Higher Education Conference on Enrollment Management February 29, 2008

U SING D ATA TO P ROMOTE S TUDENT S UCCESS

Presented by the R OSE S TATE C OLLEGE T EAM : Dr. Jeanie Webb, Vice President for Student Affairs Isabelle Billen, Director of Information Systems/Institutional Research Lisa Kerr, Director of Student Success/Retention Initiatives Linda Tucker, Math Coordinator and Interim Associate Dean of Engineering Science Presented by the R OSE S TATE C OLLEGE T EAM : Dr. Jeanie Webb, Vice President for Student Affairs Isabelle Billen, Director of Information Systems/Institutional Research Lisa Kerr, Director of Student Success/Retention Initiatives Linda Tucker, Math Coordinator and Interim Associate Dean of Engineering Science Facilitated by Michelle Nutter, Student Affairs Specialist

Achieving the Dream A multi-year national initiative to help more community college students succeed. Many students leave college without meeting their educational goals. – Of the community college students who seek an associate or higher, 45% earn an associate or a bachelor’s degree or transfer to a four-year institution within six years. – Of the students enrolled in a certificate program, 41% achieve that goal, earn a degree or transfer to a four- year institution within six years.

Fewer than half of community college students meet their educational goals.

Even more alarming is that number is less among minority and other underserved student populations.

Achievement Gaps Particularly concerned about student groups that traditionally have faced significant barriers to success, including minority students and low-income students. Participating colleges enroll high percentages of low-income students and minority students, who are less likely to attain their educational goals.

Barriers to Success Single head of household Low socioeconomic status Minority group status Low educational attainment of parents Disabilities Psychosocial factors Gender Limited English proficiency

Achieving the Dream Institutions Currently, there are 83 institutions in 15 states participating in this initiative. There were four acceptance rounds. – In 2004, Round 1 concluded with 26 institutions in the program. – In 2005, Round 2 saw the addition of 8 more colleges. – In 2006, Round 3 accepted 23 more college. – In 2007, Round 4 finished with an additional 26 colleges. The Oklahoma partnership was accepted in Round 4.

Achieving the Dream Institutions

Oklahoma Partnership Selected to participate in the partnership with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education: – Oklahoma City Community College – Rose State College – Tulsa Community College Colleges that best fit the goals of the initiative, representing urban community colleges in Oklahoma.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Summer Bridge Program Learning Community

Summer Bridge Program 6 week program to refresh academic skills in the areas of English, Reading and Math Designed to help students place into a higher level class after refreshing skills Day and evening classes available Designed to accommodate 100 students

Achievements 65 students completed course in 2007 (87 %) 65 students tested out of 72 classes 81% raised their Math scores, 69% raised their English scores and 49% raised their Reading scores Fall 2007 – these students enrolled in 241 classes for a total of 688 credit classes

Changes Restructure the Bridge to attract more students Offer at different times – not just summer

Learning Community Designed for students in Math, English or Reading developmental classes Students must also be STSR course (Educational Planning Course) Additional 1 hour study session required with all instructors present.

Achieving the Dream at Rose State College

Forward Progress Kickoff institute was held in June in Dallas Assigned a coach and a data facilitator Coach and Data facilitator visited our campus at the beginning to get us started

Data Team Formed a data team of 7 members, one from each of these areas: – Faculty – Student Financial aid – Business Affairs – Student Affairs – Grants and Contracts – I.T. Services – Institutional Research

Data team charge: – Send a file to JBL of our first time students – examine our data to determine our area of greatest need and where we can make the greatest positive impact on our students’ success Began meeting every 2 weeks for approximately 1 ½ hours Started with currently available data reports

Focused on the courses that had high enrollments and high failure rates (50% or more with failing grades, D,F,W) The classes that fell in this category – Developmental courses – College Accounting class – Intro. To Chemistry

Drilled down into the enrollments in the gatekeeper courses – Looked at students by demographics (age, sex, race) – Utilized SPSS, phone interviews and personal interviews

General Findings Correlation between race and success rates Not a significant relationship between gender and success rates Strong, positive correlation between students taking evening courses and success rates

Report findings to our Core team and begin to develop strategies The data team will assist with evaluating the results of the strategies

Based upon the data previously discussed Rose State College is developing institutional strategies designed to: – increase retention and success rates among students in gateway courses. – increase graduation rates among students who begin their post-secondary academic programs in developmental courses.

Determining Strategies Data informed Literature Colleagues Coaches 2008 Achieving the Dream Strategies Institute Rose State College Community

Data Informed Data results serve to inform the Rose State College Achieving the Dream team through the process of discerning the strategies. Literature Literature review was conducted to identify strategies and programs proven effective for increasing retention among community college students in developmental and other gateway courses

Colleagues Conversations transpired with colleagues engaged in similar processes, and others in earlier Achieving the Dream cohorts. Coach & Facilitator Consultations via campus visits, s, and phone with Achieving the Dream Coach and Data Facilitator.

2008 Strategies Institute Four members of the Rose State College Core Team attended the 2008 Strategies Institute. Additional discussion regarding relevant strategies, processes, and “tricks of the trade.” Lasted national data, trends, challenges, and successes with strategy implimentation.

Rose State College Community Current process is gathering perspectives from members of the Rose State College Community regarding potential strategies. Critical conversations are transpiring relative to – developmental education policies and enrollment patterns – coordination of support services – institutionalization of success support services – faculty, staff, students

Strategies… in process Rose State College is developing realistic strategies that will coordinate institutionalized student success services such that all students, especially students enrolled in identified gateway courses, are supported to succeed academically, personally and professionally through graduation.

Closing Remarks Ultimate goal of the Achieving the Dream Initiative is to increase student success which directly correlates to increasing graduation and retention rates.

QUESTIONS?