Academy on the First College Year

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How are you ensuring your students’ success in their first college year?

The first year of college is foundational to the success of students, and as an institution, you help shape that experience. The Academy on The First College Year is here to help you do just that. Our team of experts draws on data, scholarship and years of experience to provide you with an evidence-based learning experience that will allow you to develop a plan aimed at improving and transforming your first year students’ experience.

With our Academy, you’ll gain valuable insight into what makes the first college year successful and what you can do to improve it. You’ll learn about different theories, policies and practices surrounding student success in the first year of college. You’ll also identify a specific area and develop an initial plan to begin to improve the experience of your first-year students.

Apply for the Academy today and take the first step towards shaping your students’ future success. With our evidence-based learning and data-driven approach, you’ll be able to ensure every student can succeed in their first year of college.

Who Should Participate

Two Year and Four Year Institutions
Public and Private Institutions
Institutions wanting to refresh a first year program
Institutions wanting to create a first year program
Any institution focused on improving the first college year for all students.

How You’ll Benefit

Gain insight and feedback from the Gardner team and other institutions in the Academy.
Understand and plan to be responsive to the needs of all of your first-year students.
Apply feedback on your initial plan to develop an approach to improving an aspect of the experience of your first-year students.
Be prepared to start and lead the redesign of the first-year students’ experience at your institution.

Engage your institutional team in an exploration of the foundational aspects of student success in the first college year.

The academy draws from a broad array of research and practice-based literature, interactions with notable scholars specializing in the first college year, and various data sources, participants will conduct an institutional audit and begin to develop a plan aimed at improving the experience of students in the first college year.

Key Features

Gardner Institute Expertise

Drawing from over forty years of experience, the Gardner Institute has tapped the considerable knowledge of our founders, John N. Gardner and Betsy Barefoot, and our CEO Drew Koch.Their wisdom is further augmented by our facilitators: Brent Drake, Stephanie Foote, Sara Stein Koch, and Fe lita Williams, all of whom bring with them a wealth of scholarly and practical knowledge. During the Academy, you will receive feedback and support from one of the facilitators who will serve as your advisor.

Evidence-Based and Practical

During the Academy, you will be introduced to evidence-based approaches that are practical and can be adapted and applied in various institutional settings.

Identify an Area to Improve the First College Year

By the end of the Academy, your team will have identified and be prepared to develop a plan to improve an area or aspect of the experience of your first-year students.

Empower Your Students to Succeed with Our Evidence-Based Learning Approach.

Fees:

Fees are based on undergraduate enrollment as determined by College Navigator. Fees are assessed per institution, not per individual participant.

Undergraduate Enrollment:

Up to 2,000 undergraduates $6,380
2,001- 5,000 undergraduates $7,810
5,001-10,000 undergraduates $9,900
10,001-15,000 undergraduates $12,210
15,000 +undergraduates $14,520

Help your first-year students become your second year students.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we apply?

Applications are currently being accepted for Spring 2025 cohort. You can apply at this link.

Is there a deadline to apply?

Applicants are accepted on a first come, first served basis; subject to approval. Early registration is recommended. Spring 2025 Cohort applications are due by March 31, 2025.

Who should be on our institutional team?

Institutional teams should consists of at least three people, from the following areas:

Academics Affairs
Admissions
Advising
First Year Program
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Institutional Research
Faculty Leaders, especially those teaching first-year seminars or high enrollment first year courses
Re-Accreditation Teams
Student Affairs
Student Success
Students
Title III Teams

Your institution has the option to create a team or utilize an existing team or committee. The individuals will vary by institution, a successful team is one most likely to design and create an equity-focused retention process at your institution.

When are the synchronous meetings?

The synchronous meetings:

April 8 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern
April 15 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern
April 22 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern
April 29 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern
May 6 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern
May 13 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern

How many hours per week will participants need to complete the Academy?

Depending on the size of your team and how the work is divided we estimate approximately 3 -5 hours per week for the Academy.

How many people should we have on our team?

We recommend a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8. We can accommodate a larger team.

How will I know if my institution has been approved?

You will receive an application confirmation email within 1 week of applying. An agreement will be sent to the person designated in the application. Once the agreement has been signed you will receive further information from the Academy facilitators. Please contact info@gardnerinstitute.org with any questions.