National Center for Inquiry & Improvement PROGRESS ENTRY COMPLETION CONNECTION Students never apply to college Students delay entry into college College counseling patterns that lead to: - under enrollment - little program- specific guidance - missed financial aid opportunities Unstructured programs / too many choices Extended onramps delay entry to programs of study Students fail to enroll/pass Gatekeeper courses Poor work- school balance Part-time enrollment forcing long completion times Progress not monitored / feedback given Life events / “Stop out or drop out” Transfer without credential Students accumulate credits (& debt) not aligned with completion Never complete college level math Credential doesn’t support needed wage & aren’t stackable Texas Completes Framing Model Some Known Loss Points Poor academic preparation

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement PROGRESS ENTRY COMPLETION CONNECTION Increase understanding of college requirements, including test prep / financial aid / dual enrollment Texas Completes Framing Model Momentum Strategies Ensure new students know requirements to succeed Placement exam / ed planning in high school Accelerate entry to structured POS linked to careers Mandatory requirements such as orientation and student success course Restructured dev ed to accelerate into POS Comprehensive student advising system Streamline time to degree / certificate Continually analyze student progress & leverage technology to provide real-time feedback Implement more accelerated and competency- based options Remove policy barriers to graduation, such as graduation applications or fees Provide incentives to transfer with credentials Use technology to automate processes such as graduation Integrate SS / Instruction efforts

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Discussion  Connection: How can you and your colleagues increase or enhance outreach so new students are better prepared for success?  Entry: How might you and your colleagues accelerate the rate at which new students choose and successfully enter a program?

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Discussion  Progress: How can you and your colleagues provide support to students as they progress along their pathway?  Completion: How might you assist students who are close to completion in crossing the finish line?

COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH CENTER Pathway Models Compared Self-Service (Status Quo)Guided Pathways Clear roadmaps to student end goals Too many choices Program paths unclear Default, whole-program schedules “Opt-in” career and college planningRequired academic plans Dev ed narrowly focused on Math & English 101, no “soft skills” prep Intake system redesigned as “on-ramp” to program of study Students’ progress not monitored Progress tracking, regular feedback & support High school, ABE/ESL, non-credit poorly aligned with college Bridges to college programs from High school, ABE/ESL, non-credit

Frequently Asked Questions About Redesigning Colleges to Improve Completion

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement FAQs about Redesigning for Completion (1) Isn’t free choice the cornerstone of American higher education? Don’t students benefit when they “find themselves” by what looks like wandering to the observer? Isn’t college a meritocracy, where the strong / smart succeed, and the weak / underprepared / unmotivated don’t succeed? Won’t we lose enrollment when we get rid of the swirl with increased structure?

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement FAQs about Redesigning for Completion (2) Aren’t we going to sacrifice quality when move to more structured pathways? How can students be expected to make career decisions when they are 18 or 19? Don’t students change careers four to seven times? Given this, why would we put them on structured pathways? Don’t we lose a liberal arts education when we make things more structured?

Texas Completes Design Principles 9

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Program Pathway CONNECTION From interest to enrollment ENTRY From enrollment to entry into program of study PROGRESS From program entry to completion of program requirements COMPLETION Completion of credential of value for further education and (for CTE) labor market advancement Enter Program of Study Complete Program of Study Consider College Education 10

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Redesign Process CONNECTION From interest to enrollment ENTRY From enrollment to entry into program of study PROGRESS From program entry to completion of program requirements COMPLETION Completion of credential of value for further education and (for CTE) labor market advancement Market program paths Build bridges from high school and adult ed. into program streams (e.g., strategic dual enrollment, I-BEST) Help students choose program pathway and track entry Build prescribed “on-ramps” customized to largest program streams Clearly define and prescribe program paths Monitor students’ progress and provide feedback and supports JIT Incentivize progress Align academic program outcomes with requirements for success in further education and (for CTE programs) in the labor market START HERESTEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 11

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Status Quo Pathway Design (example AA in LAS or Gen Studies) AA requirements not aligned with requirements for junior standing in a major at transfer institutions Lack of clear pathways to transfer in a major for cc students; many choices Students progress toward AA and transfer not tracked; little on-going guidance, support No mechanism to inform choice of major pathway Dev ed narrowly focused on math and English, not customized to particular paths 12

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principle #1 – Accelerate Entry into Coherent Programs of Study that Lead to Jobs 1.Features Provide a structured, efficient, and prescriptive student progression experience Clear sequence of courses that lead to completion and job placement 2.Discussion Questions When does a student at your college learn about the various programs of study? What guidance is provided that can help a student select a program of study based on their interests, skill levels, and long term goals? 13

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principle #2 – Minimize Time to Get College Ready 1.Features Ensure students understand assessment & placement process and importance of preparation Clearly communicate requirements for degrees & certificates and the path to achieving them 2.Discussion Questions How does your institution work with your feeder high schools to help potential students understand the impact of and prepare for the placement test? How long do dev ed students spend in remedial courses? 14

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principle #3 – Ensure Students Know Requirements to Succeed 1.Features Clearly map out program requirements and sequence Prescribe course of study for students based on goals and level of readiness 2.Discussion Questions Currently, how do students obtain necessary info about requirements for achieving their educational goals? What existing systems (e.g. technology) could you and your colleagues leverage to help students better understand the requirements for success? 15

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principles – Customize and Contextualize Curriculum (#4) amd Instructional Delivery (#5) 1.Features Use program-specific content to make developmental education relevant and engaging Use of experiential learning 2.Discussion Questions Do your current dev ed courses offer students opportunities to explore their fields of interest and provide a context for the math, reading & writing that they are learning? Why or why not? How might you go about contextualizing some of your courses? Who would neec to be involved? 16

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principle #6 – Integrate Student Support With Instruction 1.Features Embed student support within instruction where appropriate Ensure proactive & customized academic & student support serves students who most need it 2.Discussion Questions When your students need support, how do they find it? How might your institution make it easier for students who are reluctant to ask for help, or unaware where to find it, to get the assistance they need? 17

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principle #7 – Continually Analyze Student Progress & Proactively Provide Customized Feedback 1.Features Analyze and celebrate student progress toward goals and provide prompt and tailored feedback Use data on student progress to inform planning and creation of safety nets 2.Discussion Questions How do students currently find out about their progress toward their educational goals? Does anybody know when students meet progress milestones? What customization rules might you consider implementing for students who share a certain set of conditions? 18

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Pathway Principle #8 – Utilize Effective Teaching Practices in the Classroom 1.Features Stay current on effective teaching practice research and emerging data nationally and in Texas Implement effective teaching practices in the classroom, monitoring and improving them from the results of classroom-based research 2.Discussion Questions (Faculty) What are you currently doing to improve your teaching practices in the classroom? (Admin) How do you create structures and opportunities for faculty to learn from each other’s teaching practice? 19

COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH CENTER Model Implementation at Scale

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Discussion  What are some of the key features of an coherent pathway for your students?  As you think about the design principles, where might you start with action steps that lead you to a more coherent pathway for your students? 21

National Center for Inquiry & Improvement Find Out More 22 NCII & CCRC websites: & ccrc.tc.columbia.edu Dr. Davis Jenkins, Sr. Research Fellow, CCRC Dr. Rob Johnstone, Founder & President, NCII