Nationwide, 56 percent of those who seek higher education graduate with an undergraduate degree within six years. The rest don’t.
To help students succeed, first-year and sophomore students at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh are invited to take the EBI MAP-Works survey, a survey used at more than 1,500 colleges and universities to impact students development, learning and retention.
“The MAP-Works survey will assess students in terms of their strengths and weaknesses related to what they need to be successful to reach destination graduation,” Tracy Siebers, MAP-Works coordinator, said. “It is important for students to take the survey several times throughout their time at UWO due to the fact that expectations, demands, support and situations change that can impact their ability to be successful.”
Students receive an email invitation to participate in the survey twice a year, with the fall transition survey administered Sept. 22–30 and Oct. 20–28. Results are then available in the My UWO student portal for students, and is also available for faculty and staff.
“UWO staff and faculty use the survey to reach out to students to assist them in being successful,” Siebers said. “Individual coaching sessions are scheduled with staff/faculty/peer mentors after the students results are in and students are then coached in setting up a plan for success.”
UW Oshkosh faculty and staff use the MAP-Works survey results to provide programs to students based on the overall results. The spring 2014 results showed both first-year and sophomore students struggled the most with homesickness (separation) and test anxiety.
“Workshops are created to address the needs that students are identifying as impacting their success while at UWO,” Siebers said.
For UW Oshkosh student Emily Bollman, the MAP-Works survey results helped her identify struggles such as time management, test anxiety, homesick, financial struggle and course struggle.
“I learned a lot about myself when I received my results. I knew it was time for me to make changes to help with my career in college,” Bollman said. “I learned about the countless resources that were available to me to help me with the obstacles.”
This year, students are encouraged to use PRIDE to reach their academic goals. P-rioritize Academic Success, R-Reach out to Resources, I-Get Involved, D-Develop short term plans to reach your goal of graduation with staff/faculty with your MAP-Works results, E-Explore Oshkosh and UWO.
“A combination of all of these factors will aid students in reaching destination-graduation,” Siebers said.
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