As background and contextual information, let us describe to you the attitudes often observed in our first-year students. As indicated, many of our first-year students are not experiencing the exciting intellectual challenge of a college experience. Instead, they are experiencing pre-college level developmental courses. Students are resentful about taking these courses. Partially because of these attitudes, students lose interest in the goals that enticed them to try college, which results in their unwillingness to practice the habits and actions that would support their success.
Taxpayers are increasingly unhappy about spending tax dollars on developmental education.
Students are resentful at having to take courses that do not count towards a degree or a major. Faculty do not want students in their classes that are unprepared to learn the content. We want to investigate strategies that would tailor a first-year experience for students at IU East that would achieve the goals of effective programs undertaken elsewhere and that woudl also result in meeting the goals of students and faculty. The first-year experience is designed, not only as a strategy for retention, but also as a means for making a permanent change in the attitude, skills and performance of beginning students. This roposal seeks funding for faculty and staff to work collaboratively in the development of a first-year experience for students.