www.gaston.edu

Catch Them Before They Fall: Student Success Initiatives

John Erickson

Sherry Sharpe

www.gaston.edu

Overview• Gaston College Profile

• Department of Learning, Persistence & Completion Center

– History

– Initiatives

• Student Persistence and Success Plans

– History and Evolution

– SPSP Coordinators

– Datatel Retention Alert

– Data Analysis

– Next Steps

• Questions and Answers

• Reflection

www.gaston.edu

Gaston College Profile• Over 100 Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificate programs

• Five Academic Divisions

– Arts and Science

– Business Information Technologies

– Health Education

– Engineering and Industrial Technology

– Economic and Workforce Development

• Three campuses serving Gaston and Lincoln Counties:

Main Campus – Dallas Lincoln Campus – Lincolnton Kimbrell Campus – Belmont

www.gaston.edu

GC Student Success Challenges

• Difference in 150% graduation rates by race

• Lack of college-going culture in the communities

• Large number of first-generation students

www.gaston.edu

Learning, Persistence & Completion Center (LPCC)

• Started in fall 2007 as a way to coordinate retention efforts– Retention coordinator/associate dean position created

– Formed the Persistence and Retention Team (PART) with 12 members representing both academic affairs and student services

• Tight budget, no funding to support initiatives

• Research began for programs that would support a conceptualized Student Success Center

• Focused on divisional efforts, completion, and graduation rates

• Dr. Husain, Vice President of Student Services, was hired and led the effort to secure funding for a Title III grant

• Changed PART to Persistence and Retention Committee (PARC)

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Organization ChartVP for

Academic AffairsVP for

Student Services

Director ofLPCC

Learn 4 LifeSEAP

Title IIITRiO

SPSP

Academic Related Courses (ACA)

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: Title III

• Started in spring 2010, a five-year, $1.6 million federal grant to help at-risk students: – Increase the success and retention rate

– Improve academic advising process for at-risk students

– Consolidate data tracking and outcome assessment

• Primary services provided:– Holistic advising interventions in ENG-090 classes

– Professional development opportunities for GC faculty and staff

– Student workshops, including TEAS/ACT prep

– Interactive academic and career planning, including assistance completing the FASFA

– Assistance with registration

– College transfer assistance

– Class visits and workshops on requested topics

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: TRiO/SSS• Started in spring 2011, a five-year $1.09 million grant from the DOE

• Eligible students must be low income, first generation, or have documented disabilities

• Helps students meet the rigors of higher education, graduate from GC, and/or transfer to a four-year institution

• Interventions include:

– Intrusive Advising

– Workshops

– Tutoring and supplemental instruction

– Financial aid information

– Wellness, cultural activities and provides a sense of community

• 93% year-to-year retention rate from fall Year 1 through Year 5

www.gaston.edu

Food Bank

TRiO has initiated a Gaston College Food Bank to help the needs of our students. The Food Bank is open to all students of Gaston College. The food is collected through donations of faculty, staff, and students. Some

instructors offer extra credit for donations received by participants in their class.

www.gaston.edu

Step Up Grant

• Goal 1: 65% will persist from one academic year to the next

– 75% persisted 2014-2015 to 2015-2016

– 77% overall success rate (persisted, graduated or transferred)

• Goal 2: 80% will achieve or maintain 2.5 GPA or greater

– 83% in good academic standing; 62% with 2.5 or higher

– Average GPA 2.6; Median GPA 3.6

• Goal 3: 75% will complete personalized academic progression plan

– 100% complete academic progression plan

Funded by a Sisters of Mercy $60,000 grant, to increase retention and completion of low income, first generation students, ages 18-24 with focus

on minorities

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: SEAP• Student Emergency Assistance Program provides up to $200 per student

for an immediate, unmet academic need

• Program is funded by Gaston College Foundation through private donations

• Provides assistance up to $200 for:

– Book Assistance

– Academic Supplies

– Tuition Assistance

• Eligibility Requirements:

– Currently enrolled, full-time or part-time in a degree or curriculum program

– Requesting assistance for current academic semester

– Can only receive once an academic year

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: SEAPAugust 2014-July 2015

Number Percentage

Tuition Assistance 54 48.21%

Book Assistance 50 44.64%

Academic Supplies 8 7.14%

Type of Assistance RequestedReceived Funding

# Eligible To Re-Enroll

# % # # % # %

All Students 106 13 12.26% 93 58 62.37% 71 66.98%

Tuition 54 7 12.96% 47 27 57.45% 34 62.96%

Book 50 5 10.00% 45 28 62.22% 33 66.00%

Academic Supplies 8 1 12.50% 7 6 85.71% 7 87.50%

Approved SEAPGraduated # Re-Enrolled Overall Success

Graduation and Enrollment Information

Grade # % # % GPA # %

A 14 28.00% 2 25.00% 4.00 12 22.22%

B 11 22.00% 4 50.00% 3.51 to 3.99 3 5.56%

C 6 12.00% 2 25.00% 3.00 to 3.50 16 29.63%

P 6 12.00% 0 0.00% 2.51 to 2.99 0 0.00%

2.00 to 2.50 11 20.37%

Earned

2.00 or higher42

Total 50 8 Total 54

Grade and GPA Information

Earned

A-C or P

Grade

837100.00%74.00%

Book Assistance Academic Supplies

77.78%

Tuition Assistance

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: Community Resource Handbook

• Provides information for resources that are outside the typical scope of academic support

• Resources listed include:

– Gaston College Resources

– Counseling and Mental Health Services

– Food Assistance

– Clothing Assistance

– Utilities and Rent Assistance

– Prescription Assistance

– Emergency and Transitional Housing and Shelters

– Transportation

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: Community Resource Fair

The Community Resource Fair is presented by Gaston College’s Life Skills Department and the Learning, Persistence & Completion Center. The event features booths and displays representing various community resources,

college services, and programs that can provide assistance, advice, support, and counseling.

• Fall 2015:

– There were approximately 200 students that attended the event. 32 community agencies and 12 Gaston College departments were represented.

• Spring 2016

– There were approximately 180 students and community residents that attended the event. 30 community agencies and 14 Gaston College departments were represented.

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: Learn 4 Life

• Enrichment program launched in fall 2011

• Encourages participation in club activities, service projects, reading programs, and special activities

• Participants will receive a personalized plaque during their Learn 4 Life graduation ceremony

• Participants are also recognized during graduation commencement

www.gaston.edu

LPCC Initiatives: SPSP

• The Student Persistence Success Plan (SPSP), a campus-wide early alert system, was studied in 2008

• In fall 2009, it was piloted on a shoestring budget and sweat equity

• Provide suggestions/strategies for improvement (attendance, assignment completion, behaviors, personal needs etc.)

• Connect students with resources for academic success

• Share performance data with administrators, academic advisors, counselors, mentors, etc.

www.gaston.edu

SPSP History: Fall 2009

Strengths Challenges What’s Next?

80% of faculty supported an Early Alert system

Initiative piloted with Arts and Sciences division

Increased retention rates

Faculty lacked following through with Early Alert form

Long delay in receiving the form

No community resource referrals

Difficult to access

Too much time to fill out

Limited tracking

PART worked with IT to improve the form

Added an “easy submit” button for online submission

Implement college-wide

Needed more manpower

Develop marketing strategies

• Early Alert first introduced at Gaston College following a faculty survey to gauge interest

• Paper form that had to be handwritten and sent through campus mail

www.gaston.edu

• SPSP launched campus-wide with a new online submission option

SPSP History: Fall 2010, 2011

Strengths Challenges What’s Next?

Appointed SPSP Coordinators who are given release time

Retention Advisor hired

Online submit button added

Marketed at convocation and divisional meetings

GC Community Resource Handbook created

Network and visit community agencies

Form difficult to access and is very cumbersome

Faculty could not get feedback to track student progress

Instructor notes were cut off in the online form

The button would not submit

Instructor participation still low

Research early alert systems

Marketing strategies

Addressing needs that go beyond the college

Professional development

Monthly SPSP meetings

www.gaston.edu

• Introduced Datatel Retention Alert system campus-wide; integrated into WebAdvisor

• Strengths of the Retention Alert system for SPSP cases:

– More faculty use system and increase the number of referrals submitted

– Staff members can submit cases

– Very quick process for employees to submit cases

– Ability to reassign cases as needs are better understood

– Easier data tracking

– Easier for coordinators

• Communication is available within the system

• Campus resources can access and work the cases, such as counseling center

SPSP History: Spring 2012

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Submitting a Referral

Click “Add Retention Alert

Info”

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Submitting a Referral

Select the academic or

financial issue from the “Type of Issue”

drop-down box

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Submitting a Referral

In “Summary” include a brief statement of the issue beginning with the course

and section number

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Submitting a Referral

Expand upon the referral and provide

additional details about the case in “Detailed

Notes”

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Submitting a Referral

Mark the appropriate check box(es) regarding how you contacted the

student

Check the box next to “do you want to…” to

submit another referral about the same student

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Referral Process

Referral is made

All referrals go to the

GC System Manager

Academic-related cases are assigned to the Divisional SPSP

Coordinator

Retention Coordinator provides support as

needed

Financial-related cases are assigned to the

Retention Coordinator

Community Resource Manual

Student Emergency Assistance Program

(SEAP)Counseling issues are assigned to the

Counseling Department

Code of Conduct cases are assigned to the

Assistant VP of Academic Affairs

Note: TRiO and Step Up staff are assigned cases

created for their students

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: What happens to a case?

A referral is madeSystem Manager

determines type of need (academic, financial, code of conduct, or personal)

Filters case to appropriate SPSP Coordinator,

Counselor, or VP of Student Affairs

Appointed person contacts student via e-mail, phone,

letter, etc.

Progress is monitored and followed up

The referral is closed

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Cases Submitted

Fall 2014 Semester Spring 2015 Semester Summer 2015

Division # Submitted % of All Cases # Submitted % of All Cases # Submitted % of All Cases

Arts and Sciences 309 34.26% 344 36.44% 31 28.18%

A&S: ACA Classes 145 16.08% 101 10.70% 10 9.09%

A&S: Developmental 159 17.63% 132 13.98% 18 16.36%

Bus. and Info. Tech. 91 10.09% 136 14.41% 0 0.00%

Eng. and Indus. Tech. 15 1.66% 11 1.17% 0 0.00%

Health Education 175 19.40% 212 22.46% 51 46.36%

Public Safety 8 0.89% 8 0.85% 0 0.00%

Total 902 944 110

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Cases Submitted

Fall 2015 Semester

Division # Submitted % of All Cases

Arts and Sciences 356 26.10%

A&S: ACA Classes 196 14.37%

A&S: Developmental 135 9.90%

Bus. and Info. Tech. 233 17.08%

Eng. and Indus. Tech. 20 1.47%

Health Education 417 30.57%

Public Safety 7 0.51%

Total 1364

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Student Success Data

Fall 2015: Total SPSP Cases

Grade # %

A 67 7.41%

B 127 14.05%

C 137 15.15%

CE (Credit by Exam) 0 0.00%

P (Dev. Math) 41 4.54%

D 46 5.09%

F 98 10.84%

IP, R (Dev. Math) 25 2.77%

WI, WA 318 35.18%

I, NS 45 4.98%

Earned P or A-C Grade 37241.15%

Total 904

Note: The cases are unduplicated by course per student.

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Student Success Data

2015 SPSPsGraduated Eligible Fall 2015 Enrolled 2016SP

# % # # %

Total SPSP Cases 904 20 2.21% 884 540 61.09%

Note: Total SPSPs case is measured using an unduplicated count of students.

www.gaston.edu

SPSP: Next Steps

• Data reports provided by to campus leadership

• Continue to emphasize submitting cases early

• Continue to train new staff on how and when to submit an SPSP

• Help students understand what an SPSP means for them

• Provide professional development for communicating with students quickly and effectively

• Consider adding automatic e-mail add-on to the Retention Alert system to further eliminate delays

www.gaston.edu

Learning Center Tutoring

Peer tutoring, individualized learning assistance, computer-assisted instruction, video tutorials, make-up testing, proctored testing, quiet

and group study.

www.gaston.edu

Writing Center

The Gaston College Writing Center exists to support students in communicating effectively. We encourage independent learning through

collaborative conversations and positive interactions. In our nurturing environment, students can gain confidence and proficiency in writing and

communication processes.

www.gaston.edu

Transfer Advising Center

The center offers a number of services to new and returning students enrolled in the Associate of Arts , Associate of Science , Associate of Engineering, and

Associate in Fine Arts majors. Students enrolled in these majors can seek assistance in career and educational planning, academic advising, and

transition assistance to a student’s four year school of choice.

www.gaston.edu

Automotive Repair

Gaston College offers free automotive repair. Clients are responsible for the cost of the parts needed only. There may

be a wait time depending on the type of work.

www.gaston.edu

Questions?

John Erickson

Learning, Persistence & Completion Center Director

704-922-2242

erickson.john@gaston.edu

Sherry Sharpe

ACA Instructor/P&R Coordinator

704-922-2303

sharpe.sherry@gaston.edu

www.gaston.edu

Reflection

• How can you improve student retention and completion at your college?