league innovations conference 2011 listen up! learning from students about college readiness
TRANSCRIPT
League Innovations Conference 2011
Listen Up! Learning fromStudents about College Readiness
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Arleen Arnsparger
Project Manager Initiative on Student Success Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)
Entering students are highly motivated, are committed to achieving their academic goals, and sincerely believe they will.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
90%…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
Center for Community College Student Engagement
But…Am I Ready for College?
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85%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they’re academically prepared for college.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Center for Community College Student Engagement
I Thought I Was Ready…
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During the first 3 weeks of college…
• 43% came to class unprepared at least once.
• More than one-quarter of students skipped class at least once.
• Almost one-quarter did not turn in an assignment at least once.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Center for Community College Student Engagement
…of our students leave before the start of their second year.
50%
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Helping students succeed through the equivalent of the first semester (12–15 credit hours) can dramatically improve subsequent success rates.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Quantitative
CCSSE
CCFSSE
SENSE
Qualitative
Initiative on Student Success / Starting Right
Center for Community College Student Engagement
SENSE focuses on…• Early Connections
• High Expectations and Aspirations
• Clear Academic Plan and Pathway
• Effective Track to College Readiness
• Engaged Learning
• Academic and Social Support Network
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Center for Community College Student Engagement
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What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…
• Almost 30% didn’t really feel welcome.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Welcome to college!
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What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…
• Fewer than half participated in on-campus orientation.
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Getting Started
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Getting Started
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
What do students say is the most important college service?
Academic Advising & Planning
What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks… • 70% said an advisor helped them pick classes.• Fewer than 60% said an advisor helped them
select a major or program.• Fewer than 40% said an advisor helped them set
academic goals and create a plan for achieving those goals.
• Only 26% said a college staff member talked with them about balancing school with other commitments.
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Please advise me!
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
What’s my plan?
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
1. What is mandatory? For whom?
2. What does your college data show about the impact of orientation and academic planning on student persistence and first term academic success?
3. What steps is your college taking to ensure that all students start right?
Discussion Questions – The Front Door – Orientation, Advising
What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…
• Fewer than one-quarter enrolled in a class designed to teach them the skills needed to succeed in college.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Creating an On-Ramp to College
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What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…
• 84% Never used face-to-face tutoring.
• 65% Never used writing, math or other skill labs.
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
I need help, but…
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Students don’t do optional!!
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I’m Getting Help…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
1. Are student success classes mandatory? For whom?
2. Is the academic support students need integrated into their courses?
3. What does your college data show about the impact of student success classes and integrated support?
Discussion Questions –
Some Observations about Entering Students
• Students experience culture shock and academic shock.
• Students don’t know what they don’t know…but we expect them to!
• You have to ask to be told…but what if you don’t know what to ask?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Observations about Entering Students
• Orientation is necessary…and 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.
• Students feel disconnected. “They didn’t notice me when I got here, they didn’t notice me when I left.”
Center for Community College Student Engagement
What does this mean for us?
• Create an “on-ramp” to college life.
• Streamline registration – 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!
Center for Community College Student Engagement
What strategies does your college currently have in place that are making a difference to improve student success. How do you know?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
What if we stopped penalizing students for what they don’t know?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
How might we design the entering student experience differently?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Center for Community College Student Engagement
The Road to College Completion!
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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 site – www.cccse.org
Center for Community College Student Engagement
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