Transcript Slide 1
Achieving the Dream: Completing Educational Goals for the Workforce
Annual Conference of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education December 2008
AtD
Dr. Virginia M. Carter, Provost
Delaware County Community College, Media, PA
Dr. Judith Gay, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Dr. John C. Flynn, Jr. Vice President of Academic Affairs and provost
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Goals for today
• To provide information about the achievement gaps in education and how AtD initiatives are attempting to close the gaps • To explore the systematic changes in institutions at three different levels to address the gaps • To provide examples of how three different institutions met the challenge of improving student success
Workforce Issues
Workforce Issues • In the next 10 years nearly 25% of the workforce must be replaced • The level of education needed to earn a middle class living has increased significantly • Philadelphia is 92 nd of the 100 largest cities in number of residents with a college education
National Data
• 1,157 Community Colleges • 6.66 million credit students in CC’s ( 12.7% African American, 6.2 %Asian, 14.2 %Hispanic and 58.6% white) • 5 million non-credit students in CC’s • Average age is 29 • 37.8 % receive some aid and of the Federal aid, 35% are receiving Pell grants »
According to NCES 2004 data
AtD Data
According to DATA Notes July – November 2008 • Females referred to developmental education were more likely to persist and outperform their male counterparts • Nearly 25% of all students leave during their first year for reasons other than transfer or credential attainment
AtD Data cont.
• The profile of the highest dropout occurs for: males, black, 20-24, needing developmental education, and starting part time.
AtD Objectives
Increase the percentage of students who accomplish the following: • successfully complete the course they take; • advance from remedial to credit-bearing courses; • enroll in and successfully complete gatekeeper courses; • enroll from one semester to the next; • earn degrees or certificates.
AtD at the Macro level Changing an Institution • Central to mission • Not a “project” • Data driven • A realignment of culture
AtD at the Macro level
Broad Based Planning • LRP, MS self study, internal/division planning • Data driven – CSSE, Benchmark data, internal information • Alignment of questions • Changing the landscape
Institutional Impact of AtD
• Increased faculty, community and Board involvement (K-16, collaboration, dual enrollment, summer youth…) • Focus on planning • Organizational changes – Director of First Year Experiences • Student Success Squad – Registration and system changes
Institutional Impact – cont.
• Successful Starts • Expansion of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning • Developmental Studies consortium • Developmental Summit – Sharing across institutions – Sharing faculty to faculty
AtD
Professional Development Goal: Improve student outcomes by increasing the use of effective educational practices.
Focus: Theme-based professional development programs; new online journal, Praktikos, targeted professional development workshops
AtD-CCP
Faculty are most interested in increasing use of Group/Hands on projects
AtD CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES - 1 Goal:
Decrease the amount of time some students spend in developmental Math. Focus is on students who score in the higher tier of the Accuplacer test.
MATH 010 Grades by Accuplacer Tier
Higher Tier Lower Tier 0% 50% 100% 150% A,B,C D,F W
Interventions & Innovations
• MAT 010B* is a two-week arithmetic refresher course offered prior to the fall and spring semesters. • • MAT 011B* is a 4 credit beginning algebra class that incorporates a review of arithmetic.
Both new options enable a qualified student to complete two semesters of dev math in less time and save money.
* students with appropriate placement scores may register for these alternative options.
MAT 010/011 Control group
Fall ’07
50% MAT 010B/MAT011 43% n = 21 MAT011B 47% n = 17
Findings
Spring ‘08
40% 58% n = 12 55% n = 11
AtD CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES - 2 GOAL
: Increase student success in Math 010 focus is on students who score in the lower tier of the Accuplacer test.
• Supplemental Instruction (peer tutors) in arithmetic classes • Learning Communities • MAT 010 (Arithmetic) faculty orientation • MAT 010 Blackboard site for faculty • Math Course Information Guide for advisors/faculty • Alternative approaches in the arithmetic curriculum
AtD College Websites
Delaware County Community College – www.dccc.edu
Community College of Philadelphia – www.ccp.edu
Montgomery County Community College – www.mc3.edu
Achieving the Dream www.achievingthedream.org