Transcript Document
College Student Success Project College Student Success Project Presenters: Bob Bendotti, Vice President of Learning Paul Dale, Vice President of Learning Support Services Rick Sheets, Director of Learning Support Center Heather Kruse, Director of Student Development Michaelle Shadburne, Manager, Employee & Organizational Learning Laurie Pemberton, Director of Institutional Effectiveness Presentation Learning Objectives • Components in PVCC’s iStartSmart model and their importance • Attributes that contribute to the success of new college students • Strategies and indicators for related program assessment Overview of MCCCD/PVCC • Maricopa County Community College District consists of 10 colleges and 2 skill centers in the Greater Phoenix AZ area • Paradise Valley Community College is located in North Phoenix (32nd Street & Union Hills) • In Fall 2007, PVCC had 8,574 headcount – 3,908 full-time-equivalent students National Trends / Challenges • Nationally – of students who seek an associates degree, only 45% earned an associates or bachelor’s degree or transferred within 6 years – Those enrolled in certificate programs, only 41% earned a degree or transferred within 6 years National Trends / Challenges • Nationally – only 27% of students referred to development education courses completed them • 70% of first semester students re-enrolled in the next semester – Only 44% re-enrolled in both second and third semesters National Trends / Challenges • The P-20 education system leaks badly at every joint (including public, private) – For every 100 students that entered Arizona’s kindergarten in 2007, only 14 are projected to earn a bachelor’s degree National Trends / Challenges In Arizona (between 2007-2025) – Projected bachelor’s degrees to be awarded = 100,344 – In order to be nationally and globally competitive, 300,000 – 575,000 more bachelor’s degrees need to be awarded National Trends / Challenges • Right to fail, or opportunity to succeed? – At PVCC, 17% of the cost of a course is paid by the student (tuition/fees) – Good stewards? – Informed intrusiveness – Educational malpractice? Deep Thoughts “Access without support is not opportunity” – Vincent Tinto – NISOD, 2008 “Institutions don’t have a problem with access, they have a problem with success” – Bob Bendotti – IARC, 2008 Stand Up, Pair Up • Describe the attributes of new-to-college students • Describe the characteristics of successful college students • Describe institutional best practices that support new-to-college students Why iStartSmart? Faculty concerns about students: • • • • • Under-prepared to attend college. Low retention in classes. Low persistence to the next semester. Low enrollments in 200-level courses. Low identification and attainment of educational goals. Call to Action • Fall 2000: PVCC adopted the under-prepared student issue as one of the College’s strategic issues. • Spring 2001: o The Under-prepared Student Initiative (USI) committee was formed which included both faculty (15) and staff (3). o A white paper was generated by PVCC veteran faculty member Dr. Sally Rings, synthesizing the current research about the under-prepared students. Accomplishments Under-prepared Student Initiative Committee An advocacy paper was written and shared with the entire college. Key beliefs included: • That the college's faculty, staff and administration all share the responsibility of serving under-prepared students. • That current policy and practice relating to orientation, assessment, placement testing, advisement and late registration for all students must be reconsidered. • That strategies and programs designed to serve underprepared students should be systemic and sustainable. Accomplishments Under-prepared Student Initiative Committee • Further research was conducted to study successful programs at colleges across the U.S. • Consultants that helped PVCC frame student success strategies included: o o o o o Kay McClenney, University of Texas at Austin Joann Wright, Moraine Valley Community College Kati Haycock, The Education Trust Skip Downing, On Course Vincent Tinto, Syracuse University • The USI committee developed the iStartSmart student success pilot project. For all first-time degree-seeking students New to College? PVCC’s student success program, iStartSmart, is required if any of the following apply: • • New to college, degree seeking and taking 12 or more credit hours New to college, degree seeking and taking 6 or more credits, and placement test scores indicate any course under 100 level Placement Testing required for all students who meet any of the following criteria: • New to college, degree seeking and taking 6 or more credit hours • All new to college students wishing to take college-level English, Mathematics, or Reading • Any student receiving Financial Aid who does not have a GED or high school diploma Orientation Agenda Welcome / Icebreaker Group Activities Funding Your Education Tour of Student Services Breakout Sessions Benefits of a College Success Course Parent Session Choose Your Classes Choosing Your Class Schedule Register for Classes Orientation Check Out Evaluation / Assessment Student ID Card, Pay for Classes Option College Success Course College Success Course On Course: A Comprehensive Foundation for Academic Success and Retention Academic Success & Retention Traditional Success Class Study Skills & Campus Resources _____________________________ On Course Success Course Effective Outer Behaviors ______________________________________ Empowering Inner Qualities On Course Success Course On Course Success Course College Success Course One or three credit, transferable course that includes Study Skills plus… Personal Responsibility Self-Motivation Self-Management Interdependence Self-Awareness Lifelong Learning Emotional Intelligence Responsibility Model Responsibility Model Inner Critic Inner Defender Victim language • There’s nothing I can do. • I have always been that way. • I can’t….. • I’ll try… Inner Guide Creator language •There’s always something I can do. • I can choose to be different. • I can… • I will… VOLUNTEERS!!! Will the three volunteers please come forward! To become familiar with the difference between how creators and victims respond to life’s stimuli…we will now demonstrate the power of choice using the “responsibility model” in a brief role play. Role Play Scenario You are a college administrator who is considering the pros and cons of developing a new student success program. The audience will be able to listen in to the inner critic/defender victim voice and the inner guide/creator voice as you consider this option. Role Play • • • • • • • • College administrator: After attending the International Assessment and Retention Conference, and hearing all of the latest research about student retention strategies, I would like to develop a new student success program. Inner critic/defender victim voice: Students have the right to fail!!! They have responsibility for their own success...we can't hold their hands forever. Inner guide/creator voice: Students have the right to succeed. It is our responsibility to help students learn how to be successful; after all, we are the experts. Inner critic/defender victim voice: But we have an open door policy that provides an opportunity for all to enter, access to all for an education. Inner guide/creator voice: But is access without support really opportunity? Remember that national trend you heard earlier...only 70% of first semester students re-enrolled in the next semester. Inner critic/defender victim voice: My department tried starting a program before, it took a lot of time and money, we got resistance from the other areas, and it didn't work. Inner guide/creator voice: We need to try again. This time we will use a college-wide approach and incorporate some of the best practices in retention. College administrator: I will start next week, by scheduling a meeting with key stakeholders! Goal Owner: AAA115 Student Fall2007 • • • • • • • • • • • Goal Name - Bachelor's Degree Type - Academic Due Date - 05-10-2013 Created On - 09-20-2007 Goal Statement: I will graduate with a Bachelor's Degree from OSU by May 10, 2013. Strategy: Talk to an advisor about transferring to a university; Seek out a tutor when necessary; Use my Student Planner everyday for assignments throughout the college experience; Spend at least three to four hours of studying per week; Always be persistent even when procrastination seems optional. Rationale: I want to earn a Bachelor's Degree so I have more knowledge to better strive for my career prospects. (Career prospects unknown at this point.) Reward: After I graduate with a Bachelor's Degree, I'm going on a one to two week vacation; either alone or with a couple close friends. Obstacle: Procrastination. Stress management. Solution: Stay persistent. Start my assignments the day/night I receive them. Finish my work promptly and complete on time or, if possible, a few days before the due date. Support: Self confidence, family support, help from friends, discover my professional prospects (what I want to learn and what I want to do), and constructive criticism. Fall 2007 iStartSmart Students • 959 students completed orientation and the related group advising session • 875 (91%) of these students enrolled in PVCC fall 2007 credit courses • iStartSmart students represented 10% of all PVCC credit students in fall 2007 • The majority of iStartSmart students were under age 20, graduated high school in past year, and had no prior college experience • The majority of iStartSmart students were full-time, attending classes during the day Orientation • 45% can identify available academic support services • 71% can identify faculty expectations in PVCC courses • 86% found the orientation information useful • 84% felt prepared to meet with an academic advisor • 83% understand how goal setting can enhance achievement College Success Course Students felt the course better prepared them: • 86% for success in college and in life • 88% to improve their self-management skills • 86% to learn how to take charge of their lives • 84% increased their self-motivation • 83% increased their self-awareness • 79% develop interdependence iGoal Of the goals defined by students: • 67% were dated • 61% were achievable • 97% were personal • 88% were positively stated • 58% were specific Student Success • 809 (92%) of the iStartSmart students completed the fall 2007 semester • 73% of the course attempts were successfully passed (A, B, C grades) • 74% of the fall 2007 iStartSmart students enrolled in PVCC spring 2008 credit courses (compared to 57% for all PVCC students from fall 2007 to spring 2008) Lessons Learned • Right to fail versus responsibility for student success • Courage to act on what we know to be true • Informed intrusiveness (educational stewardship) • Handshake between academic, administrative, and student services Next Steps • Offer orientation more often before semester starts (goal: students have access within one week time frame) • Engage family and friends to support new students • Increase faculty engagement • Improvement of components • Expansion of cohort www.pvc.maricopa.edu/istartsmart