Following up on @EADHistory's thread we want to share our work in Marketing the History Major from #AHA20 #s279. From 2013 to 2016 we had a 27% decline in major numbers; since 2016 we are up 12% for majors and up 20% when you include minors with majors. 1/19
We currently have the most juniors we've had since 2013. From 2013 to 2016 there were 39% fewer HIST majors reaching junior standing @UofOklahoma. Since 2016, there are 42% more HIST majors reaching junior standing. We're adding (avg) 2+ HIST grads, 9 majors every spring 2/19
Our work in reversing this decline has 3 aspects: curricular changes; supporting professional advising; and targeted data outreach.
Curricular: in 2009 we added 2 majors-only courses to help create community among our students + bolster their skills. 3/19
Curricular: in 2009 we added 2 majors-only courses to help create community among our students + bolster their skills. 3/19
In 2013 we overhauled the US survey format: it is now taught by senior, tenured faculty w/small discussion groups led by graduate students. In 2015 we streamlined our catalog. We got rid of "topics" course numbers w/no descriptions, reduced senior-level course numbers and 4/19
reduced pre-reqs for HIST courses. We are teaching an increasing number of credit hours since 2015. In 2017 we created an #internship program for majors, pairing students w/local historical agencies, archives and museums. Internship enrollment is up 43% since its creation. 5/19
In 2016 the dept moved advising from faculty to a professional, full-time advisor, under a @OUArtsSciences initiative supported by our 2017-2020 Strategic Plan. The advisor meets w/every student from soph year to graduation. 6/19
The advisor is trained on all graduation requirements, university policy and procedures, and makes referrals as needed to other OU offices/services for all HIST majors. The advisor is also staff sponsor for @OUHistoryClub & assists w/event planning and promotion. 7/19
Data: Experiences in advising other majors led the professional advisor to create targeted outreach to identify students who were struggling in STEM and Business majors. At OU STEM majors are exploding... In 2012 for ex we had about 650 Biology majors; now we have over 1300. 8/19
Many students switching to HIST from these majors expressed a *LOVE* of HIST but had previously felt they were unable to major in it, mostly due to financial concerns, parental pressure, and uncertainty over "what do I do with that." 9/19
Using data, we worked to identify these students. We target students in STEM and Business majors w/GPAs under 3.0 who have 45 or more hours complete- and the most important part- are *choosing* to take more HIST than just the required US survey, for gen eds and electives. 10/19
We reach out to these students every semester via email and also identify the specific HIST classes large percentages of them are enrolled in, and make presentations to those classes on the major. We have been contacted by many such students who are relieved to hear... 11/19
that it is "okay" to study something they love. When these students switch to HIST, they are overwhelmingly excited. Many cry! The turnaround on their transcripts is remarkable. Some become our BEST and MOST engaged students. Many pursue internships. 12/19
We also target a couple other groups using data to identify them. Every semester we reach out to students w/AP HIST credit, which counts in our major and minor, and students who already have a minor, about double majoring. A minor can be a "gateway drug" to the major. 13/19
Lastly our outreach is centered on enlisting students as colleagues and co-conspirators in these efforts. Last year a group of motivated students created @OUHistoryClub which is also creating a pipeline of new majors. The club is open to all majors. 14/19
Last year they hosted a WW1 Bells of Peace Commemorative Event attended by over 55 members of the community. This fall they hosted a charity fundraiser for a local citizens' history non-profit, through a Halloween skating party. And this spring they are planning to host... 15/19
#HATM with @HerbertHistory. These students are an "activist core" of students and passionate about expanding the presence and visibility of all humanities students on campus. And yes we rely on social media to build this, as well. We're also on Facebook @HistoryOU. 16/19
Areas for continued improvement in the future: seeking to create a Board of Visitors for our dept that will fund unpaid internships + increase career networking opportunities. @UWHistoryCareer has been instrumental in providing guidance on this process. 17/19
We also want to improve relationship building with first-year advisors at OU and our first-year students, to strengthen those community bonds early for students who come to OU already passionate about studying History. 18/19
All of this work is only possible due to robust and unwavering support from History faculty and @OUArtsSciences administration. We're thrilled to share our story and student successes and hope this info is helpful to other depts! 19/19
