Inclusive Excellence: Embracing and Assessing a Diverse Student Body

Knowing Our Students, and Helping Them SucceedNECC’s Vision Statement:

To create a supportive learning environment of cultural inclusion that embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence.

NECC Student Body in Lawrence

54.8% Latino Students (38.8% college-wide)

67.6% Female v. 32.4% Male

(61.4% v. 38.6% college-wide)

Average Age = 26

23% Growth in popula- tion of Latino students over the past 5 years v. overall decrease of 12.6% FTE enrollment

Technology & Collaboration

DegreeWorks – Used by Advisors (Faculty & Staff)Starfish Early Success – Used College-wideTutorTrac – Used by Tutoring/Student Success

Supports and Collaborations for Student Success – Focus on Diverse Populations

FYS – Student Success Center: Success Coaches (Title V)Summer Bridge; Tertulias; Cultural EnrichmentStarfish: LA Center, Early College, International Students, Vets, TRiO, Advising, Athletics, Clubs/Organizations

Assessment of Best Practices

SUMMER BRIDGE STUDENTS2012-2015 Overall GPA for all students was 2.61; for Latinos it was 2.42; for Summer Bridge students in the same time frame it was 2.99.

Summer Bridge students are retained at a rate of 79% v. overall student retention of 62.5%.

STARFISH EARLY SUCCESSIn Fall 2014, Latino students who were ‘flagged’ and came to SSC for services had 11.3% higher CCR and 19% higher retention rates than Latinos flagged who did NOT come in for services.

Johnny Blue Fins, our Starfish Early Success mascot

Student Success Center was 2015 finalist in associates level Excelencia in Education programs. NECC was honored in 2015 as a Starfish 360 Award “Rising Star”.

NECC, an Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2002, has held two Title V federal grants

KPIs and How Our Latino Students Fare

The good news is that overall, course completion rates have increased for Latinos college-wide, and graduation rates are rising, though numbers are still small. Retention and gains in milestone courses remain flat. Although the needle is tough to move at the institutional level, we know our Best Practices are successful.

Next Steps for Continuous Improvement

A more integrated, holistic student experience with respect to services and supports so that more students are touched more intentionally by services.

Scaling up access to and use of successful interventions and strategies, while maintaining effective use of resources.

Rigorous assessment of interventions and student outcomes.

Relevance to New NEASC Standards

To understand the student experience and measure learning outcomes, NECC employs both quantitative and qualitative methods. Program Reviews and assessments are done regularly, and KPIs include measures of course completion, retention, graduation and transfer, among other things.

Professional development of staff and faculty around issues of diversity, culturally relevant curriculum and pedagogical approaches is also testament to our commitment to student success.

Albertus 2020: A Strategic Path for the 21st Century

Promote a diverse, inclusive learning environment by recruiting and retaining students, faculty and staff who reflect the demographic changes in our society.

Enhance student access and success through effective uses of technology, the development of flexibly delivered academic programs, and the implementation of high-impact practices.

One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing the Many Facets of Diversity at Albertus Magnus College

Traditional Undergraduate Program: 497PGS Undergraduate: 692PGS Graduate: 318Female: 66%; Male: 44%White: 40% African-American: 32%; Hispanic: 15%.First Generation: 45%Pell Recipients: 42%

Albertus Magnus College

CTLE and the Focus on High Impact Practices

Establishment of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence: Coordination and Promotion of Academic Support ServicesAccessibility Coordination TeamAt-Risk Student Behavior Intervention TeamFirst year programePortfolio initiative Peer tutoringExperiential learning: student/faculty collaborative research; practica and internships; study abroad; service learning

Accessibility is Key to Success

1985: Inauguration of Accelerated Degree Programs1994: Introduction of the New Dimensions Program2009: Establishment of first fully online program2015: Creation and implementation of the FLEX option

Assessment is Key to Success• Retention Rates

• Black or African-American, full-time, first-time, degree/certificate seeking undergraduates: 70% (first out of 24 institutions)

• Hispanic/Latino, full-time, first-time, degree/certificate seeking undergraduates: 50% (seventh out of 24 institutions; 3 institutions had 50% graduation rates)

• White, full-time, first-time, degree/certificate seeking undergraduates: 58% (one of two institutions with the highest graduation rate among the 24 institutions)

• Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory• My academic advisor is knowledgeable about requirements in my major.• My academic advisor is approachable.• My academic advisor is concerned about my success as an individual.• The instruction in my major field is excellent.

• Alumni Surveys• Alumni surveys show significant growth in interest to pursue further study from 2011 to 2014.

Undergraduate Program alumni surveys show a growth from 9% to 39% of students planning to seek further education, and the percentage in the Accelerated Degree Program grew from 23.9% to 40%.

• ETS Proficiency Profile• Growth in written communication.• Critical thinking is a challenge.

• ePortfolio Assessment: Written Communication and Critical Thinking• Growth in written communication.• Critical thinking is a challenge.

Assessment is Key to Success

Effective use of

Technology to Support Pedagogy

• Enhancement of faculty training

• Student orientation and remediation

Flexible Delivery of Academic Programs

• Curriculum review• Implementation of

best practices in course design

Student achievement

of higher-order

student learning outcomes

• Refinement of student learning outcomes – focus on digital literacy and critical thinking.

• Course redesign

Goal: Student Access Success and Retention