Undergraduate students in science and engineering fields suffer greater rates of attrition than those in other fields of study; it is estimated that only 20% of those that begin science or engineering majors as freshmen will graduate with a degree within 6 years. We have adapted an intensive 5-day orientation program, originally devised for biology majors, to improve retention of incoming freshmen across the science and engineering fields. The program focuses on fostering a culture of shared community and inquiry. Students live on campus during the 5-day program and receive nine lectures and three exams from their fall semester instructor in either Introductory Biology or Mathematics. Students also attend workshops explaining expectations of college level work and strategies for meeting expectations, and presenting the techniques and rationale for active learning methods employed in college classes. Students are placed into study groups based on their enrollment in fall classes to facilitate social interactions and interact with alumni to help them visualize a path to future professional success.
Results/Conclusions
Students receiving intensive orientation were retained at higher rates than the general population of science or engineering students. Over the first four years of the program intensive orientation students displayed an increase in retention to the second fall semester of -0.5-10% with a 4-year average of 4%. Retention in subsequent semesters continued to exceed that of the general science and engineering student population by as much as much as 22% for some cohorts. Fall semester grades for the first cohort in Introductory Biology were higher by an average of 0.2 grade points and in Calculus by over a full grade point. The first cohort to pass through the program will begin graduating in May 2019 and we expect to see higher 4-year graduation rates for intensive orientation students. This program is currently grant-supported but can be self-sustaining if the university assumes the costs. We estimate that a 4% improvement in retention would pay for all program costs by the end of the sophomore year and subsequent tuition recovery would earn the institution over 100% return on investment.