1) The University of Kentucky (UK) is one of nine universities in the US that offers a wide range of studies, from agriculture to engineering, on a single campus. It has approximately 27,000 students, with 70% being undergraduates. 2) UK has the highest graduation and retention rates among public universities in Kentucky. However, graduation rates still lag and half of students who do not complete their degree leave in their first year. 3) UK studies show students with a high school GPA over 3.5 and ACT scores over 20 have higher first year retention rates around 80-90% and graduation rates within 6 years of 61-75%. Students with lower GPAs and test scores have lower

1. College Readiness and the SciencesA Conversation About Transitioning to UK

2. KY High School Grads in Transition: About UK One of 9 universities in the US to offer studies ranging from agriculture and art to engineering, law, medicine and pharmacy on a single campus Most comprehensive research university in KY Approx. 27,000 students, 70% undergraduate Fall ‘09 = 4,153 incoming first year students mid-50% range ACT composite scores 22-28 Outreach efforts in science education include KY P20 Innovation Labs, PIMSER, Farmer Institute

3. KY High School Grads in Transition: About UK “War on Attrition” resulted in retention rate over 80% for third year in a row Graduation rates still lag Excellence

4. KY High School Grads in Transition: About UK UK has highest retention/graduation rates of all public universities in KY Half of all students who do not complete their bachelor’s degree at UK leave in their first year Students who enter UK with a STEM major as their goal tend to succeed better overall

5. KY high school grads in transition: About UK UK students who pass all their classes with a C or above in their first year tend to have: High school GPAs of 3.5 and above AP course credits accepted toward graduation at UK Studied 10+ hours/week during their high school senior year Identified with being a good student Self-reported a “drive to achieve”

6. KY high school grads in transition: About UK UK Retention Studies Point To Importance of Strong Grades Over All in High School Students with 3.5+ HS GPA and20+ ACT Retention after first year = 80%-90% Graduation within 6 years = 61-75% Students with <3.5 HS GPA or<20 ACT Retention after first year = 61%-70% Graduation within 6 years = 39-49%

7. KY High School Grads in Transition: About UK Of the 4,111 first year students entering UK in Fall 2009, 31% earned college credit from successful Advanced Placement exams

8. KY High School Grads in Transition: About UK Some synergies possible: UK’s new Gen Ed courses with common learning outcomes across Intellectual Inquiry area Statewide placement standards in math and literacy Statewide Transfer Gen Ed learning outcomes KDE’s new accountability systems emphasizing college readiness from primary grades up (Individualized Learning Plans) Teacher preparation programs revised KY Core Content Standards in the sciences

9. KY High School Grads in Transition: About UK UK Service Area counties = 19.5% UK Freshmen

10. KY High School Grads in Transition: What Are The Big Questions? Why are students in some of the best schools in the state performing below benchmark ACT sciences scores? How can UK sciences faculty do any more than what is already happening in introductory science classrooms? How might we better understand the problems in transition to college, especially to increase degree completion in STEM disciplines?

11. KY High School Grads in Transition: Mini-Bridge Program, Spring 2011 Carol Hanley, College of Agriculture, ENRI and TFISE with Mark Coyne, Plant & Soil Sciences Seth DeBolt, Horticulture Jim Krupa, Biology Rebecca McCulley, Plant & Soil Sciences Stephen Testa, Chemistry