Identifying Components for Student Success: In chapters 4-7 of Renn and Reason (2013), you studied many elements of the campus environment, along with components that address student transitions and student development and contribute to student success. Select a particular institution with which you have some association (UHV, your undergrad alma mater, your child’s college or university, or an institution where you work). Research the institution through their website, institutional publications, and personal conversations with those associated with the institution. Use any or all of these methods as needed to get as complete as possible an understanding of the institution in relation to student success components. From your research write a paper that includes the following sections: 1) Describe: A description of the campus, the demographics of the student body, the faculty, the variety of teaching modes, the location(s), and any other factors that contribute to the composite picture of your chosen institution. What are the key things that someone seeking to understand this institution “from the outside” needs to know about the campus and its students? 2) Theorize: From the textbook and at least three other scholarly sources, identify five key components that you think should be a part of the campus environment for the students there to experience success and be prepared to engage productively in society when they graduate. Support your decisions from your readings/research. (Be sure to cite your sources.) 3) Analyze: From the components you identified, and to the extent possible, note how many of these your chosen institution has in place. If you were the institution’s president, what would be your key priority to enhance or improve students’ experience and success at that institution? The rubric for the paper will be as follows: Criteria Possible Describe: Paper includes a comprehensive description of the campus, demographics, faculty, and other factors. The reader gets a good sense of the key things necessary to understand this institution “from the outside.” 20 Theorize: Makes reference to textbook and at least three other scholarly sources. Identifies five key components that should be a part of the campus environment for student students. Sources are appropriately cited 20 Analyze: Paper analyzes the connection between the components of success and the institution being analyzed. Paper discusses: If you were the president of the institution, what would be the key priority to improve student success at that institution? 20 The paper is presented professionally, adhering to norms of grammar, punctuation, and APA formatting guidelines. 15 75
