1. ReTHINK
Shared Online Experience

2. Vision
•Intentional shared online learning experience
•Admitted Freshmen and Transfer
Undergraduate and all International students
•Complete prior to orientation
•Meet benchmarks for Council for the
Advancement of Standards (CAS)

3. Current New Student Orientation
Learning Outcomes:
•Satisfied with decision to attend PSU
•Know how to access an academic adviser to
plan for future terms
•Understand how to register for courses
•Able to identify resources on campus to seek
support
•Understand graduation requirements

4. Rationale
•Limited time at in-person orientation
•People and money
•Large transfer population with complex lives
•International and Non Resident Freshmen
anxious to start
•Online options provide a robust resource tool
that will persist
•Like MOOCs, creating a tool for students to
learn at their own pace

5. Process Map

6. Target Populations
•Domestic First Year Students
•Domestic Transfer Students
•International First Year, Transfer and Graduate
Students

7. Shared Content
•PSU History*
•University Learning Outcomes
•Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education
•Sexual Assault Awareness Education
•Academic Expectations/Dishonesty/Plagiarism
•Campus Safety Programs & Services*
•Information Technology Resources
•Library Resources
•Paying for PSU*
•Degree Requirements*
•Student Health & Counseling*
•Preparing for Orientation: Advising

8. Shared Content (Continued)
•ID Card Services*
•Transportation & Parking*
•Time Management/Study Skills
•Campus Employment
•Campus Involvement
•University Housing*
•Academic Support
•Intentional Advising
•Campus Recreation
•Athletics

9. First Year Students: Who are they?
Fall 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2012
New to PSU first-year
students 1383 1336 1418
Percent of total new 37% 34% 31%
students
Percent from Non-Res 22.8% 24.6% 24.8%
Percent from Oregon 77.2% 75.4% 75.2%
Average GPA 3.3 3.4 3.4
Average age of first-year students: 19
Percent enrolled Full-Time: 90.3%
Percent enrolled Part-Time: 9.7%
Source: OIRP Fact Book (4th week)

10. First Year Students: Why do they
need help?
•Transitions and responsibility
•Definition of a successful student
•When and where to ask for help
•Understanding university structure
•Where to look for info/events

11. First Year Students: Why do they
need options?
• Fall-to-fall retention rates
• Graduation rates
• More technologically savvy than others
• Accustomed to accessing info rather than
retaining it

12. Transfer Students: Who are they?
Fall 2010 Fall 2011
New to PSU undergraduate transfer
students (excluding Post-Bac and 2,496 2,597
Non-Admits
Percent of total new students 63% 66%
Percent from an Oregon CC 61% 62%
Percent from OUS 9% 9%
Percent from out of state 26% 25%
Average age of transfer students: 26
Percent enrolled Full-Time: 70%
Percent enrolled Part-Time: 30%

13. Transfer Students: Why do they
need options?
2010 NSSE data:
•Direct-entry seniors spent more hours working
on campus, whereas transfer students spent
more hours working off-campus.
•Direct-entry seniors reported more hours spent
in co-curricular activities than transfer seniors.
•Transfer seniors spent more time caring for
dependents than direct-entry seniors.

14. Transfer Students: What would
help?
A Shared Online Experience could:
•Provide information on a variety of topics
•Deliver information at a time students can
access it
•Allow students to access information
repeatedly and at later times
•Address different learning style

15. International Students: Who are
they?
Fall 2012 = 2105 students (10%+ from 2011)
Undergraduates = 1399 (67%)
Graduates = 697 (33%)
Studying English (IELP and ESL) = 554 (26%)
Saudi Arabia = 474
China = 354
India = 187
Japan = 155
Vietnam = 111
South Korea = 103

16. International Students: Why do
they need help?
•New education system
•Large number of tasks to complete pre-arrival
•Culture shock
•Challenges with language and new academic
and administrative systems
•Ongoing support required (post mentor
program)

17. International Students: What is the
solution?
•Shared online experience (for undergraduate
non IELP/ESL students)
•Webpage/site with dynamic, informational
video clips, and resources:
*Pre-arrival information
*International Student Mentor Program
*Arrival information
*Connecting with the international
community
*Immigration regulations

18. In Conclusion…
• Committed to improving the student
experience by improving transition to PSU
• Recruitment and retention tool
• Collaborative effort between many offices
• Utilizing existing and new technologies

19. Sample video
http://video.realviewtv.com/education/plu/?channel=1
•Professional appearance
•Dynamic
•Shows how students utilize resources
•Accessible – not YouTube