ANNUAL REPORT Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs ENGAGING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS FY 2012 INSIDE Message from the Vice Chancellor 3 THE UIC EXPERIENCE 8 UIC’s Strong Tradition of Student Affairs 4 UIC Athletics 10 Preparation and Transitions Impact Donor Honor Roll 12 Academic Success 5 Student Affairs Departments 15 Engagement and Exploration Impact Student Learning 7 Message from the Vice Chancellor Dear Friends and Supporters, I am pleased to share with you another year of highlights and accomplishments from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) and its departments, which work closely with students to enhance student success. This year marks the 30th year since UIC consolidated its two Chicago campuses. The past three decades have been a time of profound change for Student Affairs as the direction has moved from providing basic services to strategically designed programs to nurture student success and improve degree completion. While Student Affairs historically served the students’ out­of­class needs through providing a wide array of programs and services, the mission has evolved to actively engage students in the learning process. From the addition of residence halls on the east side of campus to creation of the Student Services Building to continued focus on student learning in partnership with Academic Affairs, a more holistic approach has contributed to campus gains in student retention and graduation rates. The OVCSA nurtures student academic success from orientation through graduation by offering a well­rounded collegiate experience that fosters lifelong success. Alleviating barriers to degree completion is an important part of the OVCSA’s mission. Financial obstacles often prevent students from engaging fully in their educational pursuits. The Supporting Excellence Endowment (SEE) scholarship supports student engagement by relieving some of the financial burden facing students. Established in 2001‚ SEE scholarships offer financial support to UIC undergraduates who demonstrate leadership skills through involvement in campus cocurricular or outside­the­classroom activities. The scholarship program recognizes the role played by students in the cocurricular life and vitality of the campus. The SEE is the first endowed scholarship program at UIC designed specifically to recognize student leaders. The OVCSA administers a series of other scholarships that are made available through the generosity of donors. All of the scholarship programs encourage academic excellence and help students overcome the financial challenges of attending college. The scholarship winners continue to express the importance of the awards in terms of academic and personal impact. OVCSA’s annual giving program extends beyond the SEE awards to fund programs and services that make UIC a welcoming and productive environment for students and their families. From supporting key programs and services to leadership development and diversity initiatives, donors make a profound impact on the outcomes that UIC students are able to achieve. The financial donations for programs and scholarships continue to make the great university envisioned decades ago flourish, preparing new leadership for an ever­changing global community. The resulting opportunities and learning acquired by our students will last them a lifetime. On behalf of UIC students and my OVCSA colleagues, I thank you for your generous and continued support, which helps to promote student success. Sincerely, Barbara Henley Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs 3 UIC’s Strong Tradition of renovated student facilities have emerged. Campus Student Affairs Housing has tripled the number of on­campus residents; the Flames Athletic Center was established to From its earliest beginnings at Navy Pier, students support the training and academic service needs of recognized the importance of campus life. According to student­athletes; new fitness centers were built; the the UIC historian, “Even though the Chicago South Campus anchored UIC firmly in the Undergraduate Division was a commuter campus in a neighborhood; and the Commuter Student Resources grimy and overcrowded facility, students immediately Center (CSRC) opened to provide additional student began trying to establish a sense of campus life.” The support. early development of programs and services responded to growing student desire for a sense of community, Strategic initiatives have been implemented to assist with a focus on student clubs, social events, and students in achieving their academic goals. The athletics. The “new” Circle Campus and the Medical establishment of clear goals with measurable student Center Campus continued to support student needs learning outcomes is an integral part of the strategic outside the classroom, adapting as student trends plan and drives the OVCSA effort to support the changed. Early changes included the addition of university’s academic mission. The outcomes also on­campus housing for students on the Medical contribute to the increases in student retention and Center Campus and Student Centers for both campuses. graduation rates. The OVCSA works in partnership with Academic Affairs to assess student academic Fast­forward to the consolidation of the Chicago achievements and implement initiatives to improve campuses. The university made a bold move to student learning. consolidate the Chicago campuses in 1981, which set a new direction that transformed UIC into a leader in Everyone on the OVCSA team, from the vice chancellor research and academic excellence. With the and the professional staff leading programs and services establishment of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for to student peer mentors and housekeepers, contributes Student Affairs (OVCSA) in 1983, the campus solidified to fostering student academic success. Resident its commitment to all students. Over the three decades assistants and peer mentors assist other students with since then, the facilities of UIC have changed to create questions that arise related to academics and student an environment that supports a community of scholars. life. The cashiers, desk attendants, and housekeepers In response to the changing needs of students, new and maintain a pleasant, orderly atmosphere that is conducive to academic excellence. Together, the staff creates a welcoming and productive environment with conveniently located services to engage students with the campus. Engaged, well­informed students can find the tools and support they need to achieve their academic goals. The OVCSA strives to establish positive relationships with prospective students and their families that extend through their enrollment to graduation. The overall goal is to support the UIC academic mission and to contribute to advancement of students’ personal and academic growth. Some highlights of our many contributions are included in this annual report and will follow. University of Illinois at Navy Pier ­ 1946 4 2012 Graduates Celebrate New Beginnings Preparation and Transitions Accomplishments Impact Academic Success • The TRIO/Upward Bound (UB) Program operated 25 sessions for 99 students in the Saturday Academy The transition from high school to college has become during the academic year and 47 participants in the part of the national conversation about student success. five week summer residential session. Three high First­generation college students are at a disadvantage school seniors earned college credit through the dual because they sometimes lack family members to rely on enrollment program with the Chicago Public Schools for advice and guidance about college. Additionally, and the City Colleges of Chicago. large numbers of students arrive at the university unprepared to succeed with the college curriculum. • Three­fourths of the male participants in UB reported While OVCSA has traditionally offered programs that acceptance into an institution of higher learning for assist students adjust to expectations and rigors of the fall 2012. classroom, the staff continues to identify best practice • The African American Academic Network (AAAN) solutions to increase the opportunities for academic assisted 233 prospective students in submitting their success. Programs targeted to high school students, as undergraduate applications to the University of Illinois well as first­year and transfer students aim to remove the at Chicago for fall 2012. Of the 233 prospective obstacles new students may encounter during their students that submitted applications, 142 (60.9%) transition to academic life at UIC. Engagement of and students were admitted to UIC and 52 (22.3%) support for first­year students positively contribute to enrolled for fall 2012. increased retention. The OVCSA outreach efforts resulted in a myriad of accomplishments, some of which • AAAN’s recruitment unit visited more than 25 schools follow. providing application workshops and presentations to prospective students; approximately 586 contact cards were completed by the students and submitted to AAAN. 5 • The Office of International Services (OIS) held 22 orientation sessions for 724 new international students. • New Student Orientation was attended by 3,294 Freshmen and 2,343 Transfer Students. • The Summer Transfer Orientation Program offered a “Transition Tools” session developed specifically for students who were veterans. • First­time freshman TRIO Academic Support Program (ASP) students were retained at a rate of 93.2%. • First­year users of the Commuter Student Resource Center were