Implementing a Fast Track Program to Accelerate Student Success Welcome!
This Presentation Who we are What Fast Track is Our experience: Results Recommended Strategies for Implementation a) Pre-Production b) Production c) Post Production Challenges Take Away
GRCC: Who Are We? Table 1. Developmental Education Students by Ethnicity, Fall 2012 Ethnicity Dev. Ed. College African American 25% 12% Asian 2% 3% Hispanic 12% 8% Native American 1% 1% Not Provided 7% 6% White 52% 70% Table 2. Developmental Education Students by Age, Fall 2012 Age Dev. Ed. College 17 or Less 3.7% 3.7% 18-19 41.3% 26.9% 20-24 25.8% 34.3% 25-34 17.9% 21% 35-44 6.8% 8.5% 45 or more 4.4% 5.5%
GRCC: Who Are We? Table 3. Developmental Education Placement Based on Accuplacer Scores, Fall 2013* Number of Placements *Preliminary data Percent of Students 0 15% 1 35% 2 26% 3 24% Table 4. Developmental Education Success Indicators, 2009-2011 Outcome Measures Three Year Average Course Success of Dev. Ed Students 53% Gateway Course Success 60% Fall to Winter 77% Fall to Fall Retention Rate 43% Transfer to 4-year school Yr 1-3 15% Associate Degree Obtained Yr 1-3 9%
What is Fast Track FAST TRACK is an intensive three-week lab in which students remediate academic skills through a combination of web-based and tutor-guided activities. Forty-two total hours are spent in each FAST TRACK lab over the three-week session. The purpose of the FAST TRACK program is to give developmental students an opportunity to accelerate skill building so they are able to bypass developmental course work and move directly into college-level courses. Selection Criteria Subjects Total ACCUPLACER Score Ranges Developmental Scores College Scores Target Group Scores Reading 0-120 0-70 71-120 55-70 Mathematics 0-120 0-76 77-120 55-75 (Algebra Score) English 0-8 0-4 5-8 4
Fast Track Results Subject # of Students Enrolled Table 5. 2012-2013 Fast Track Results # of Students Completion Completing Rate # of Successful Students Success Rate* English 213 162 76% 117 72.2% Reading 104 83 79.8% 58 69.8% Math 135 111 82.2% 81 72.9% Total 452 356 78.7% 256 72% *This calculation is based on the number of students completing the program
Fast Track Results Table 6. Fall 2012 Gateway Results of Summer 2012 Fast Track Students Who Were Able to Bypass Their Dev. Ed. Placement Success Indicator Fast Track Students Gateway Students Course Success 60% 70% Fall 2012 GPA 2.2 2.4 Fall to Winter Retention 83% 81%
Fast Track Results Table 7. Fall 2012 Dev. Ed. Results of Summer 2012 Fast Track Students Who Were Not Able to Bypass Their Dev. Ed. Placement Success Indicator Fast Track Students AFP Students Course Success 75% 55% Fall 2012 GPA 2.38 1.92 Fall to Winter Retention 86% 73%
Benefits Institutional Increasing student retention Reducing number of Dev. Ed. sections offered Accelerating student success Saving cost by way of retention Increasing graduation rate Student Saving time and money Extending financial aid availability Increasing confidence and study strategies Increasing success in Developmental Education Reducing number of placements Experiencing college culture/environment
Percent of Students Immediate Tangible Benefits 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Graph 1. 2012-2013 Placement of Developmental Education Students Who Completed Fast Track: Before and After the Program 24% 37% 30% 39% 28% 0% 0 1 2 3 Number of Placements 30% 11% Before After Note: Based on their ACCUPLACER scores students had 1, 2 or 3 developmental course placement (s) before they took Fast Track. This graph illustrates students that completed the program and were able to reduce their total number of placements. For example, before Fast Track, 30% of the students had three placements. After Fast Track, only 11% of students had three placements. The sample of this particular graph is 353 students. Helped a total of 256 students bypass their Developmental Education Placement Saved students a total of $102,400 in tuition Reduced a total of 12 sections of Developmental Education for the College Saved a total of 15,360 hours of instruction for students who bypassed their placement
Strategies for Implementation Pre-production Budget Assessments a) Institutional Need b) Capacity c) Curriculum (programs) An Implementation Plan a) Curriculum development and delivery b) Collaboration c) Student Pathway (Cohort Model/Integrated Services)
Strategies for Implementation Is there are an Institutional Need? Retention rate Course success Transfer rate Graduation rate Student Profile Demographics Placements Success Indicators Student needs Develop a Model: Cohort Model Fast Track: An opportunity to bypass Dev. Ed. placement. High Accuplacer score range. Accelerated Composition : Gain College credit while taking Dev. Ed English class. High Accuplacer Score range. Bridge: An opportunity to prepare just before taking a Dev. Ed. course. Mid Accuplacer score range. Reading 095: For students reading at 6th grade or below. Low Accuplacer score range across the board.
Strategies for Implementation Curriculum Development Know and have experience with Math and English department curriculum Involve the department in the development process Include study skills and interactive classroom strategies Design computer lab centered programs with classroom discussion focused on topics student are struggling with, miniquizzes, and campus tours Consider programs which allow flexibility for students lives
Strategies for Implementation Curriculum Delivery The Lab Concept: intensive 3-weeks for all disciplines Math and Reading: tutor guided with web-based, self-paced programs Integrated study skills Intentional choices for presentation techniques Math ALEKS Reading My Foundations Lab English Large group sessions
Strategies for Implementation Collaboration Enrollment Center Academic Support College Success Center Financial Aid Counseling, Advising and Career Center College of Arts and Sciences
Strategies for Implementation Student Pathway Testing and Identification Recruitment New Student Orientation Counseling and Advising Fast Track Sessions Gateway or Developmental Ed. Enrollment Monitoring
Strategies for Implementation Production Provide training (tutors & coaches) Recruit students Set intake meetings with coaches Provide new student orientation Advise (Student Success Plan) Monitor attendance during Fast Track sessions Communicate: coach and professional tutor Set central location Provide snacks! Conduct general trouble shooting (transportation incentives, financial aid process, etc.)
Strategies for Implementation Post-Production Placement into Gateway or Dev. Ed. Courses (make sure to reserve seats) Completion of Road Map to Success (Pre-semester check list) Monitoring academic progress through Early Alert Communication Plan with Faculty members Coaching (provide support throughout the semester)
Challenges Institutional Capacity to provide quality student services Faculty engagement Student engagement Staff capacity (Professional tutors, etc.) Limited facilities Electronic database for case management Triage problem Enrollment decline
Challenges Students Awareness and understanding of placement test and developmental education program Low recruitment rate for intervention (about 20%) Financial Aid determines enrollment Navigation and affective skills Socioeconomic challenges ( transportation, personal finances, work schedule, caring for family members, etc.) Credit load
Take Away Assess: data analysis Develop a model for systemic Impact: cohort-based with structured support services and integrated affective skills into the curriculum. Must have an implementation plan: roles and responsibilities Monitor and follow up essential to student persistence Collaboration is key: communicate at all times Educate and advocate: share concerns, challenges, successes with leadership and colleagues
Thank You for Your Participation
Questions? Contact Us! Colleen Copus Mathematics Tutorial Lab Coordinator ccopus@grcc.edu, 616-234-3119 Domingo Hernandez-Gomez College Success Center Associate Director dhernandezgomez@grcc.edu, 616-234-2237 Kellie Roblin Language Arts Tutorial Lab Coordinator kroblin@grcc.edu, 616-234-4388