Breaking It Down To Build It Up Richard Dawkins, Coordinator Student Success Center Karen Morrow, Director Student Success Center Greenville Technical College

Breaking It Down To Build It Up A Journey Through Change, Reallocation and Recommitment

What We Want for Our Students

If you could… Improve “One Thing” for your students at your institution, What would that “One Thing” be?

Retention Theory Says “There appears to be an important link between learning and persistence that arises from the interplay of involvement and the quality of student effort. Involvement with one’s peers, and with faculty both inside and outside the classroom, is itself positively related to the quality of student effort and in turn to both learning and persistence.” Tinto, 1993

Greenville Tech Knows… “The more contact students have with faculty inside and outside the classroom, the greater their gains will be with personal development and institutional satisfaction.” Astin, 1993 “…meaningful faculty-student interaction helps to facilitate campus engagement, student learning and personal development..” Astin, 1993; Chickering R Reisser, 1993; Kuh, 2001; Tinto, 1993.

Facts That Matter… Engagement means… involvement…influencing students to be motivated to take an active part in their college experience, both curricular and co-curricular. Membership, academic success, a sense of belonging…

What does diversity look like to you? “Meanings are in people, not words.” Everyone brings their own perspective, their own life experience, symbolism, upbringing, feelings, background, etc., to every interaction.

Addressing Reality Retention rates Declining enrollment Minority and special populations have different needs Creating a welcoming environment where students feel a sense of belonging Communication with and engagement of students Meeting students where they are Utilizing the tools we have to take students where they need to go

Diverse Learners: It’s More than Race or Gender “Diversity” Human attributes that are different from your own and from those of groups to which you belong. “Invisible Diversity” Attributes that are not readily seen. Such as: Work experience Marital status Educational background Parental status Income Religious beliefs and affiliations Geographic location Socioeconomic status

Think about that “One Thing”… What are the realities at your institution that makes your “One Thing” so important? Does anyone else see the realities?

The Retention Story Data Told…

The Persistence Story Data Told…

Finding Change Agents… Look within Who are the your Agents? Can they be relocated? If so, how would you use them?

Your “One Thing” Might Happen, so… Who are your change agents? Where are they? How would you use them?

What Greenville Tech Did We Had…We Needed…

Facing the Giants…

The “One Thing” Faces the Giants… Who are your Giants? Is there a Beanstalk? Do you have an executive leader who will help your “One Thing” face the giants?

The Sell

Can You Sell Your “One Thing”? Do you have data? Does your data tell a story? Does your one thing have a place and purpose at the college?

The Student Success Center Opened February, 2015 Mission To empower students to take an active and collaborative role in their learning to achieve academic success. Responsibilities Assist students as they navigate the complex operations of a large college campus Assist students as they connect with available services to their individual needs Assist students as they select and utilize campus resources to ensure academic success

The Challenges… Intradepartmental How do we get buy in from co-workers in our division? Interdepartmental How doe we get buy in from our colleagues in other divisions? Campus Brand What can we say about our area that makes the college (faculty, staff and students) take notice?

What and/or Who Will Challenge your “One Thing”? Intradepartmental? Who are the folks within your division that you can count on? Who will you have convince? Interdepartmental? Which areas of the college will support your “One Thing”? Which areas will need More information? Campus Brand? What will you say about your “One Thing” that make everyone take notice?

Where We Are a Year Later? Student Engagement/A Sense of Belonging Campus Initiatives

Where Will Your “One Thing” be in a Year? What does success look like for the “One Thing”? Who has benefited most from the “One Thing”? Where does the “One Thing” go from here?