Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute 2011 Am I Ready for College? Is the College Ready for Me?

Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute 2011

Am I Ready for College?Is the College Ready for Me?

Center for Community College Student Engagement

Kay McClenney Director Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)

Arleen Arnsparger Project Manager Initiative on Student Success Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)

Entering students are highly motivated, are committed to achieving their academic goals, and sincerely believe they will.


90%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they believe they have the motivation to do what it takes to succeed in college.



Welcome to college!

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Welcome to college!

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We wear them down!

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85%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they’re academically prepared for college.



I thought I was ready…

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Students don’t know what they don’t know…

but we think they should!



…of our students leave before the start of their second year.

50%


Helping students succeed through the equivalent of the first semester (12–15 credit hours) can dramatically improve subsequent success rates.


Quantitative

CCSSE

CCFSSE

SENSE

Qualitative

Initiative on Student Success / Starting Right


Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)

& Starting Right:

Listening to Entering Students


SENSE & Starting Right: Listening to Entering Students4 years

232 colleges

Represents 1.6 million students

37 states, District of Columbia, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands

Focus Groups

Measuring Student Engagement

…the amount of time and energy students invest in meaningful educational practices

What we’re learning about student engagement:

It’s unlikely to happen by accident. It has to happen

by design.

SENSE focuses on…• Early Connections

• High Expectations and Aspirations

• Clear Academic Plan and Pathway

• Effective Track to College Readiness

• Engaged Learning

• Academic and Social Support Network


What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…

• Almost 30% didn’t really feel welcome.

• Fewer than half participated in on-campus orientation.

Personal ConnectionsEntering Students’ First Impressions of Their Colleges


The very first time I came to this college, I felt welcome.

17.2

42.7

34.6

2

0.9 Strongly Agree

Agree

No Opinion

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Orientation

5.6

25.2

1.4

38.3

30.4

6.9

25.6

2.4

38.6

27.6

05

1015202530354045

Online On-Campus Orientation Course (part

of course schedule)

Unable to participate (scheduling

issues)

Not aware of orientation

Part-Time



Getting Started

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Getting Started

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1. Is it mandatory? For whom?

2. What does your college data show about the impact of orientation on student persistence and first term academic success?

3. What are you doing to bring it to scale?

Discussion Questions - Orientation

What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…

• Fewer than one-quarter enrolled in a class designed to teach them the skills needed to succeed in college.

Student Success Classes Lead to… Student Success!

• Houston Community College System

• Florida Community Colleges


Creating an On-Ramp to College

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2. What does your college data show about the impact of student success courses on student persistence and first term academic success?


Discussion Questions – Student Success Courses

What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks… • 70% said an advisor helped them pick classes.• Fewer than 60% said an advisor helped them

select a major or program.• Fewer than 40% said an advisor helped them set

academic goals and create a plan for achieving those goals.

• Only 26% said a college staff member talked with them about balancing school with other commitments.

out


What do students say is the most important college service?

Academic Advising & Planning


Please advise me!

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What’s my plan?

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2. What does your college data show about the impact of academic planning on student persistence and first term academic success?


Discussion Questions – Academic Planning


1. Mandatory orientation?

2. Mandatory Student Success Courses?

3. Mandatory Academic Planning?

Next Steps


Tools to Help You www.cccsse.org

Examples from Member Colleges

Student Focus Group Toolkit (can be adapted for faculty and staff focus groups)

Video clips

Accreditation toolkit


The Road to College Completion!

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Documents

Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute 2011 Am I Ready for College? Is the College Ready for Me?