Library Partnerships for First Year College Students
May 5, 2011
Library Partnerships for
First Year College Students
Presented by—
Dr. Mary Howrey,
Library Director
Professor Esther Rachelson,
LAS Professor
http://www.mir.devry.edu
South Florida Metro
Learning Objectives of the
Conference Session
To introduce
partnerships as
a leadership
concept
To discuss FYE
college student
learning styles
and relevant
library programs
To provide a
partnership
planning matrix
for your library
To identify key
resources for
FYE current
awareness
What do you think of when
you think of a partnership?
List ideas here…
How do you define
―student success‖?
List ideas here…
Partnership Defined…
An informal or formal
relationship or network
An exchange relationship
The benefits gained to all
partners
Synergy
Joint problem solving
Resource-driven
Collaboration
Library Outreach to Key
Student Stakeholders
The Partnering Process
Partnering is the cooperative behaviors
and commitment to mutual goals and
effective outcomes perceived and reported
by the members of a partnership or
collaborative network.
“Partnering involves two or more
individuals working toward a desired
outcome. Effective partnering is
characterized by a collaborative mode of
working together, resulting in win-win
situations” (Sujansky, 1991, p. 3).
Partnership Activities Examples
Community outreach programs
Information literacy projects
Grant collaboration
Shared bibliography creation
Joint programming
Joint program advertising
Promotion of local businesses & arts
Shared catalogs (such as OCLC WorldCat)
Partnering is Leadership!!
Partnering is
Leadership
Vision for
the future
Example and
courage
Direction
Ethical
behavior
Sense-giving
Challenging
Courage to
take risks
Creating
value
for all
stakeholders
Customers
Employees
Shareholders
Board of
Directors
Stakeholders
The Three Columns of Leadership
Source: Segil, L., et al. (2003). Partnering: The new face of leadership. N.Y.: Amacom. p. 181
First Year College Students: A
Target Market‖ for the Library
Millennial generation (Ages 18 to 29, Born after
1980) “Look at Me” generation
Digital natives
Generation NeXt
Characterized by—
Multiple learning styles
and modes of expression
Self-sufficiency
Social networking
Multi-tasking
Ease and instant response
Sense of entitlement
Millennial Generation Personality
The American teens and twenty+ year olds making
their way into adulthood have a generational
personality as reported by the Pew Research
Center.
Millennials, also known as the ―net generation,‖
are described as-Confident
Self-expressive
Liberal
Upbeat
Open to change
Technologically savvy
75% of Millennials have created a profile on a social
networking site
More tolerant of diversity—racial, sexual orientation,
ethnic groups, age
Life goals– ―Fortune and fame‖
(Pew Research Center, 2010)
What are the 21st century skills
employers expect of college
graduates?
Results from a 2010 Critical Skills Survey
conducted by the American Management
Association (AMA) highlight that executives
require a workforce fully equipped with
skills beyond the basics of reading, writing
and arithmetic in order to grow their
businesses. (2,115 executives surveyed)
The four Cs—(1) critical thinking, (2)
communication, (3) collaboration and (4)
creativity and innovation—are needed by
employers in the future. (American
Management Association, 2010)
First Year of College – Academic
Success and Student Retention
More than half of all students who withdraw
from colleges and universities do so in the
first year
Students report that the transition from high
school to college is “haphazard and
confusing” (Source: Cuseo, 2010)
A window of opportunity exists to promote
student learning with “front loaded”
resources—entry level services and
programs to ensure success
First Year Experience Programs
Fostering success in the freshman year is the
most significant intervention that an institution can
make in the name of student persistence.
Programs need to be proactive and intrusive.
Academic advising and learning assistance are
critical services for student success and retention
through graduation.
DeVry offers Student Success Coaches for
academic advisement and The Learning Center
(TLC) for tutoring by peer tutors and faculty tutors.
The DeVry University South Florida
Freshmen Experience Features…
New student orientation embedded in
COLL148 Critical Thinking Class
The Library presents information
literacy instruction during Week #2 of
the 8-week required course
Welcome Week
Clubs
Library Reading Circles Program
ENGL112 and135 research skills
DeVry Stresses Information
Literacy for First Year Students
First year students in the required Critical
Thinking Class (COLL148), ENG112 and
ENG135 have a number of research
assignments that require students to utilize
library resources, to evaluate information,
and synthesize the information in
addressing a practical problem and
identifying solutions.
The Library plays a prominent role in these
8-week courses.
Library Instruction in Required
COLL148 for First Year Students
Students research an assigned topic
In the library databases-Money management that includes
credit rates, credit reports, and credit
card interest
Future career and paths to promotion
in the field
Why Wikipedia isn’t the best
source for scholarly research
Library Instruction in
Introductory LAS Classes
EBSCOHost magazine databases are
introduced with these skills built-How to select the database
How to use Advanced Search and
Boolean operators
How to narrow search results
How to save an article
How to cite an article in APA format
Library Instruction and Critical
Thinking in LAS Classes
eBooks are introduced to FYE students so
they have remote access to an electronic
library of nearly 100,000 ebooks.
The Online DeVry Voyager catalog with
nearly 400,000 items in 26 campus
libraries allows students to “Request an
Item” or view one’s library account to
renew an item / Ask-A-Librarian.
Research reports from CQ Researcher and
Facts.com are introduced to illustrate that
both the pros and cons of an issue are
covered in these comprehensive
databases.
Other Components of COLL148
FYE Seminar Experience
Academic Deans/Advisement
The Learning Center/Tutoring
Services
Smart Thinking Online Tutoring
Student Activities
Student Central/Success Coaching
Student Finance/Financial Literacy
Career Services
Internal DeVry Partnerships
Student Central Success Coaches
provide academic advisement and referrals
The Learning Center (TLC) provides
tutoring services and resources
Student Activities (clubs such as
Toastmasters, International Students,
Certification, Project Management)
Faculty, Academic Deans, Leadership
Team and staff
IT Department (database access, Help
Desk, telephones/fax, Voyager catalog, eCollege, MyScribe for e-textbooks)
Reading Circles Programming
Student
engagement
Essay contest
Book discussion
Video viewing
Students, faculty
& staff
Outside
speakers
External Partnerships
SEFLIN
SEFLIN Library Card Program
TBLC delivery
National Network of Libraries of Medicine/NLM
Docline
Miramar Public Library and Friends Group (Broward County
Library System)
DeVry University Library Services
Ask-a- Librarian and Voyager Catalog http://library.devry.edu
Lyrasis/OCLC
WorldCat Local Quick Start
Library Associations
Book, Database, and AV Producer Vendors
Amazon.com, Lynda.com, EBSCO, Lexis Nexis, etc.
FYE Partnership Building Process
Assess needs—FYE Whitepaper issued February 2011 by
DeVry FYE Taskforce
Identify opportunities—
Success Library collection development
Expand information literacy instruction
New programs outreach (e.g., nursing, justice administration,
LAS natural sciences)
Create a list of internal and external partners
Implement and establish collaborative vision, mission,
goals and objectives / Stay focused on top priorities
Evaluate program outcomes
Celebrate and recognize successes
Expand the partnership for sustainability and impact
DeVry TEACH Guiding Values
T EAMWORK & COMMUNICATION
Focus on Team over individual success
Express new ideas & challenge the status quo
Recognize when issues arise, we work the issue – not the person
Communicate with candor & openness
E MPLOYEE FOCUS
Treat every colleague with respect
Ensure that the Right people are in the Right roles
Enable colleagues to achieve their full potential
Maintain a culture that supports and thrives on Diversity
A CCOUNTABILITY & BEHAVIOR = OWNERSHIP
Hold ourselves Accountable for student outcomes & for achieving results with Integrity, Ethics & Sound
Judgments
Own the results, even if we do not control every aspect of the process
Act like a small business owner; Speak up, and drive results
Focus on how we can get the job done – not on why we cannot
C ONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Embrace Reality
Make decisions based on data, not opinion
Foster Change and Agility
Take appropriate Risks
Strive for Quality in everything that we do
H ELP OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS
Students’ Success is our Top Priority
Focus on Student Outcomes: Learning, Satisfaction, Retention and Career goals
Provide Outstanding Service; Treat Students as we would want to be treated
Summary--Tips & Techniques for
Creating Strong Partnerships
Build from existing relationships
Make sure the library is in the right place at the
right time
Join existing coalitions and networks
Target community groups/leaders and initiate
specific outreach strategies
Conduct focus groups to stay aware of community
needs and opportunities
Focus on a specific project, program or issue
Make sure there are benefits for all parties
Put the right people in the right position
**Utilize effective communication strategies**
Source: Planning for Success Cookbook. Illinois Web Junction. 12/30/08
Selected References
American Management Association. (2010). AMA
2010 critical skills survey. Retrieved 3/13/2011-http://www.amanet.org/training/articles/ExecutivesSay-the-21st-Century-Needs-More-SkilledWorkers.aspx
Cuseo, J. (2010, June 3.) Preparing the
Underprepared: Strategies for Promoting NewStudent Success. Higher Ed Hero Conference.
Segil, L., Goldsmith, M., and Belasco, J. (2003).
Partnering: The New Face of Leadership. N.Y.:
Amacom.
Sujansky, J. G. (1991). The power of partnering:
vision, commitment, and action. San Diego, CA:
Pfeiffer & Company.
Handouts for First Year Experience &
Library Partnerships
Library Partnership Development Planning
Matrix
Partnership Proposal Review Questions
Library Partnerships to Help First Year
Students Succeed References
FYE National Resource Center
National Resource Center for the
First-Year Experience and Students in
Transition (University of South
Carolina)
Website—
http://www.sc.edu/fye
Peer-reviewed journal +
Monographs—
Journal of the First Year Experience
and Students in Transition
FLA Conference 2011
Contact Information for DeVry
Dr. Mary Howrey, Ed.D.
mhowrey@devry.edu
Work Phone: 954-499-9851
DeVry University Library website
http://www.mir.devry.edu/academics_library.html
Professor Esther Sapell Rachelson, Ed.S.
erachelson@devry.edu
Work Phone: 954-499-9862
Questions & Answers
Partnerships?
First Year Experience?
Information Literacy & Library
Instruction?
Others?
The FYE Planning Process Begins…
May 5, 2011