Best Practices in Student Success: Lessons from the Field. Andrea Schusler, ACCESS College Foundation Sara Melnick, NCAN

Transcription

1 Best Practices in Student Success: Lessons from the Field Andrea Schusler, ACCESS College Foundation Sara Melnick, NCAN April 12, 2013

2 Session Goals Overview of retention/success program models Share thoughts on how to get started Discussion of program strategies Overview of strategies for engaging and communicating with program participants Think through process for starting or strengthening YOUR success work 2

3 How We ll Spend Our Time Who are we? Our expertise Overview of the literature/research What we ve learned How you can do this too

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5 The Research Says Graduation Rates within 150% of traditional time Public 4-year Private 4-year For- Profit 4-year Public 2-year For- Profit 2-year Overall 56% 66% 28% 20% 60% White 59% 68% 35% 23% 65% Asian 66% 76% 39% 26% 68% African American 38% 45% 21% 12% 49% Hispanic 48% 61% 29% 16% 65% Native American 47% 51% 19% 17% 59% Source: Chronicle of Higher Education 2010

6 It Also Says Factors that increase the likelihood of dropping out of college: Full-time employment Dependent children Weak academic preparation Off-campus residency College affordability Source: Engle and Tinto, Moving Beyond Access

7 Increasing the Likelihood of Student Retention: Promoting Academic and Social Engagement High expectations Effective advising Providing support: academic, social & personal Foster involvement Foster learning Source: Tinto, Taking Student Retention Seriously

8 Institutional Policies and Practices Service learning, faculty-guided research and internships Redesigned first year/introductory courses First- and second-year experience courses Learning communities Transfer-going culture at 2-year institutions

9 The Role of the Retention Advisor Be a known entity - trusted adult/friend Counselor, problem solver, support system Point students in the right direction connector Skill building academic, life, social etc. Foster connections to campus and to peers

10 TG Best Practices for Student Success Funded by Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation Project Overview Why this is important to NCAN Outcomes to date

11 Project Goals: 1. Help college access programs develop successful retention programs that are replicable and scalable. 2. Build capacity and content expertise for NCAN to serve as a resource for success work specifically. Source: Tinto, Taking Student Retention Seriously

12 Demographics of Students Served Schol. Fdtn. of SB CYC ACCESS College Fdtn. Project GRAD LA TOTAL # Gender M: 26% F: 74% M: 33% F: 67% M: 46% F: 54% M: 32% F: 68% M: 33% F: 67% Ethnicity H: 71% AA: 3% C: 20% A: 6% O: 0% H: 0% AA: 92% C: 3% A: 0% O: 5% H: 0% AA: 64% C: 26% A: 3% O: 8% H: 100% AA.: 0% C: 0% A: 0% O: 0% H: 47% AA: 34% C: 13% A: 3% O: 3% Pell 77% 72% 87% 100% 83% 1st Gen 84% 69% 62% 100% 80%

13 Starting this Work

14 Specific Activities Parent and student outreach Summer bridge/transition programs Peer-to-peer mentoring Navigate the campus (and identify services) Financial assistance Dealing with life issues Data collection and tracking Early warning systems Working with students beyond the first year

15 Outcomes Scholarship Foundation of SB: Increased GPA between.3 and a full point More likely to submit FAFSA/fin aid documents Retained 78% from the first to second year. CYC: Increased # applying for/renewing scholarships. Increased level of comfort navigating campus and connecting with faculty for academic help. Retained 67% from the first to second year.

16 Outcomes Project GRAD Los Angeles: Increased number of staff to 5. Emphasized competencies such as optimism, resilience, self-regulation and grit. Retained 100% from first year to second. ACCESS: Don t want to steal any thunder

17 Challenges & Barriers to Student and Program Success Partner institution with few services Data collection and tracking Working with students from a distance Organizational capacity and will Resources

18 ACCESS College Foundation Program Overview Founded in 1988 by Frank Batten and Joshua Darden Non-Profit Organization 16 FT advisors; 29 high schools; one city; grades 11/ : Early Awareness component; 12 middle schools; 2 cities, grades 7/8 Expanded traditional high school program serves to 5 cities 2012: Accelerated Success Program; 5 cities; grades 9/10

19 ACCESS Retention Study: Why start a College Success Program? ACCESS 6-Year Retention and Graduation Rates College Success Cohort (attending ODU, NSU, VWC, VT, VCU) Non-College Success Cohort High School Classes of 2000, 2001, And % 51% (attending all other colleges) Average for All Scholars 53%

20 Creation of the College Success Program Identified 5 IHEs sites for pilot Chosen based on the number of ACCESS Scholars attending -- Old Dominion, Norfolk State, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Wesleyan College Direct Services of College Success Advisor: One-on-one counseling Assist in FAFSA completion and ACCESS Last Dollar Scholarship Maintain consistent communication Act as an advocate as issues arise Consistently monitor students academic achievement

21 Goals of the College Success Program Increase the graduation rate for first-year ACCESS scholarship recipients Increase the re-application rate for all ACCESS scholarship recipients Increase awareness of existing college campus programs and services

22 College Success Year 2 Grant from TG for additional scholarship and program implementation Hire new College Success Advisor Serve first and second year students at the five selected colleges/universities Develop curriculum for campus visits

23 College Success Curriculum Topics Introduction/Expectations Time Management Studying; How you learn Note Taking Stress Management Money Management Prepare for FAFSA Complete FAFSA Renew Access Scholarship Scholarship Searching Health and Well Being The summer (Internships, Resumes) Preparing for finals Wrap up

24 College Success Year 3 Adjust College Success schools Phase out Virginia Tech (retention rate 91%) Add Virginia State (retention rate 67%) Add four campuses of Tidewater Community College Focus on first and second year students Provide same services and curriculum topics as Year 2 TG Grant for 2nd year

25 College Success Year 4 Create and introduce a Summer Transition Program (prior to entering college to prepare students) The First Two Weeks Help Determine the Next Four Years How to Survive Campus Life Your Roommate Might Smell How to Survive College Classes It s Time to Think Like an Adult How to Study How to Manage Your Time Since Your Mom is no Longer Managing it For You How to Take Care of Yourself What it Takes to Graduate

26 College Success Year 5 and Beyond School Year Expand to 3 more colleges (with the help of the NCAN/TG grant) Christopher Newport (retention rate 81%) George Mason (retention rate 86%) Hampton (retention rate 74%) Hire an additional College Success Advisor School Year Create Access Mentor Program with the help of a USA Funds Grant Expand to Longwood (retention rate 80%) Enhance the College Success Program at TCC 2 high school advisors to provide services on a weekly basis

27 College Success Program: Overall 95% Retention Rate 2007 Cohort 88% (113/129) graduated or are still enrolled 2008 Cohort 93% (124/134) graduated or are still enrolled 2009 Cohort 90 % (131/146) completed junior year 2010 Cohort 98% (158/161) completed sophomore year 2011 Cohort 99% (167/168) completed freshman year 2012 Cohort 100% (183/183) matriculated into freshman year

28 Questions?