UNIVERSITY PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL AWARD FOR RETENTION

Southeast Missouri State University has been awarded the 1999 Effective Retention Program Award for its First Year Learning Team program.

The National Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange presented the award.

Representatives from more than 200 colleges and universities cast votes in the contest.

The First Year Learning Teams, commonly referred to as FLighTs, assist freshmen in the academic and social transition to college life.

Each group involves about 25 students who are enrolled in courses that center around a particular theme or interest, such as biology, pre-law and exploring international and American cultures.

Most FLighT students live in the Towers East residence hall. Each team has a veteran student who serves as a peer mentor.

Special community advisers are assigned to work with the groups.

"I think the FLighT students really enjoy having an automatic group of 24 friends," said Nancy Birk, a former graduate assistant who coordinates the University Studies Advisory Center.

"It is very comforting for them to know that they will be living and attending three classes together," she said.

"They also can attend field trips, special activities and be involved in the community," Birk said.

The program has grown in the past three years from four to six to 10 FlighTs.

Eighty-seven percent of FLighT students in the fall 1998 semester returned for their spring semester. Sixty-seven percent became involved in other campus activities and organizations, school officials said.