Gaining Retention and Achievement for Students Program: A Faculty Development Program
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 132, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper presents a unique faculty development program called Gaining Retention and Achievement for Students Program (GRASP) developed at New Mexico State University. A fundamental assumption of GRASP is faculty are crucial to student retention and achievement, hence the primary focus on faculty. GRASP focuses on incorporating faculty’s teaching behaviors which increase student retention and achievement. The program is composed of four interlaced components: assessment of student learning styles; faculty development to cultivate and implement appropriate teaching strategies; in-class observations and feedback of faculty and students’ classroom behavior; and assessment of the impact on student retention and achievement. Student enrollment data is presented to demonstrate the success of GRASP in improving student retention and achievement. Faculty surveys indicate faculty changed teaching practices and intend to use program strategies in future semesters.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this program was provided in part by a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NASANGT5-40087, and by a grant from the National Science Foundation under Grant No. NSFDUE-0089051.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 132 • Issue 3 • July 2006
Pages: 204 - 208
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 25, 2005
Accepted: May 10, 2005
Published online: Jul 1, 2006
Published in print: Jul 2006
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