Presented by Rita Serotkin, Nicole Cornett Arnold, Carrie Moran, Sharna Newton, & Ferris Wilkins

February 22, 2012 Durham, NC

The Goal: Only about 27% in the US have completed college. To double the number of college graduates by 2020, another 12 15,000,000 associate and bachelor degrees need to be earned.

The Problem:

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In only half the states do more than 50% of first-year students at community colleges return for a second year.*

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In 27 states, less than half of first-time, full-time (FTFT) college students complete a bachelor's degree in 5 years*

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In 24 states, less than half of FTFT students complete a bachelor's degree in 6 years

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In NO state do more than 70% of FTFT students complete a degree within 5 or 6 years. Given the falling or level numbers of 18-24 year olds, it is anticipated that only 30% of the new degrees will be from “traditional” students; 70% will need to be “nontraditionals.”**

* Measuring Up. http://measuringup.highereducation.org/ ** Pathways to Success. p. 12 . http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf

“In only a few states do large majorities of first-time, full-time students graduate from four-year institutions within five or six years…[but]…in no state do more than 70% of students complete a degree within five or six years of enrollment.”

Downloaded 2/19/2012 from NCHEMS Information Center website: http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=27&year=2009&level=nation&mode =map&state=0

Part Time

Attained degree or certificate (any) Earned Bachelor’s Earned Associate’s Earned Certificate Still enrolled Left, no degree Left after 1 year % over age 30

* Data taken from Chen & Carroll, 2007

15% 0 2% 13% 12% 73% 46% 46%

Full Time

64% 44% 8% 12% 7% 28% 12% 14%

Mixed

46% 20% 14% 12% 23% 30% 3% 19%

NC % of population with less than a high school diploma % of population with bachelor’s degree or higher 18% 27% 1 st year community college student persistence to year 2 1 st year 4-yr student persistence to year 2 49% 80% 1 st -time, full time students completing bachelor’s degree within 5 years of starting 1 st –time full-time students completing bachelor’s degree within 6 years of starting 57% 59% Data Downloaded from http://measuringup.highereducation.org

Data Downloaded from: Downloaded from: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education.html

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d10/tables/dt10_011.asp

and D2/19/12 Top States in US 16% 35% 63% 83% 66% 68%

ADULT STUDENTS:

An increasingly critical population

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Students age 25+ increased from 28% to 41% between 1970 and 1998 and now make up 47% of all new and returning students on many campuses

(Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education ).

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6.8 million college students are age 25 or older and 3.74 million are first-generation students (NCES, 2007)

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Students age 35+ in degree-granting institutions increased from ~823,000 to ~2.9 million between 1970 and 2001 — doubling from 9.6% of total students to 19.2% (NCES).

“Quite simply, states cannot reach the target of having 60 percent of the adult population earn some type of college degree…by 2025 without a major commitment to increasing college completion among these students

.”

(Spence, p. 13)

Priscilla S. is a mother of three, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of five. At 63, she was also one of the oldest students to receive a bachelor’s degree from Post University in 2011…Laid off from her job at age 59, she reinvented her life.

“Everything happened for me from age 59 to 63. Don't tell me you're too old. You are never too old as long as you have breath in your body. It's never too late for you to do what you think you can't do. Every day God gives you the chance to do what you want with your life. Don't let insecurities prevent you from living out your dream.”

Rowley, Laura (2012), Huff/Post50. Downloaded 2/18/2012

Demographic

Have families Low income Single parents Minority First generation Work >30 hrs/wk Certificate or 2-year BA enrollment For-profit programs Full-time study

*Data taken from Horn & Carroll, 2005

Adult

44% 30% 20% 14% 52% 54% 56% 29% 11% 39%

Traditional

2% 2% 7% 10% 29% 33% 34% 55% 5% 60%

        Delayed enrollment in college Attend part-time and often “stop out” Are financially independent of parents Work full-time while enrolled Have dependents other than a spouse Are single parents Lack a standard high school diploma First-generation college students

Pathways to Success. p. 3 . http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf

Situational Financial/Cost/ Lack of aid Lack of time Institutional

Academic program requirements Lack of articulation of transfer credits Class schedules Family/work Responsibilities Family attitude/ support

Dispositional

Lack of confidence/self esteem Unfamiliarity with academic world Anxiety/fear of failure Institutional complexity/ bureaucratic procedures Worry over conflicting responsibilities Medical/health Issues Lack of interest/value of nontraditional students Learning differences/ poor prior educational experiences *

Classification of barriers developed by Cross (1981).

Academic

Poor academic advising/support Poor study habits Absenteeism Major/goal uncertainties Course availability Poor GPA

Psychological

Stress Commitment strength Competing priorities/ “life” Reluctance to ask for help Time management Health Issues

Background

Age Gender Ethnicity Enrollment status (full time/part-time) Socioeconomic status Dependents

Environment

Finances/ financial aid Work hours & responsibility Family responsibilities Family & employer support Transportation Child Care

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Experienced.

Oldest program for adults in NC (since 1953)

. Dedicated to adults.

Support services, advisement, financial aid, & an SGA, all housed in one building

Flexible Scheduling.

Day, evening, & weekend classes. More than 80% of CCE students work, yet 67% maintain a full-time load attending just 2 nights a week.

Generous transfer policy.

90% have transfer credit.

Financial Aid.

67% Pell eligible; 84% receive federal aid.

Unique.

Focused on personal contact and connection

.

Recognized.

Enrollment increased from 275 in 2002 to 1,300 in 2011-2012. Graduation rates as high as 58%.

Female Male Average Age Single Married Divorced/ Widowed First – Generation Employed Unemployed Caucasian People of Color .

67% 33% Transfer Readmits Unclassified New 35 yrs Average # of Transfer Credits 49% 36% 14% 67% 72% 28% 53% 47% Top 4 Transfer Colleges GTCC NC A&T UNCG Rockingham CC 57% 29% 10% 4% 49 35% 6% 5% 5% In State In-County (Guilford) Satisfied with Guilford & CCE Plan to graduate from Guilford Have declared a major 98% 72% 94% 97% 94%

Publicity

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Online and media outreach Images of adult students Public information sessions & open house events Recruitment through employers, agencies, education & job fairs Express Admissions Fridays Calls always answered

Ease of Applying

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Online information & application 5-minute application Transcripts requested No SAT/ACT Veterans liaison/ admissions counselor Day and evening admission & financial aid appointments Transfer evaluations

Dedicated Facility for Adults

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Lounge

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Computers

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Canteen

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Day & evening hours of advisors, mentors, tutors

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Coordinated administrative functions and evening hours

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Adult student activities and family-friendly social events Convenient Parking Classes & Scheduling

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Small Class Size ▪ Year–round admission

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Flexible Class Schedules ▪ Year-round classes

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Full-time study leads to financial aid eligibility

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Summer Bridge programs

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All-in-one Check-in Day

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New Student Orientation

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Adult Transitions class

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Gateways to Success class

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Learning Strategies class

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Full summer schedule

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Mentoring program

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Student Success Workshops

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Online and hybrid class pilot tests

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First registration with program advisement/ explanation GPS binder at registration

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Adult Student Government Association & activities Assigned financial aid advisors Dedicated faculty

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Faculty advisors

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Learning Commons — tutoring, support services

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Support person

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Office for Student Success

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Outreach to faculty and at risk students

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Tracking/intervention

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Referral to on/off campus resources

2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 2006-2007 2005-2006 2004-2005 2003-2004 2002-2003 2001-2002 Spring to Fall 75% 74% 74% 74% 71% 71% 76% 75% 74% 75% 71% Fall to Spring 84% 84% 86% 84% 80% 81% 80% 81% 84% 82% 72%

MEET OUR STUDENTS

Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (2012). Pathways to

Success: Integrating learning with life and work to increase national

college completion. Washington, DC: A Report to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of Education. Downloaded from:

http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf

Berkner, L, et. al. (2007). Persistence and attainment of 2003-2004 beginning postsecondary students: After three years. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Chen, X. & Carroll, C.D. (2007). Part-time undergraduates in postsecondary education 2003-2004. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

Complete College America (2011). Time is the enemy. Washington, DC: Complete College America Alliance of States. This and other reports available at:

http://www.completecollege.org

.

Cross, K. P. 1981 Adults as Learners: Increasing participation and facilitating learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Day, J. C and Newburger, E. E. (2002). The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau. Downloaded at: http://www.census.gov/prod.2002pubs/p23-210.pdf

DeAngelo, L., et al. (2011). Completing College: Assessing graduation rates at four-year institutions. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA.

Horn, L., Cataldi, E.F., Carroll, C.D. (2005). Waiting to attend:

Undergraduates who delay their postsecondary enrollment.

Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

Pusser, B., et. al. (2007). Returning to learning: Adults’ success in college is key to American’s future. Indianapolis: Lumina Foundation.

Measuring Up 2002: The state-by-state report card for higher

education. San Jose, CA: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Downloaded from: http://measuringup.highereducation.org/

Measuring Up 2008: The national report card on higher education. San Jose, CA: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Downloaded from: http://measuringup.highereducation.org/ National Center for Educational Statistics. http://ies.ed.gov/ National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Graduation Rates-2009. Downloaded from: http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=27 &year=2009&level=nation&mode=map&state=0 Spence, D., et al. (2010). No Time to Waste: Policy recommendations for increasing college completion. Atlanta: Southern Regional Education Board. Downloaded from: http://publications.sreb.org/2010/10E10_No_Time_to_Waste.pdf

US Census Bureau 2012 Statistical Abstract http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education.html