Student Success in College

The U.S. has lost its competitive edge.

Education PaysDegree Median Weekly Earnings

in 2009Median Annual Earnings in 2009

Doctoral degree $1,532 $79,664

Professional degree $1,529 $79,508

Master’s degree $1,257 $65,364

Bachelor’s degree $1,025 $53,300

Associate degree $761 $39,572

Some college, no degree $699 $36,348

High school graduate $626 $32,552

Less than a high school diploma

$454 $23,608

If college degrees enhance income, what problems can arise to make success in college difficult?

• Laziness• Health problem• Death in the family• Job loss (no money)• Car accident• Biting off more than you

can chew

• Addiction• Incarceration• Domestic conflict• Homelessness• Drama• Missing basics: food,

sleep, exercise, love

If college degrees enhance income, why

do some students fail in college?

Cumulatively, SENSE (Survey of Entering Student Engagement) has surveyed well over 100,000 students from 199 different community colleges in 35 states, the

Northern Marianas, and the Marshall Islands.

28%

19%

41%

22%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Skipped class

Came to class unprepared

Did not turn in one or more assignments

Turned in an assignment late

Source: Kay McClenney, Ph. D., Director, Center for Community College Student Engagement

Senior Associate, Achieving the Dream, The University of Texas at Austin

Percentage of students who, at least once during their first three weeks of college:

How can students respond to challenges that pose a threat to success in college?

Accepting Responsibility

Successful Students

Adopt the Creator rolebelieving that their choices create the outcomes and experiences of their lives.

Struggling Students

Accept the Victim rolebelieving that external forces determine the outcomes and experiences of their lives.

Source: On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life, 3rd Ed., by Skip Downing

Adopting the Creator RoleStimulus

ChoiceVictimCreator

Response•Seeking solutions•Taking action•Trying something new

Response•Blaming •Complaining•Excusing•Repeating behavior

Results•Often achieves goals Results

•Seldom achieves goals

Personal Responsibility

Successful Students

Make wise decisions by consciously designing the future they want

Struggling Students

Make careless decisions by letting the future happen by chance rather than by choice.

Accepting Responsibility

Successful Students often

Focus on learningCan we review my errors so I can understand all the concepts?

Struggling Students often

Focus on gradesCan you accept some of my wrong answers as correct so that I can earn more points?

Success comes by working hard long after our initial enthusiasm

passes.