Asee peer logo

A Department-wide Approach to Student Success Based on Ecological Validation

Download Paper |

Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

June 26, 2024

Conference Session

Engineering Education Issues Relevant to Agricultural, Biological and Ecological Engineering: Part 1

Tagged Division

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Division (BAE)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--46435

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46435

Download Count

73

Paper Authors

biography

Deepak R Keshwani University of Nebraska, Lincoln

visit author page

Dr. Deepak Keshwani is an associate professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also serves as a Faculty Fellow for Student Success in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. In addition to teaching and advising both undergraduate and graduate students, Deepak the AG futures learning community in leadership, service, and civic engagement.

visit author page

biography

Jennifer Keshwani University of Nebraska, Lincoln

visit author page

Jenny Keshwani is an Associate Professor of Biological Systems Engineering and Science Literacy Specialist in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is active in promoting science and engineering education.

visit author page

author page

Logan Ryan Newman University of Nebraska, Lincoln

author page

Rachel Ibach University of Nebraska - Lincoln

author page

Taryn King University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Download Paper |

Abstract

Over the past two years, the XYZ Department at the University of XYZ has embarked on a department-wide transformation of advising and retention practices to support undergraduate student success. The department has three undergraduate majors across two different colleges. The motivation for the transformation included rapidly changing advising systems and processes at the institutional level, institutional goals for retention and graduation rates, faculty, and staff desire to enhance student belonginess in the department, and increased faculty-staff partnership. The theoretical framework used for the transformation was the ecological validation model designed to foster student success by focusing on the strengths, needs, and experiences of students. The model is based on seven behavioral norms and is based on a longitudinal study of a scholars program at the University of XYZ A department faculty member was part of a multi-year institutional professional learning community (PLC) that explored scale-up and scale-out of this model. Based on their experience from the PLC, this model was used in the development of the department’s overall student services ethos and in the specific implementation of two initiatives: 1) hybrid advising/mentoring model, and 2) peer-mentoring program. This practice paper provides an overview of the ecological validation model and presents our approach to implement these initiatives. We also reflect on challenges and future opportunities including long-term sustainability and assessment opportunities.

Keshwani, D. R., & Keshwani, J., & Newman, L. R., & Ibach, R., & King, T. (2024, June), A Department-wide Approach to Student Success Based on Ecological Validation Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--46435

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2024 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015