Beginning at the Beginning: A Best Practice in Adult Education Intake Katrina Bell

Rationale Most students who come to Adult Education Are underprepared Lack academic confidence Require structure Are not connected Lack direction

Why Student Orientation? Communicate program goals and expectations Identify transition as a possibility Identify and address barriers to education Build a cohort Quasi-managed enrollment

What is Orientation? Three day (12 hour) process acclimating students to the adult education setting Includes activities designed to build cohort while increasing expectations of each individual

Who attends? All new adult education students (on campuses where offered) Students who have stopped out for 6 months or more Some students who have been out of class for a period of time due to referral process Currently, Applied Academics students are not required to attend

Pathways to the Future Day One: Just the Basics –Program description and expectations –TABE review – “Preparing for the TABE” Importance of TABE for placement Basic test taking strategies Group discussion of review questions –TABE Test

Pathways to the Future Day Two: Education and Career Exploration –Computer lab overview –CHOICES –Learning style questionnaire ( SI.htm) SI.htm –Campus tour

Pathways to the Future Day Two: Education and Career Exploration (cont.) –Meeting with Transition Specialist Positive reinforcement Completion of Educational & Career Plan –Discussion of educational history –Utilizes CHOICES printout –TABE scores –Barriers to education identified –Referrals for support Schedule created

Pathways to the Future Day Three: Student Success –Time Management –Personal Budget –Goal Setting –Dealing with Stress – “A Positive Attitude, A Positive You” –Study Skills – “Study Skills for Academic Success” –College Transition Unit Introduction

Implementation Discussion Issues that confront new programs: Student base Staff attitudes Resources