Catch Them While You Can! Learning College Summit 2010

89% …of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they believe they have the motivation to do what it takes to succeed in college. Center for Community College Student Engagement High Expectations and Aspirations

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85% …of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they’re academically prepared for college. Center for Community College Student Engagement

Entering students are highly motivated, are committed to achieving their academic goals, and sincerely believe they will. Center for Community College Student Engagement

…of our students leave in their first year. 50%

Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) & Starting Right: Listening to Entering Students Center for Community College Student Engagement

SENSE & Starting Right : Listening to Entering Students 3 years colleges Represents 1.4 million students 36 states, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands Focus Groups

SENSE Benchmarks Early Connections High Expectations and Aspirations Clear Academic Plan and Pathway Effective Track to College Readiness Engaged Learning Academic and Social Support Network Center for Community College Student Engagement

Starting Right Focus groups and interviews with students in 3 Houston and Gulf Area Community Colleges; feeder high schools Focus groups and interviews with students in 3 geographically diverse Community Colleges

4 …the least number of times students in focus groups at one college we visited returned to the college to complete the registration process. Center for Community College Student Engagement

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Center for Community College Student Engagement Welcome to college! Video Removed

Students don’t know what they don’t know… but we think they should…and we behave as though they do! Center for Community College Student Engagement

The students in our focus groups who reported the best experience registering at their college had something in common. What was it? Center for Community College Student Engagement

What is registration? What are the steps I have to go through? Why is it important that I take these steps? Center for Community College Student Engagement

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During their first 3 weeks, students say… Fewer than half participated in on- campus orientation. Center for Community College Student Engagement

During their first 3 weeks… Almost 30% didn’t know they could get academic advising… 47% didn’t use it.

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Students don’t do optional!! Center for Community College Student Engagement

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Center for Community College Student Engagement Clear Academic Plan & Pathway For those who saw an advisor…”an advisor helped me…” Select courses for my first term – 70% Choose a program or major – fewer than 60% Set academic goals and create a plan for achieving them - fewer than 38%

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Center for Community College Student Engagement More than 70% of entering students say no college staff member talked with them about outside commitments to help them figure out how many classes to take.

Center for Community College Student Engagement Too Many Hours… Video Removed

Center for Community College Student Engagement During the first 3 weeks 43% said they came to class unprepared. More than 25% skipped class. More than 31% turned in an assignment late.

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I Need Help, But… 85% never met with a tutor. 94% never used online tutoring. 65% never went to the writing or math lab. 25% never asked an instructor for help.

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Center for Community College Student Engagement Helping students succeed through the equivalent of the first semester (12–15 credit hours) can dramatically improve subsequent success rates.

Center for Community College Student Engagement Engaged Learning More than 30% asked questions in class or contributed to discussion only once or NEVER Almost half worked with other students in class once or NEVER

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Center for Community College Student Engagement During the 1 st 3 weeks of class… More than half (55%) of students responding to the SENSE survey said they received prompt feedback about their performance once or NEVER

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What Matters Most for Entering Student Success? Center for Community College Student Engagement

Students Start Right When They… Make connections – between now and their future (setting goals) with faculty, staff and other students between what they’re learning and what’s important to them – personally and professionally

Center for Community College Student Engagement Students Start Right When They… Navigate successfully through college systems, processes and procedures They understand what they’re doing and why it matters!

So how are we doing? Student Success…It’s in the Numbers… Initiative on Student Success

Out of 74 Houston/Gulf Coast area focus group participants… Almost 1/3 dropped at least one class during the 1 st term

Houston/Gulf Coast Focus Group Participants 74 students in 3 community colleges Status after 1 st Semester 35 students earned GPA less than 2.0 – 47% Initiative on Student Success

Houston/Gulf Coast Focus Group Participants 74 students in 3 community colleges Status after 1 st Semester 16 students earned 0 credits – 22% Initiative on Student Success

Houston/Gulf Coast Focus Group Participants 74 students in 3 community colleges Status after 1 st Semester 15 students did not re-enroll spring term – 20% Initiative on Student Success

Some Observations Students experience culture shock and academic shock. It’s over within the first three weeks! You have to ask to be told…but what if you don’t know what to ask? Initiative on Student Success

Some Observations Students feel disconnected. “They didn’t notice me when I got here, they didn’t notice me when I left.” Orientation helps – but students want to meet faculty and other students before classes start. Students don’t consider it “advising” when someone simply helps them sign up for class. Initiative on Student Success

One student tells us… “Coming into this environment I know nothing about I do need some instruction. If they could just give me a little instruction…I’ll figure out the rest.” Initiative on Student Success

What does all this mean for us? Create an “on-ramp” to college life. Streamline registration and give it meaning – help students understand the “what” and the “why.” Make everything more personal – show them we care! If we know what students need – make it mandatory! Initiative on Student Success

High Performing Colleges …make student engagement inescapable!

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Arleen Arnsparger Project Manager, Initiative on Student Success Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) Community College Leadership Program The University of Texas at Austin Web sites – Center for Community College Student Engagement For more information: