Fall 2005 Non-returning Student Survey Teaching and Learning Center Presentation September 20, 2006 Achieving the Dream at Durham Technical Community College

Presentation Overview Achieving the Dream Achieving the Dream Survey History/Purpose Survey History/Purpose Fall 2004 Non-returning Students Fall 2004 Non-returning Students Fall 2005 Non-returning Students Fall 2005 Non-returning Students Comparison/Contrast Comparison/Contrast Achieving the Dream Student Challenges Achieving the Dream Student Challenges Durham Tech Supports Students Durham Tech Supports Students

Achieving the Dream at Durham Tech Student centered vision Student centered vision Culture of evidence and accountability Culture of evidence and accountability Commitment to excellence and equity Commitment to excellence and equity

Durham Tech is committed to increasing the percentage of students who… complete remedial courses and move on to credit-bearing courses. complete remedial courses and move on to credit-bearing courses. enroll in and complete “gatekeeper” courses such as introductory math and English. enroll in and complete “gatekeeper” courses such as introductory math and English. complete the courses they take, earning a grade of C or higher. complete the courses they take, earning a grade of C or higher. re-enroll from one semester to the next. re-enroll from one semester to the next. earn certificates and/or degrees. earn certificates and/or degrees.

Survey History Developed and implemented a short phone survey, Spring 2005 Developed and implemented a short phone survey, Spring 2005 Minor revisions, Spring 2006 Minor revisions, Spring 2006

Purpose To understand why students choose not to re- enroll at Durham Tech

Ultimate Goal To increase the success of Durham Tech students, particularly those in groups that have been underserved

Fall Semester 2004 Cohort 577 new students enrolled at Durham Tech 577 new students enrolled at Durham Tech 147 (25%) did not re-enroll (Spring 2005) 147 (25%) did not re-enroll (Spring 2005) 56 students surveyed by phone (February/March) 56 students surveyed by phone (February/March)

Fall Semester 2005 Cohort 604 new students enrolled at Durham Tech 604 new students enrolled at Durham Tech 167 (28%) did not re-enroll (Spring 2006) 167 (28%) did not re-enroll (Spring 2006) 47 students surveyed by phone (March/April) 47 students surveyed by phone (March/April)

Non-returning Student Demographics Fall 2004 Fall 2005

Top Programs of Non-returning Students Associate in Arts Associate in Arts Associate in Nursing Associate in Nursing Associate in Science Associate in Science Associate in Business Administration Associate in Business Administration

Top Programs of Non-returning Students (Developmental Percentages) Associate in Arts (66%) Associate in Arts (66%) Associate in Nursing (100%) Associate in Nursing (100%) Associate in Science (56%) Associate in Science (56%) Associate in Business Administration (67%) Associate in Business Administration (67%)

Important 100 of the 167 non-returning students were developmental students

Students are not returning Why?

Work related responsibilities24% Work related responsibilities24% Personal/family obligations22% Personal/family obligations22% Financial16% Financial16% Transferred to another school10% Transferred to another school10% Other28% Other28% Reasons Why Survey Students Did Not Re-enroll, Spring 2005

Reasons Why Survey Students Did Not Re-enroll, Spring 2006 Personal/family obligations32% Personal/family obligations32% Transferred to another school16% Transferred to another school16% Work related responsibilities13% Work related responsibilities13% Transportation13% Transportation13% Financial7% Financial7% Other19% Other19%

National Student Clearinghouse Data 21 (13%) of the 167 students who did not return to Durham Tech transferred to another community college or university.

What Students Said…

Greatest Challenges, 2006 “Juggling school, child, home life” “Juggling school, child, home life” “Balancing everyday schedule with classes” “Balancing everyday schedule with classes” “Scheduling my work and classes” “Scheduling my work and classes” “Getting my financial aid” “Getting my financial aid” “Very challenging taking a full course load” “Very challenging taking a full course load” “Understanding course material” “Understanding course material” “Waiting to pay money for the class” “Waiting to pay money for the class” “Homework, not used to doing homework. I’ve been out of school for a while.” “Homework, not used to doing homework. I’ve been out of school for a while.” “Preparing for classes” “Preparing for classes” “Traveling from Raleigh” “Traveling from Raleigh” “Making class after work on Monday nights” “Making class after work on Monday nights” “Going to school at age 60” “Going to school at age 60”

“I feel I played around a lot, but I want to buckle down now.” Survey respondent who plans to re-enroll

“I have a lot on my plate with a baby, job and other personal obligations.” Survey respondent who plans to re-enroll

Goal Setting “Some students are so mired in the complexity of staying alive that they may not even be able to understand what goals are and how they could be important.” Glenn Gabbard, Ed.D., Data Facilitator Achieving the Dream Project

Question How many of the 47 students surveyed said that Durham Tech deserved an “A” for the support they received during their first semester?

Letter Grade for Support Grade from Durham Tech Students A19 B17 C9 D0 F1 One student did not participate

If students feel supported, then why aren’t they returning?

Missed Opportunity Many of our Achieving the Dream students do not realize their potential. Instead of seeking help, they choose not to re-enroll.

Perspective “Today, pre-collegiate courses are more likely to be populated by students recently out of high school where, in fact, they never mastered these essential skills of English and math.” Rose Asera “Pipeline or Pipedream: Another Way to Think About Basic Skills”

“If I have lost confidence in myself, I have the universe against me.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Essayist and Poet ( )

Perspective “Many of these students have had years of negative experiences with school and need courses in which they can, in effect, more successfully learn the content and learn to be students.” Rose Asera “Pipeline or Pipedream: Another Way to Think About Basic Skills”

A Positive Survey Vibe, students (45%) plan to re-enroll 25 students (45%) plan to re-enroll 11 were “not sure” 11 were “not sure” 13 responded they would not be returning 13 responded they would not be returning Most students referred to Counseling and Student Development indicated an interest in returning Most students referred to Counseling and Student Development indicated an interest in returning

A Positive Survey Vibe, students plan to re-enroll 17 students plan to re-enroll 13 were “not sure” 13 were “not sure” 16 responded they would not be returning 16 responded they would not be returning 1 transferred to another school 1 transferred to another school

Durham Tech Supports Students

How DTCC Supports Students Early Alert Early Alert Mentoring program Mentoring program Minority male mentoring Minority male mentoring Single parent club Single parent club Campus Learning Center Campus Learning Center Writing and math labs Writing and math labs Student Senate Student Senate College prep program College prep program Student success workshops Student success workshops Accessible instructors Accessible instructors

“Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” Samuel Johnson English author ( )