Abstract
The First-Year Experience at West Chester University (FYE @ WCU) is a dynamic, high-impact practice program that prides itself on retaining students through a university-wide effort by preparing the whole student for success. This four-credit course works from common student learning outcomes combined with disciplinary goals to emphasize student-faculty interaction, to introduce research, and to explore the campus community. The hallmarks of FYE @ WCU in its early years are partnerships and flexibility. By building strong relationships with digital services, co-curricular programming, and academic resources, FYE @ WCU was able to navigate a pilot year, one year of full-implementation, and a COVID- 19 remote year. The program today is even more focused on student success and retention because of the unique iterations in three years. The quality of FYE @ WCU, as a high-impact practice, shows in preliminary improved retention rates and resonates throughout the University.
Recommended Citation
Mrkich, S., Pantazes, T., & Marano, L. (2021). It takes a Mob: Retention and Success through First Year Experience. Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education, 4(1). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/jarihe/vol4/iss1/3