Proposal

Narrative

Over the past several years, Florida Atlantic University has demonstrated its commitment to student success by supporting the work of academic advising offices. College of Education is seeking to continue building professional, meaningful and action-driven relationships with our student population through practices that support their goals through graduation. One of the methods by which we provide that support is by establishing a connection with students as early as possible to get them used to the idea of seeking continuous and consistent academic advising. The ultimate goal is to chart a plan of success for each student from orientation to graduation. With this in mind, our emphasis on transfer student orientation is paramount to increasing the number and percentage of students who complete their undergraduate degree in the College of Education in a timely manner. One of the foundations of our work with these students is the College of Education Student Success Resource Center. Beginning in 2013-2014, the College of Education’s Office for Academic and Student Services (OASS) devoted space to conduct transfer orientations on-site in order to provide individualized time during the session for students to seek specific and meaningful academic information as well as to register for their first semester of classes. Our multi-purpose resource area in ED 232 and 233 is now used for orientations as well as for information sessions throughout the year. We believe that this resource area has resulted in an increase in students utilizing College of Education academic advising, it has given students a sense of improved customer service, it allows our advisors to support the cultural shift of ensuring FTIC students graduate in compliance with FAU's timely graduation policy, and it has helped build stronger student-advisor relationships which supports the goal of student retention. We have the capability to effectively work with up to 35 students in a given orientation/advising session, which we divide into the two rooms grouped by major. Through the generous support of previously approved proposals, students have the use of laptops and/or IPads and the benefit of high quality presentations during their first visit to the College of Education (which is also often their first visit to FAU). Our proposal is to maintain the resource center by increasing the amount of computers available as well as replacing some outdated and/or less functional older computer models for student use. The College of Education – OASS works with undergraduate students enrolled in elementary, secondary and exceptional student education, as well as in early care and education and exercise science and health promotion degree programs. It should be noted that elementary education and exercise science and health promotion are the fifth and sixth largest programs in undergraduate education at FAU. Throughout the academic year, our academic advisors hold appointments with any undergraduate students or potential students in the College of Education who make seek their counsel. The advisors also have contact with potential and/or admitted freshmen and transfer students through orientation, transfer student expos and workshops, articulation workshops with local state colleges and admission open house events. Additionally, OASS has an open door policy throughout the school year allowing for walk-in traffic should current or potential students require assistance, or should undeclared students visit the college seeking information on our degree programs. The College of Education is particularly concerned with undeclared majors, and recognizes the importance of establishing connections with this student population in order to assist in creating roadmaps for their success and persistence through to graduation should we meet with them at a time when transferring into the college would allow to meet timely graduation mandates. The College of Education Student Success Resource Center is the base from which our work with students operates, and maintaining it with functional and up-to-date equipment only enhances an overall positive FAU experience for our students. Our goal is to maintain a student friendly space where problems can be solved and academic plans can be formulated instantaneously, and students can have access to technology to help form their semester objectives. We believe that our processes with students, especially our emphasis on transfer student orientation improves the quality of their overall FAU experience from the start, and your support of this equipment request for the College of Education Student Success Resource Center will be money well allocated as we all seek to assist our students reach their goal of graduation.

Facilities

N/A

Hardware Requirements

College of Education Student Success Resource Center 2017-2018 3 keyboard/touchpads for Dell Latitude tablets 3 @ $199.00 each $600.00 http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-latitude-11-keyboard/apd/580-aerk/handhelds-tablet-pcs 3 security lock adaptors for Dell Latitude Tablets 3 @ $40.00 each $120.00 https://www.maclocks.com/enterprise/dell-latitude-10-tablet-lock-dell-tablet-lock.html OR http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&orig_s=gen&sku=a6451164&s=hied 3 sturdy cases for Dell Latitude tablets 3 @ $30.00 each $90.00 http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/accessories/apd/a8668862?ref=192_recs_ttl&c=us&l=en&cs=04 10 Latitude ES5480 14” standard laptops 10 @ $1100.00 each $11,000.00 10 new mouse devices 10 @ 20.00 each $200.00 https://www.staples.com/Microsoft-USB-Wireless-Mobile-Mouse-3500-Loch-Ness-Gray-GMF-00010-/product_865915 15 mousepads 15 @ 5.00 each $75.00 https://www.staples.com/mousepads/directory_mousepads AA and AAA batteries (40 each) 2 sets of 20 $60.00 https://www.staples.com/AA+batteries/directory_AA%2520batteries https://www.staples.com/AAA+batteries/directory_AAA%2520batteries 4 locking cases for IPads 4 @ 40.00 each $160.00 https://www.ipevo.com/prods/ipad_security_case_with_lock_and_stand_for_all_generations_of_ipad 10 additional laptop locks 10 @20.00 each $200.00 https://www.staples.com/Kensington-Portable-Combination-Laptop-Lock-Black-6-Carbon-Strengthen-Steel-Cable/product_343147 TOTAL $12,505

Software Requirements

N/A

Personnel Costs

N/A

Other Costs

N/A

Timeline

Our goal will be to begin upgrading equipment as soon as possible should the proposal be funded - expected late Spring, 2018 or early Summer, 2018.

Sustainability

This proposal is, in effect, being submitted to maintain the Student Success resource Center which was supported in previous semesters. Upgrading the equipment in order to replace computers which have become less efficient and expanding our reach with student numbers is our goal. We plan to maintain our facility by always assessing the current need.

Resource Matching

N/A

Implementing Organization

The COE office for Academic and Student Services will work with the COE Technology Team in order to implement the project.