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Reimagining Undergraduate Education at Binghamton:

Innovation, AI, and Your Student's Future

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Paul Gorelik, Associate Director for Undergraduate Education

Donald Loewen, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Stephen Ortiz, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Enrichment

Amber Stallman, Registrar and Assistant Provost for Student Success

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The Binghamton

Undergraduate Experience

  • Our goals:
    • Students aspire to do great things . . . and we provide the prompts, opportunities and supports to help them
    • Students graduate to become responsible citizens and successful in their chosen career path
    • The Binghamton degree gains value over time

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Innovation, Exploration, Change

A few current initiatives:

  • Create minors that allow students to build practical, workforce-ready skills that enrich their academic major (e.g. Digital and Data Studies)
  • Task Force to provide broad AI-relevant approaches:
    • Teaching/Learning environment
    • Workforce readiness
    • Ethical and Civic perspectives
  • Expand opportunities for undergraduate research (and other high-impact activities)

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Value and General Education

  • National Associate of Colleges and Employers (NACE) - Skills employers are looking for.
    • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
    • Oral/Written Communication
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
    • Digital Technology
  • General Education at Binghamton
    • Critical Thinking
    • Information Literacy - Updated
    • Composition
    • Civic Discourse - New

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BINGHAMTON’S UG RESEARCH GROWTH

2012-2024

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Binghamton’s Structures for UG Research

  • First-year Curricular-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences:
    • First-Year Research Immersion (STEM), 2014
    • Source Project (Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences), 2017
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  • Binghamton University Projects for New Student Researchers (begun Spring 2024)

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Binghamton University’s Projects for New Undergraduate Researchers (BUPNUR)

  • Launched Spring 2024
  • Students with no previous research experience
  • Match students with faculty mentors
  • Funded research experiences

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Why it Matters

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First-year retention rate over time

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SUNY Center comparison – 1-year retention rate

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Peer Institution Comparison (Fall 2023 cohort)

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4-year graduation rate over time

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SUNY Center comparison – 4-year graduation rate

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6-year graduation rate over time

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SUNY Center comparison – 6-year graduation rate

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Student Support - Academic Success Advising

The Goal:

  • Ensure students feel supported, informed, and capable of long-term success

What We Do:

  • Guide students through college transitions (academic, personal, social)�
  • Provide 1:1 advising and coaching to build strong academic habits and confidence�
  • Help students understand requirements (policies, expectations)�
  • Identify concerns early using faculty referrals, alerts, and student data�
  • Proactively reach out when a student may be struggling

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Academic Assessment Period and Early Alerts

  • The Academic Assessment Period is (~week 5) is a time to provide substantive academic assessment or feedback to your students. Part of this is identifying students who are at risk by submitting an alert.

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  • Early Alerts - Categorized into varying levels of concern
      • Kudos or improvement in performance
      • Late or missing assignments
      • Attendance challenges
      • Academic performance issues

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  • Proactive Communication - Students receive email and text messages

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  • Advising Follow-Up - Alerts prompt advisors and staff to connect students with faculty and campus resources

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Degree Audit and Planning using Degree Works

  • Provides students and advisors a clear, real time view of degree progress including complete, in-progress and still needed requirements

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  • Built in “what-if” capabilities to allow students to explore majors/minors, map future terms and make decisions that support timely graduation

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  • Linked directly in the BU Brain student portal

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Supporting Your Student

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  • Normalize Challenge
    • College courses may be more demanding
  • Talk About Balance
    • Help your student reflect on managing academics, social life and personal time
  • Encourage Asking for Help Early
    • Remind them that seeking support is a strength
  • Encourage your student to:
    • Check their Binghamton email daily
    • Read text messages
    • Respond to outreach

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Thank you!

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Questions?

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Reimagining Undergraduate Education at Binghamton