Catch Them While You Can! Learning College Summit 2010.

Catch Them While You Can!

Learning College Summit 2010

89%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they believe they have the motivation to do what it takes to succeed in college.

Center for Community College Student Engagement

High Expectations and Aspirations


High Expectations & Aspirations

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85%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they’re academically prepared for college.


Entering students are highly motivated, are committed to achieving their academic goals, and sincerely believe they will.



…of our students leave in their first year.

50%

Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)

& Starting Right:

Listening to Entering Students


SENSE & Starting Right: Listening to Entering Students3 years

220 + colleges

Represents 1.4 million students

36 states, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands

Focus Groups

SENSE Benchmarks • Early Connections

• High Expectations and Aspirations

• Clear Academic Plan and Pathway

• Effective Track to College Readiness

• Engaged Learning

• Academic and Social Support Network



Starting Right -

2009-2010 Focus groups and interviews with students in 3 Houston and Gulf Area Community Colleges; feeder high schools

2010-2011 Focus groups and interviews with students in 3 geographically diverse Community Colleges

4…the least number of times students in focus groups at one college we visited returned to the college to complete the registration process.



Welcome to college!

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Welcome to college!Video Removed

Students don’t know what they don’t know…

but we think they should…and we behave as though they do!


The students in our focus groups who reported the best experience registering at their college had something in common.

What was it?


What is registration?

What are the steps I have to go through? Why is it important that I take these steps?



Early Connections

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During their first 3 weeks, students say…

Fewer than half participated in on-campus orientation.


During their first 3 weeks…

• Almost 30% didn’t know they could get academic advising…

47% didn’t use it.


But we gave them the info…

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Students don’t do optional!!



Please Advise Me!

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Clear Academic Plan & PathwayFor those who saw an advisor…”an advisor helped me…”

Select courses for my first term – 70%Choose a program or major – fewer than 60%

Set academic goals and create a plan for achieving

them - fewer than 38%


Do I Need an Advisor?

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More than 70%

of entering students say no college staff member talked with them about outside commitments to help them figure out how many classes to take.


Too Many Hours…

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During the first 3 weeks

43% said they came to class unprepared.

More than 25% skipped class.

More than 31% turned in an assignment late.


It’s My Fault…

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I Need Help, But…

85% never met with a tutor.

94% never used online tutoring.

65% never went to the writing or math lab.

25% never asked an instructor for help.


I Need Help, But…

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I’m Getting Help!

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Helping students succeed through the equivalent of the first semester (12–15 credit hours) can dramatically improve subsequent success rates.


Engaged Learning

• More than 30% asked questions in class or contributed to discussion only once or NEVER

• Almost half worked with other students in class once or NEVER


Give Me a Reason to Come to Class…

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When it Works…

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During the 1st 3 weeks of class…

More than half (55%) of students responding to the SENSE survey said they received prompt feedback about their performance

once or NEVER


Do you know how you’re doing?

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What Matters Most for Entering Student Success?



Students Start Right When They…•Make connections –

• between now and their future (setting goals)

• with faculty, staff and other students

• between what they’re learning and what’s important to them – personally and professionally


Students Start Right When They…

•Navigate successfully through college systems, processes and procedures

They understand what they’re doing and why it matters!

So how are we doing?

Student Success…It’s in the Numbers…

Initiative on Student Success

Out of 74 Houston/Gulf Coast area focus group participants…

Almost 1/3 dropped at least one class during the 1st term

Houston/Gulf Coast Focus Group Participants

74 students in 3 community colleges

Status after 1st Semester

35 students earned GPA less than 2.0 – 47%





16 students earned 0 credits – 22%





15 students did not re-enroll spring term – 20%


Some Observations

• Students experience culture shock and academic shock.

• It’s over within the first three weeks!

• You have to ask to be told…but what if you don’t know what to ask?


Some Observations

• Students feel disconnected. “They didn’t notice me when I got here, they didn’t notice me when I left.”

• Orientation helps – but students want to meet faculty and other students before classes start.

• Students don’t consider it “advising” when someone simply helps them sign up for class.


One student tells us…

“Coming into this environment I know nothing about I do need some instruction. If they could just give me a little instruction…I’ll figure out the rest.”


What does all this mean for us?

• Create an “on-ramp” to college life.

• Streamline registration and give it meaning – help students understand the “what” and the “why.”

• Make everything more personal – show them we care!

• If we know what students need – make it mandatory!


High Performing Colleges

…make student engagement

inescapable!

Inescapable…

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Arleen ArnspargerProject Manager, Initiative on Student Success

Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)Community College Leadership Program The University of Texas at Austin

Web sites – www.enteringstudent.orgwww.ccsse.org


For more information:

Catch Them While You Can! Learning College Summit 2010.

Documents

Transcript of Catch Them While You Can! Learning College Summit 2010.