Kalamazoo Valley Community College/Noel-Levitz Partnership Improvement Report February 27, 2015

Noel-Levitz by the numbers 1,000 served annually 2,800 partners served 350,000 visits to annually 40 years of service 1,500 institutions participate in Noel-Levitz conferences 130 full-time staff & 60+ part-time consultants 600+ years of experience downloads per week Noel-Levitz

“May you live in interesting times!” It is reported that it was the first of three curses of increasing severity, the other two being: –May you come to the attention of those in authority –May you find what you are looking for

Six megatrends facing higher education Impact of technology on communicating with students Enrolment growth will slow Demographic shifts Retention and completion pressures will intensify Managing new learning modalities Changing economic model

“The future ain’t what it used to be.” Yogi Berra Transferred from en.wikipediaen.wikipedia

Kalamazoo Valley Community College/Noel-Levitz Retention Partnership Components SRP Model & Variable Diagnostics Satisfaction Surveys Retention Planning Early Alert Surveys CSI MYSA SYSA

SRP model 2013 SRP model 2013

Your incoming students will be assigned a model score based on how likely they are to retain Peter Bryant 1Retained Jennifer Mandabay.99Highly Likely Shiela Lilly.85Highly Likely Alex Wugner.72Likely Bob Johnson.68Likely Angie Mabeus.46Somewhat Likely Audrey Keppler.41Somewhat Likely Brian Schuler.21Less Likely Jordan Clouser.17Less Likely Dave Trites 0Not Likely

KVCC Winter 2015 Distribution

. SRP Model & Variable Diagnostics Satisfaction Surveys Retention Planning Early Alert Surveys CSI MYSA SYSA Kalamazoo Valley Community College/Noel-Levitz Retention Partnership Components

. SRP Model & Variable Diagnostics Satisfaction Surveys Retention Planning Early Alert Surveys CSI MYSA SYSA Kalamazoo Valley Community College/Noel-Levitz Retention Partnership Components

Student Perceptions of their experience at KVCC

The SSI uses three scores for prioritizing findings

Captures three scores for prioritizing Satisfaction Importance Satisfaction

Summary Scales SSI SummaryKVCCNat. CC Difference So far, how has your college experience met your expectations? ** Rate your overall satisfaction with your experience here thus far *** All in all, if you had to do it over, would you enroll here again? ***

. SRP Model & Variable Diagnostics Satisfaction Surveys Retention consulting Early Alert Surveys CSI MYSA SYSA Kalamazoo Valley Community College/Noel-Levitz Retention Partnership Components

Retention Discovery Retention Planning Priorities Targets Strategies Action Plans Deployment of Priorities Retention Planning

The Secret of Retention “The secret of successful retention programs is no secret at all, but a reaffirmation of some of the important foundations of higher education. In short, retention is no more than, but certainly no less than, successful education.” Dr. Vincent Tinto, Syracuse University

Retention Consulting Student Affairs Humanities Finance Academic Affairs Budget & Planning Maintenance Sciences Centering on Student Expectations Building Consensus on Strategic Priorities Using Data/information to Inform Experience

“Never under-estimate what can happen when you bring people together to talk about things that are important to them.” Meg Wheatley

Compile, review, and understand KVCC data

Step 1: Define Current State

Step 2: Define Desired State

1. Overall goal: Achieve an overall retention rate of 44% for new freshmen intending to obtain an associate degree who enter the college fall 13 and 46% for new freshmen intending to obtain an associate degree who enter the college fall Race: Achieve a retention rate of 28% percent for fall 13 entering Black or African American students and 30% for fall 14 entering Black or African American students. 3. Financial/Socioeconomic: Achieve a retention rate 38% for fall 13 entering Pell Eligible students and a retention rate 40% for fall14 entering students. 4. First Generation Students: Achieve a retention rate 41% for first generation students who enter fall 13 and a retention rate 43% for students who enter fall ACT Scores: Achieve a retention rate of 35% percent for fall 2013 entering students who do not have an ACT score and 37% for fall 2014 entering students who do not have an ACT score. 6. Transfer Students: Achieve a fall-to-fall retention rate of 33% for fall 2013 entering transfer in students and 35% for fall 2014 entering transfer in students. 7. Age: Achieve a fall-to-fall retention rate of 40% percent for fall 2013 entering students ages 19.1 to 21.0 and 42% for fall 2014 entering students ages

Step 3: Select Strategies

Consensus targets and strategies

Noel-Levitz Student Retention Practices at Two-Year Institutions

© 2013 Noel-Levitz, LLC 2013 Retention Practices at Four-Year and Two-Year Institutions Five most effective practices at two-year public institutions

Create a comprehensive retention plan with detailed action plans for each strategy

Additional StepsResponsibility Completion Date Institutional Actions 1Organize attendance for key participants at the annual FYE conference DeansJan Determine if the college will allow this to be required as it may impact credit limits President’s Council Academic VP Spring Develop a potential organizational structure to provide ongoing coordination, measurement, and support for successful deployment Exec. VP Academic VP Deans Spring Develop a timeline and establish a budget for implementation of both the pilot and the full scale roll-out Academic VP Deans Spring Determine where this course will be placed…in which division/s? departments? Academic VP/Deans Faculty Spring Establish a well-balanced (and reasonable in numbers) FYE Committee to continue the planning work; this should consist of representations from the SSC, Financial Aid, Registration, and the faculty. Pres. Council Exec. VP Academic VP/Deans Spring Provide team building and training to support deployment and ongoing effectiveness Academic VP Deans FYE Committee Summer Measure and communicate the impact of FYE on the success of KVCC students including “return on investment” Academic VP Inst. Research Summer 2015 Detailed Action Plans for each Strategy StepsResponsibility Completion Date Course Development 1Review the existing TRS 105 College Success Strategies and TRS 100 Career Decision Making courses to avoid redundancy or overlapping of curriculum that would have a negative impact on new and existing course/s Faculty FYE Committee Spring Follow the course and curriculum committee guidelines as the course is built Counselors Faculty FYE Committee Spring Summer Determine who the targeted students are…should it only be for freshmen? Students on campus? How are dually enrolled students handled? Faculty FYE Committee Learning Communities Comm. Spring Determine the appropriate pedagogy and class size FacultySum Develop and implement a first-year experience seminar that provides all new KVCC students access to this national best practice inclusive of opportunities for faculty mentoring and topics such as improving financial literacy, time management, career development, and successful life management skills Faculty FYE Committee Sum Develop the course objectives Faculty FYE Committee Sum Determine the optimum credit load for the course FacultySum Determine the length of the course…8 weeks, 12 weeks, 15 weeks, late or early start in the semester FacultySum Establish an engaging model; i.e. faculty mentoring; advocates assigned; service learning component; enrollment by a focus group Advocate Coord. Counselors Faculty Sum Identify shared experiences to engage students; i.e. field trips; common readings; etc. FacultySum Determine instructor competencies FacultySum Determine the role of the instructor as a mentor or additional responsibilities advising FacultySum Identify resources and expertise to incorporate into curriculum; i.e. College Student Inventory, Career assessments, etc. Faculty FYE Committee Sum Coordinate curriculum with initial orientation curriculum to reinforce important concepts without creating unintentional redundancy Director of SSC Faculty FYE Committee Sum Offer several sections of the pilot course FacultyFall 2015

Strategies: The six “vital few” strategies planning participants agreed should be implemented to attain the retention goals include: 1: Identify and develop additional learning community approaches that will expand access to the “power of the cohort” for students from targeted populations of KVCC students placed at risk. 2: Develop and implement a first-year experience (FYE) seminar that provides all new KVCC students access to this national best practice, inclusive of opportunities for mentoring and accepted “college knowledge” topics such as improving financial literacy, time management, and life skills. 3: Require all new and transfer students to participate in a required comprehensive orientation event designed to contribute to a seamless transition into the KVCC experience. 4: Develop more systematic, intentional, and seamless advising interactions for students, especially for new freshmen, that emphasize relationship building and high expectations. 5: Review and revise the academic probation policy to ensure consistency, fairness, and targeted support in order to increase the opportunity for more students to attain their academic goals. 6: Increase the opportunities for part-time faculty to make a full and unconstrained contribution to the quality of life and learning experienced by KVCC students.

Learning Communities Identify and develop additional learning community approaches that will expand access to the “power of the cohort” for students from targeted populations of KVCC students placed at risk. Identify and develop additional learning community approaches that will expand access to the “power of the cohort” for students from targeted populations of KVCC students placed at risk.

First Year Experience Develop and implement a first-year experience (FYE) seminar that provides all new KVCC students access to this national best practice, inclusive of opportunities for mentoring and accepted “college knowledge” topics such as improving financial literacy, time management, and life skills.

New Student Orientation Require all new and transfer students to participate in a required comprehensive orientation event designed to contribute to a seamless transition into the KVCC experience Require all new and transfer students to participate in a required comprehensive orientation event designed to contribute to a seamless transition into the KVCC experience

Advising Develop more systematic, intentional, and seamless advising interactions for students, especially for new freshmen, that emphasize relationship building and high expectations. Develop more systematic, intentional, and seamless advising interactions for students, especially for new freshmen, that emphasize relationship building and high expectations.

Advising Goals and Outcomes Require all students on academic probation (below 2.0 PGA) to meet with a Counselor before registering for future semesters. Academic Probation is slated to take effect 2015 with “new to KVCC” students only. Counselors will work with the student to develop an individualized Academic Improvement Plan (AIP) that students will need to adhere to while on probation status.

Advising Goals and Outcomes Contact “Undecided” students with 30 or more credits. Require students to meet with Academic & Career Counseling before registering for future semesters. “Undecided” students with 30 or more credits will first be contacted for a Career Assessment and then scheduled for an Academic Counselor to declare a program. After the student has declared a program, a Counselor will assist the student in developing an academic plan to carry the student through, to graduation or transfer.

Advising Goals and Outcomes Implement a group advising format to accommodate more students in a timely manner. Group advising is now offered during peak times of the semester to make Counselors more accessible to students, while also accommodating more students.

Advising Goals and Outcomes Make Counseling accessible to students in multiple areas of the college. Counseling has established satellite locations in the faculty offices and the Tech Center.

Advising Goals and Outcomes Collaborate with Recruitment and Advocates to better accommodate new students. Students who haven’t applied to KVCC will first meet with Recruitment and/or an Advocate before meeting with a Counselor. Shifting students to these departments will allow Counselors to better serve currently enrolled KVCC students, and it will better prepare pre-enrolled students for a Counseling appointment.

Probation Review and revise the academic probation policy to ensure consistency, fairness, and targeted support in order to increase the opportunity for more students to attain their academic goals Review and revise the academic probation policy to ensure consistency, fairness, and targeted support in order to increase the opportunity for more students to attain their academic goals

Academic Probation Policy Goals Review the possibility of combining financial aid and academic progress into one probation policy. Determine the most appropriate group or categories (GPA, financial aid) of student to target for probationary support. Research the impact of the probation policy on enrollment. Develop a curriculum and model for a required course/intervention for probationary students that address their specific needs. Develop and implement required interactions/communications with students that connect to the probation policy and reduce the number of probationary students. Provide increased avenues for early feedback on academic progress (mid-semester and prior). Identify research questions to inform programming for probationary students.

Academic Probation Policy Outcomes Collected and reviewed academic probation policies from other community colleges. Defined Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as meeting minimum academic standards to assure successful achievement of KVCC graduation requirements. Developed a progressive Academic Probation Policy that addresses minimum academic standards. Adopted a three step process for students placed on academic probation: o Academic Probation o Academic Warning o Academic Dismissal Determined the need to stage implementation of the Academic Probation Policy to initially target FTIAC students. Acknowledged the need to collaborate with the Student Success Center. Developed a cross-walk for each step in the academic probation process that includes specific conditions and subsequent consequences.

Part-time Faculty Increase the opportunities for part-time faculty to make a full and unconstrained contribution to the quality of life and learning experienced by KVCC students Increase the opportunities for part-time faculty to make a full and unconstrained contribution to the quality of life and learning experienced by KVCC students

Progress Toward Goals

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: Overall Retention Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment71.6%43.5%72.0%46.4%--44.0%--46.0% Graduated0.7%1.7%0.5%1.1%--

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: Black or African American Students Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment61.6%28.5%60.7%29.3%--28.0%--30.0% Graduated0.2%0.5%0.2%0.4%--

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: Pell Eligible Students Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment70.4%37.7%71.7%41.4%--38.0%--40.0% Graduated0.6%1.3%0.6%1.0%--

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: Students Entering Without ACT Scores Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment64.3%34.6%63.9%35.0%--35.0%--37.0% Graduated0.8%2.0%0.4%1.2%--

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: First Generation Students Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment69.7%41.0%70.8%43.3%--41.0%--43.0% Graduated0.4%1.3%0.5%1.0%--

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: Students Transferring In Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment64.8%32.4%65.7%37.7%--33.0%--35.0% Graduated0.9%2.6%0.6%1.4%--

Noel Levitz Goal Development Goal: Students Age Fall 2012 Cohort Fall Cohort 2013Fall 2013 GoalFall 2014 Goal WinterFallWinterFallWinterFallWinterFall Re- enrollment70.4%40.0%69.0%44.9%--40.0%--42.0% Graduated0.5%0.9%0.6%1.3%--

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