Focus

Transitions Header Color Version

During the sophomore year, many students describe feeling as if they are in “limbo” – not into their major yet, but still completing courses similar to their first-year courses. This feeling of not having a purpose, often called the “sophomore slump,” can cause sophomores to become bored with college as they feel that they are not progressing toward their major and career fast enough, or as they question whether they will ever have enough knowledge about majors and careers to choose one. Sophomore Focus helps students to commit or re-commit to a career, major, and possible minor; make logical transitions from general education into a chosen major and minor; develop a sense of autonomy, purpose, and clear sophomore identity; and grow both personally and professionally as they participate in career experiences, leadership development, volunteerism, and broad civic engagement. During Focus, students are encouraged to begin their co-curricular transcript which will document co-curricular experiences for potential employers.

Focus: Goals and Outcomes

Sophomore Focus helps students to commit or re-commit to a career, major, and possible minor; make logical transitions from general education into a chosen major and minor; develop a sense of autonomy, purpose, and clear sophomore identity; and engage in career research, leadership development, career experiences, and broad civic engagement. Outcomes and Assessments associated with the goals of Transitions ae outlined below.

Ensure that students are informed self-advocates who accept personal responsibility for their education.

Outcomes

Rising sophomores will explore various careers that they might want to pursue and identify careers that match their interests and abilities.

Sophomores will commit (or re-commit) to a major, career, and possible minor.

Sophomores will understand how their chosen career is linked to various majors and minors offered at Clarion University.

Sophomores will understand how the required curriculum for their major is linked to career success.

Activities

Sophomores will become involved in career experiences, leadership development experiences, civic engagement, volunteerism, and other activities that enrich their professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Sophomores will reflect on their co-curricular activities by constructing a professional statement that demonstrates how these activities have enriched their professional perspectives.

Sophomores will complete a one-credit Service and Civic Engagement class (AE 261) through which they will learn about engagement and the common good, and through which they will be involved in a service learning project

Assessments

At least 90% of the sophomore class will identify one career and major that best suits them by the end of the sophomore year (e.g., no more than 10% of the sophomore class will be listed as “undecided” at the end of their sophomore year).

At least 50% of the sophomore class will engage in documented activities that enrich their professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These activities will be documented in a co-curricular university transcript.

At least 50% of the sophomore class will create a professional statement that reflects on their co-curricular experiences. The professional statement will be reproduced on a co-curricular university transcript.

Ensure that students are informed self-advocates who accept personal responsibility for their education.

Engage students in productive co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Outcomes

Students will have options and opportunities for experiencing their chosen career and students will understand the value of active participation.

Students will develop and practice leadership skills.

Students will understand that civic engagement is critical to career success and essential life habits.

Students will have options and opportunities for volunteering and will understand the value of volunteering.

Activities

Students will have opportunities to engage in a sophomore experience (volunteerism, leadership development, career experience, volunteerism, personal growth, civic engagement).

Students will continue to become more actively involved in university Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) and activities, including university-wide RSOs, and RSOs related to specific majors.

Students will create their co-curricular transcript.

Assessments

At least 50% of the sophomores will participate in a sophomore career experience.

At least 50% of the sophomores will participate in civic engagement, leadership development, career experience, personal growth experiences, or volunteerism.

At least 50% of the sophomores will create a co-curricular transcript.

Forge positive and active relationships among students, and among students, faculty and staff.

Ensure that students are informed self-advocates who accept personal responsibility for their education.

Outcomes

Students will continue developing relationships with advisors and faculty.

Students will identify sophomore tasks and resolve critical sophomore issues.

Activities

Sophomore advising events throughout the year will focus on sophomores reconnecting with their advisors to discuss career preparation, and especially how students are moving from general education into their majors.

Sophomore experiences (e.g., career experiences, volunteerism, leadership development, civic engagement) will be encouraged by faculty in the majors, and students will be advised into appropriate experiences by faculty in the majors.

Assessments

Every sophomore will have access to an iPortal Calendar with Focus year activities and major university schedules (e.g., breaks, end of semester).

All sophomores will speak with their advisors at least twice during the sophomore year.

Cement students’ and families’ commitment to Clarion University.

Outcomes

Parents and families will continue to feel connected to their students, even as their students become more autonomous.

Parents and families will continue to supports their students in appropriate ways.

Students will demonstrate increasing commitment to the goal of graduating from Clarion University.

Activities

A newsletter will be produced by the Parent’s Council in which a “Focus” section will talk about various issues related to the sophomore year and how parents and families can help their students (and themselves) to stay informed and maintain healthy, productive relationships.

Sophomore advising and faculty in the majors will engage students at Clarion University so that sophomore “slump” will be reduced.

Assessments

Parents will be queried about the usefulness of the newsletter. Responses will be used to improve the newsletter.

Sophomore retention will increase by 5%.