A Hood banner hangs in Whitaker Campus Center. Photo by Logan Samuels.
By Logan Samuels
//The faculty and staff of Hood College share the mission of making first-year students feel comfortable and acclimated on campus through specialized freshmen programming.
As part of this programming, students gathered in Hodson Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 19 to hear a presentation from Paige Rawl, an activist who fights bullying and raises awareness about the Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome. She is also the author of the memoir “Positive: Surving My Bullies, Finding Hope and Living to Change the World”, which was this year’s selection for the first-year read program directed by Professor Martha Bari.
The program was implemented six years ago by Bari and requires all incoming freshmen to read an assigned novel the summer preceding their entry to the college. Beginning at orientation, students have opportunity to discuss the novel with facilitators.
Every October, the author is invited to speak and host events at the college.
“Meeting the author of the first-year read is the centerpiece of the program itself,” President Andrea Chapdelaine said.
Provost Deborah Ricker affirmed Chapdelaine’s thought and shared that having the opportunity to meet the authors frames the conversation and enriches the campus and its students.
Each year, a committee is constructed to sort through books to choose which titles showcase the best lessons and themes for the incoming students and which authors would be available to come to campus. This year’s winning selection came directly from a student’s suggestion.
Abbey McAllister, a sophomore, recommended “Positive” because it fit well with the transition from high school to college and she admittedly could not put the book down once she started reading.
McAllister said: “It was amazing to pick the first-year read. I was incredibly honored and had never had an experience like it before. I just felt like I had made a difference for the first time.”
McAllister explained that she cherishes the freshmen read because it brings students together even before they have met in person. McAllister felt it was vital to connect the students through a shared literary experience and both faculty and staff involved with the first-year programming would agree.
Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Life Olivia White pays special attention to students and the way that programming affects them. White is fixated on retention for students between their first and second year on campus.
The first-year read has been a requirement for six years, but last year was the first year where all students were also required to take a freshmen seminar. The first-year seminar program is now mandatory for students’ core curriculum and ensures that students have an academic class where they also learn basic college skills.
Since the implementation of the required seminar and the continuation of the first-year read program, retention has increased. From 2014 to 2015, there was a 75 percent retention rate between first and second year students, but 2015 to 2016 showed an 81 percent retention: a 6 percent increase.
White said, “We knew we had done a number of things well, but we didn’t know what sort of impact to expect. The significant increase was higher than we expected, but it was a very pleasant surprise.”
With the conclusion that specific programs geared towards first-year students were making an impact, Hood has begun innovating new ideas to keep retention on the rise.
Matthew Troutman, director of residence life, announced in 2015 that beginning with the class of 2020, Hood College would now house all freshmen living on campus in designated first-year dorms.
The first-year buildings have specially trained resident assistants and programming specifically for students who are new to the college experience.
Troutman said, “There’s been good attendance at programming and there’s been a natural transition from orientation into school. [We try] to get them to take the medicine with some sugar.”
Troutman’s remedies for first-years include tutoring in the lounges of the residence halls in collaboration with the school’s tutoring staff and life skill programs. Troutman shared that this was a new experience for both RAs and students but, he is beginning to hear that things have begun to get into a rhythm.
Troutman and White have heard reports that the class of 2020 has a positive attitude and is less apathetic and more engaged on campus.
Troutman said: “We’re putting a lot into what we hope is a great payoff for students to return this spring and next fall. The culture has changed and I’d bet that retention will be even higher next year.”