Compass Community vs. Non-Compass Community Focus Groups: Assessment for Evaluating and Improving Program Effectiveness

Presented by Kate Morgan (Office of Registrar, Compass Community)

The Compass Community is Longwood University’s only living learning community and is comprised of no more than 24 full-time, first-time, undeclared students. These students live together in the same residence hall and are enrolled together in three general education courses each semester during their first year. Generally speaking, the guiding purpose of the Compass Community is to provide meaningful educational opportunities that bridge in and out of classroom learning and ease students’ transition to college. Specific learning outcomes for students in the Compass Community include the ability to identify campus resources for academic success, develop meaningful connections with other students, engage in activities that enhance academic and social experiences, and form professional relationships with fellow students, faculty and staff.  Initiatives and specialized programming is offered to students in an effort to achieve these learning outcomes. No formal assessment of the Compass Community was conducted prior to this study and this presentation attempts to highlight preliminary themes that may assist in understanding the differences between Compass Community students’ experiences and the experiences of non-Compass, undeclared students.

Presentation Slides:
morgan_2016-assessment-conference-presentation

Presenter Bio:

Kate Morgan is the Assistant Director of Degree Audit in the Office of the Registrar at Longwood University. In 2008, she began at Longwood in the Academic & Career Advising Center where she was able to assist students in exploring their interests and related career paths. In 2014, she moved to her current position in the Registrar’s Office where she is able to continue working with Longwood’s undeclared student population as an academic advisor and coordinator of the Compass Community.