Program Evaluations

EVALUATORS COMMENTS



​WHO:  Jacqueline Harris
            Writing and Study Strategies Coordinator
            Ball State University Learning Center

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     Strengths:
     • Good tying of theoretical components to all three schools
     • All six points highlighted were important and useful to retention

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     Suggestions for revision of program:
     • In hiring a Retention Specialist, other five points could be included in the specialist’s job description
     • In addition to Retention Specialist, open the Office of Immersive Learning and split the five points 

       into these two positions
     • Change suggested revision of program from “Establish Student Support Services,” to “Establish

       tracking for ‘at risk’ Students.”   Rationale:  “Student Support Services” many times means tutoring,

       advising, supplemental instruction and/or developmental classes. 
     • Do not pay faculty and staff to mentor students.  Suggestions for other mentors could include

       professional advisors, departmental faculty advisors, student peer mentors (undergraduate or

       graduate) 

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​WHO: Melinda Messineo
           Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
           Department Chairperson
           Director of Freshman Connections and
           Serves on Provost’s Immersive Learning Committee Ball State University



     Strengths:
     • Program looks at retention from a variety of school types and views from different angles within

       those institutions



     Suggestions for revision of program:
     • Can one model fit all institutions of higher learning?  How can the program take into account the

       organizational differences within the institutions?
     • Implement a best practices proposal to demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategies
     • Clarify why we set the threshold at 60%.  Setting one goal may prove it to work for only one of the

       diverse institutions researched
     • Include transfer students in the retention survey
     • Describe how an Office of Immersive Learning would work with already established programs at

       other institutions. Departments are usually responsible for developing programs and they are then

       reviewed through the college and then administration.
     • What is funding source for the mentors?  Have supplemental compensation policies been 

       reviewed?