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INTRODUCTION
 What issues are sophomores facing?
Troy Hahr
Bob Snow
UCF’S S.O.S –
“SAVING OUR SOPHOMORES”
LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Understand sophomore needs and challenges (Origins)
 Learn UCF sophomore programs, initiatives, services (Super Powers)
 This presentation will address that question and help us to
harness the POWER of our profession.
 Every sophomore needs help and we
are the only ones who have the
power to do something!
ORIGINS
WHY FOCUS ON SOPHOMORE’S?
Sophomore Slump ~ Reality or Myth?
Attrition ~ challenges faced by sophomores
Assessing expectations & satisfactions
 Share best practices (Assemble!)
 What makes a Super
Sophomore! (Hero)
The “forgotten” students
From drift to engagement
Institutional approaches to help sophomores
Source: “Visible Solutions for Invisible Students: Helping Sophomores Succeed”, L. Schreiner & J. Pattengale,
Monograph 31, 2000, National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and Students in Transition
CURRENT TRENDS & CHALLENGES
FOR SOPHOMORE STUDENTS
 The study is based on student survey feedback from 3,800 second-year college
students who were enrolled at 28 colleges and universities nationwide in 2012.
 Major that will make the students money (STEM) vs. what they love
EVOLUTION OF UCF SOPHOMORE
SUPPORT
 2005: university wide task force group formed - review
increased sophomore rate of attrition
 2007: SSYC started, planning meetings, student focus
groups, sophomore needs assessment
 Social disconnect w/ technology
 2009: 11 full-time professional advisors – sophomore focus
 What are the current trends/challenges you see?
(AAEP)
 2010: Sophomore Connections started
 2011: campus-wide collaborations (AAC)
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KEY SERVICES/PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES
(SUPER POWERS FOR SAVING SOPHOMORES)
KEY SERVICES/PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES
(SUPER POWERS FOR SAVING SOPHOMORES)
Communication Plan with our
 Sophomore Advising Week
sophomore students
 Business Knights (A Living
AAEP Advisors (Focus on
Learning community for business
students)
Transfers, Sophomores, and
high risk populations)
 College Connections
 Major Specific Advisors
Early Alert Program
 Tracking GPAs (Lack of Progress,
Partnership with Career
LOP)
KEY SERVICES/PROGRAMS/INITIATIVES
(SUPER POWERS FOR SAVING SOPHOMORES)
Services
UCF SOPHOMORE & SECOND YEAR CENTER
 Started in 2007 – campus-wide task
force
Purpose Guided Education (Life Wedge Activity by
Jerry Pattengale)
 Advising focus – undeclared &
undecided students
We are one of the best resources for our
 High touch & high tech advising
sophomores!
format
 6,000+ annual (duplicated) advising
contacts
 Video-chat (Skype) on-line advising
 “Sophomore Voice” newsletter
SO WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT?
 Overall increased UCF sophomore retention – to junior
year
- 2007: 77% retention
- 2012: 79% retention
ASSEMBLE
SHARE BEST PRACTICES
Key Questions to consider:
 Do you have services and programs geared specifically for
sophomores?
 33% increase in direct contacts with sophomore students
 How do you use technology to reach sophomore students?
 Undeclared and undecided sophomore student retention
 Do you keep track of data for your interventions?
(2012-13: campus-wide duplicated contacts = 30,077)
increased from 74% (2007) to 80% (2012)
 College of Business 2008-2009: 53% retention after two
years for FTIC Business Majors 2011-2012: 61% retention
after 2 years
 Do you use intrusive methods with your sophomores?
 What has worked best at your institution for sophomore success?
 Have you conducted needs assessments for sophomores at your
institution?
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WHAT MAKES A SUPER SOPHOMORE?
Engagement
Purpose
Knowledgeable
Mentorship
Direction
Leadership
Service
Relationships
Confidence
Motivated
Q & A TIME
 Questions?
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