Assessment

The following links provide assessment information and data related to the ways in which K-State First's courses and programs positively affect and impact student participants:

 

Selected Research and Presentations

K-State First is dedicated to finding out what works best to help students to learn and to succeed in college. From its origins in a 2007 Task Force Report and the pilot studies of the first-year seminar concept in 2008 and 2009, K-State First has been committed not only to excellent teaching but also to research on and assessment of our courses and programs.

Research plays a vital role in assessing and evaluating the success of our programs, helping us to continually improve and build upon program initiatives. Faculty, staff, and campus administrators help us to measure student learning outcomes and other markers of student success such as retention, GPA, and degree completion rates. As an integrated, campus-wide effort, K-State First appreciates and depends on the hard work and dedication of our numerous students, faculty, staff, and K-State community members who help to make our programs a success.

View our KRex [K-State Research Exchange] Archive for more

Below are highlighted examples of the research and assessment produced by our K-State First efforts.

  • Weaver, B., Bennett, H., and Vaughan, M. (2023). Using Classroom Peer Mentors to Foster Re-Engagement. Presentation at The Conference on the First Year Experience, Los Angeles, California.

  • Vaughan, Mariya (2022). “Pulling Back the Curtain: The Everyday Magic that Makes a CAT Community Work.” Poster Presentation at the Teaching and Learning Center’s 1st Annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Showcase, Manhattan, KS.

  • Coleman, Tara; Vaughan, Mariya; Weaver, Brent (2021). “Building Empathy Through Role-Play.” Presented for the Teaching and Learning Center Professional Development Series, Manhattan, KS.

  • Coleman, Tara; Vaughan, Mariya (2021). “I Have Many Skills: Becoming the Xena of Teaching Modalities.” Presented at the 40th Annual First-Year Experience Conference, Virtual.

  • Coleman, Tara; Vaughan, Mariya; Youngblood, RJ (2021). “Attack of the Trolls: Fortify Your Event Against Online Invations.” Presented at the 40th Annual First-Year Experience Conference, Virtual.

  • Gregory Eiselein, Donald A. Saucier, and Carmen E. Macharaschwili “Designing, Implementing, and Sustaining Faculty Development: A Model for Large and Diverse FYE Programs.” Journal of Faculty Development 33.2 (May 2019): 43-48.

  • Vaughan, Mariya (2019). “Becoming Dumbledore’s Army: Academic & Social Engagement in Living-Learning Communities.” Presented at the 40th annual Southwest Popular/American Culture Association (SWPACA) Conference, Albuquerque, NM.

  • Vaughan, Mariya (2019). “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! Braving Vulnerability and Building Community.” Presented at the 1st Annual KSUnity Conference, Manhattan, KS.

  • Weaver, B., Sleigh, M., Sawyer, M. and Mota, B. (2019). Embedding Returning Staff into Your Peer Mentor Program. Presentation at The Conference on the First Year Experience, Las Vegas, NV.

  • Weaver, B., Coleman, T., Weinberg, H., Jackson, B., and Thornburg, R. (2019). Situation Critical: Responding to Difficult Situations Throughout Role Play. Presented at The Conference on the First Year Experience, Las Vegas, NV.

  • Coleman, Tara; Vaughan, Mariya (2018). “Common Book Selection: Game of Thrones Edition.” Presented at the 37th Annual First-Year Experience Conference, San Antonio, TX.

  • Vaughan, Mariya (2017). “Hashtags and Handles: Building FYE Program Identity Through Social Media.” Presented at the 36th Annual First-Year Experience Conference, Atlanta, GA.

  • Coleman, Tara; Eiselein, Gregory; Vaughan, Mariya (2017). “Archiving for the Future: Creating First-Year Experience Programs Digital Archives.” Presented at the 36th Annual First-Year Experience Conference, Atlanta, GA.

  • Weaver, B. and Voos, S. (2017). Bridging the Gap with Academic Partners: K-State First and the Academic Achievement Center. Presented at the Kansas Student Affairs Conference, Wichita, KS.

  • Weaver, B. (2017). Reimagining Peer Education Training: Engaging Approaches to Develop Purpose and Committed Peer Educators. Presented at the National Mentoring Symposium, Indianapolis, IN.

  • Kerry Priest, Donald A. Saucier, and Gregory Eiselein.“Exploring Students’ Experiences in First-Year Learning Communities from a Situated Learning Perspective.” International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 28.3 (2016): 361-371.

  • Angelique Courbou, Laura Kanost, Matthew Yates, “Preparing Students for an International Sojourn: Classroom-Based Models,” Kansas International Educators Conference, Overland Park, Kansas. [Conference Presentation, April 2016]

  • Tara Coleman, Donald Saucier, & Stuart Miller. "Trickle Down Engagement in First-Year Common Reading Programs." 35th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Orlando, FL. [Poster Presentation, February 2016]

  • Donald Saucier, Stuart Miller, & Amanda Martens. "Undergraduate Research in the Context of First-Year Experience Courses." 35th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Orlando, FL. [Conference Presentation, February 2016]

  • Gregory Eiselein. "First Year/First Generation: Pedagogies that Work." CLASP/First Scholars Program. Washington State University. [Invited Talk, April 2015]

  • Donald Saucier and Gregory Eiselein. "Experiences of Academic Engagement and Classroom Community in Learning Communities." 34th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience. Dallas. [Conference Presentation, February 2015]

  • Donald Saucier. “Sharing More Than the Content: The Trickle Down Engagement Approach.” Spotlight K-State. Kansas State University. [Presentation, March 2014]

 

Opportunities to Get Involved

If you are interested in research related to student learning, assessment, or the first year of college or would like to discuss the possibility of a research partnership, please contact Brie Heidbreder at heidbr@k-state.edu. If you are interested in joining our research and assessment team, please contact the Chair of our Research and Assessment Committee, Don Saucier at saucier@k-state.edu.