DegreePlus is a recently developed program at Western Carolina University (WCU) that aims to develop transferable skills, including professionalism, cultural responsiveness, leadership and teamwork, in students via their participation in extracurricular activities. A mixed-methods study that included focus groups and a survey was used to identify the preliminary impacts of the program. Researchers found that students view the program as a supportive initiative to help them prepare for their future and meet their career goals. Students also perceive that they are learning the targeted skills and are able to apply them to a limited extent. Finally, students view the program as a means of connecting to their university community. We anticipate that student participation in this program may assist with other institutional goals, such as retention and student success, as many of the impacts from the program align with principles that support these objectives.
The DegreePlus program at Western Carolina University is a newly developed initiative to help students develop transferable skills, including professionalism, cultural responsiveness, leadership and teamwork, by attendance at specific extracurricular events. The program was first implemented in the 2017-2018 academic year as a pilot with Honors College students, conditionally admitted students and students in specific living-learning communities. Participation by these student groups was encouraged through targeted marketing, transition courses, required attendance at DegreePlus events, and gamification. This research addresses how these methods impacted student participation. We concluded that requiring early participation influenced some students to continue their involvement in DegreePlus, and gamification helped students get interested in the program, but students also recognized the intrinsic value of the program and planned to continue their involvement. Targeted marketing helped to increase awareness and understanding of the program and how it works.
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