beating the Barriers at HCTC: How One Rural Community College is Helping its Non-traditional Students Achieve Academic Success

HCTC Service Area Challenges Poverty one county in service area is 3rd poorest in the country, several are in top 25 worst 3 counties in the state for health outcomes about 1 in 3 people only has a high school education – also an opportunity to turn things around

HCTC Service Area Challenges Poor Health Outcomes County Health Rankings (2018)

HCTC Service Area Challenges Low Educational Attainment Perry County, Kentucky, Education Attainment Breakdown (Town Charts, 2016)

PROBLEM: Multiple barriers to success for non-traditional students

SOLUTION: Tuesday Night Live Faculty Led and Driven Flexible Schedule to Fit the Working Students’ Needs Support Services (tutoring, adult ed) Extended College Services Hours Healthy Meal with Engagement Opportunities Activities for School Age Children

TNL Degree Pathways talk about stacked and 8 week classes – allow to be full time at 12 credits realized that greater numbers had prior credits than anticipated instead of being advantage to come back in, disadvantage to get so far behind

Children’s Activities STEAM Activities for School Age Children focus on health for many

Family Style Meals Build connections and support “I looked forward to coming to class.” TNL Student Students, their children, faculty and staff Build connections and support Guests have included deans, the HCTC President and representatives of community organizations Presentations about soft skills and resources for students Healthy meals with recipe tips and children’s cooking lessons non-traditional students report feeling isolate, only 1 night a week allows busy working parent time with kids

Enhanced Student Support Support services offices remain open late on Tuesday nights Tutors available to support all online students Student support personnel invited to dinners Online office hours with Blackboard Collaborate Online faculty have office hours and invite students to meet with them select Tuesdays

Outcomes Spring 2018 18 24 30 16 1 5 6 2 3 8** 78% 67% 88% 72% 46% 47%   Full-time students in at least 1 TNL hybrid * Part-time students in at least 1 TNL hybrid Full-time students in no hybrids but at least 1 TNL online Part-time students in at least 1 TNL online but no hybrids Number enrolled: 18 24 30 16 Received E, W in other courses but passed TNL 1 5 6 2 Received E, W in TNL but passed others Some E,W in both 3 All Es or Ws 8** Percentage students passing all TNL classes 78% 67% 88% Percentage students passing all classes 72% 46% 47% 75% * The 4 students enrolled in a full load of TNL classes had no W or E grades. ** Many of these were students who enrolled in the 2nd 8 weeks only. Several were high-risk students.

RESULTS – THE MODEL WORKS! GOAL – 70% of TNL non-traditional students will successfully complete CIT 105. * Spring 2018, 100% of TNL non-trad students successfully completed CIT 105. Fall 2018 – 67%. GOAL – 75% of TNL non-traditional students will successfully complete online classes. * Spring 2018, 64% successfully completed their online classes. Fall 2018 – 75% were successful.

RESULTS – THE MODEL WORKS! GOAL – TNL non-traditional students will successfully complete a college level math course within one year. * RESULT – 65% completed college-level math within one year. GOAL – TNL non-traditional students will successfully complete English 101 within one year. *RESULT - 50% completed English 101 within one year.

Budget Original Budget Expended Budget   Original Budget Expended Budget Personnel (tutors, faculty, kitchen) $23,000.00 Spring 2018 $1,189.38 Fall 2018 $1,684.34 Fall 2018 (estimate) $7,749 Spring 2019 (estimate) $8,072 $18,694.72 Current Expenses (supplies, equipment, furniture, marketing/promotion, travel) $27,000.00 Spring 2018 $929.38 Fall 2018 $3,352.47 Spring 2019 (estimate) $22,000 $26,281.85 Total $44,976.57

Student Responses “They care about their students.” “They helped my kids learn useful life skills and academic learning both in a fun no pressure environment. My kids loved coming to “college” as they said, and as I am the first person in my family to receive a high school diploma or attend any type of college classes, I love that this experience put the college as a fun learning atmosphere for my children.” “I appreciate the help that attending Tuesday Night Live gave me, otherwise I would not have passed my classes, because I would have let other things take priority. Before I attended I really thought there was no way that it could all be true without there being a catch-but it’s true! It is an amazing awesome service, that I wish was present on all college campuses everywhere, especially for non-traditional students such as myself!”

Sustainability Continuing TNL After Grant Funding Community partners have sponsored meals – Kiwanis, Rotary, President’s Cabinet, faculty, Women’s Club Faculty volunteers and Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education students provide children’s activities Classes and office hours part of existing faculty loads Seeking funds and options for sustaining and expanding tutoring summer issues

Summary While Tuesday Night Live May not be an exact cookie-cutter plan, it is a successful model that can easily be modified, duplicated, and sustained as long as you have faculty, staff, and community buy-in.

THANK YOU!