Gurung was my adviser,
and he helped me with scheduling classes, questions about housing, activities
on campus."
Sixty percent of the 890 incoming freshmen participated in the Intro
to College program this past summer, and all freshmen were assigned a
First Year Contact mentor, said Scott Furlong, an associate political
science professor and director of the Introduction to College program.
First Year Contact goes one step beyond the Introduction to College
program because it provides a university official who serves as a contact
person for the student, Furlong said.
"It's not something that students are forced to do," he said. "Some
students may feel they don't need it. But some students may feel a little
intimidated. From the perspective of those who do participate, I think
they like the idea of having someone who they can talk to and get ideas
from."
Helping freshmen get acclimated to college is important because typically
a significant percentage of students drop out after their first year.
A recent University of Wisconsin System report showed that 74.3 percent
of UWGB freshmen who entered college in fall 2001 returned to the school
their second year.
Students participating in the Intro to College program last summer paid
$160 if they stayed on campus and about $120 if they didn't, Furlong said.
There isn't a cost to offer the First Year Contact program because faculty
and staff volunteered their time to serve as contacts, he said. Because
students cover the cost for the Intro to College program, UW-Green Bay
officials said state budget restraints wouldn't affect it.
"This (is) the university's first attempt at assigning someone specifically
for freshmen," he said. "Now we have about 80 staff and faculty who act
as a point of contact, not as an academic adviser, but as another resource
for the student."
For Mauk, it helped that Gurung was an assistant professor of human
development.
"I wanted to go into psychology, which he's a professor for, so I could
ask him questions about the (psychology) program," Mauk said. "I didn't
need to make an appointment, I could just stop by or send an e-mail, which
was really convenient.
"I would recommend the program to other students."
Having those resources will benefit all freshmen, particularly the 56
minorities who make up the 2002-03 freshman class.
University officials have said that many minority students come from
larger cities and face challenges in adapting to college here.
"We've had less than great participation with minorities, although we've
made some outreach efforts," Furlong said about the school's freshmen
orientation efforts, including Introduction to College and First Year
Contact. "There's a person in admissions designated as a multicultural
adviser. It will help them stay here and get them better prepared for
the college environment, for the academic rigors of college."
UWGB officials said they are measuring student feedback on the program
to determine whether the program is offered in the future.
"Some of the questions were where's this building located, how do I
get connected, how scary was it coming here to how do I get involved on
campus," said Becky Sharpe, a junior who worked as a student leader in
the First Year Contact program last summer.
"As a returning student, I could provide them with my perspective,"
she said. "Getting their class schedule, moving in early, seeing what
type of classes they'll be taking is a huge benefit for students because
it gives them the first steps in becoming comfortable with being here."
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