1. Looking Back, Looking Forward: Title III at Mid Michigan Community College

2. Began in 2011, Ends September 30, 2015
Title III Basics
$2 million, 5 year federal grant that aimed to improve student retention, graduation, and transfer rates.
Began in 2011, Ends September 30, 2015
MMCC has progressively taken over the funding of all grant initiatives
MMCC “matched” grant funding by providing over approx. $650,000 to support grant initiatives throughout the five years of the grant
Grant has given more than $100,000 to the MMCC Endowment; the MMCC Foundation has matched that amount (and more).

3. The Landscape Before Title III
Enrollment climbed 113% between 2001 and 2009
65% of that population are low-income, first generation, disabled, or a combination of those characteristics
Doan Building opens in 2008, in addition to Pickard and Harrison Campuses

4. The Landscape Before Title III
Title III Grant Awarded
Both Student Services and the Academic Support Center were struggling to keep up with the pace of incoming, underprepared students.
Exacerbating the problems is the disconnect between the campuses—both of which appear to operate as separate entities with their own “brand” of service and procedures.

5. Advisor to Student Ratio
Pre-Grant Challenges: -Fragmented, underutilized student services and academic support programs -Multi-campus communication issues -Services and programs are fragmented and underutilized by students; disconnected from each other and the college community -Errors are routinely made in scheduling students as there is no annual schedule of classes. -No protocol designed to assist students in identifying goals -No structured time with advisors -Ineffective orientation programs (short sessions at the beginning of each semester) -Virtually no self-directed goal assessment and/or individualized learning plans. Data Sources: 2010 Advising Presentation to Board of Trustees; Annual Instructional Report 2009; 2009 AQIP Portfolio Feedback Report; Five Year Master Plan 2009; Student Satisfaction Survey (2008); ACS Report 2009; IT Technology Committee Report 2009
National data recommends 1 advisor to 350 students; Advisor/Student Ratio In the first year of the grant , Title III helped reduce the student/advisor ratio by 50%
Continue building partnerships with faculty members
Director of Advising: continue to build continuity and improvements
Set learning objectives for advising sessions
Increase accessibility of Student Services Surveys and increase student responses
Effectively use data
Build an assessment model for advising, how to answer the question: Is advising adding value? How do we measure that?
Advisor to Student Ratio
2011 (Before Title III)
Present
1: 1,400
1: 428

6. SMART Advising App Feeds information from Colleague
and SARS into an easy to use
interface
Math & reading scores
Program of Study
Contact information
Transcript (completion ratio & GPA)
Financial Aid Status
Previous Institutions Attended
Course Schedule
Advising Notes

7. Faculty Mentor Program
Pre-Grant Challenge: -Services are disconnected from each other and the college community -Errors are routinely made in scheduling students.
Data Sources: Accuplacer Results; ; Admissions Applications data; MMCC Human Resource Statistics; Strategic Council Presentation ; Enrollment Management Reports ( )
Accounting
Art and Graphic Design
Astronomy
Automotive Technology
Biology
Business
Business Information Systems
Chemistry
Computer Aided Drafting
Computer Information Systems
Education
English
History
Language
Law Enforcement and Corrections
Math
Medical Assistant
Nursing
Pharmacy Tech
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physics
Plastics Technology
Psychology
Radiography
Social Science
Sociology
Web Design
Welding
44 Faculty Mentors from 29 Disciplines
13 Faculty Mentors
Participated More Than Once

8. Then and Now: Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Data: Advising
** Measured on a 7 point Scale: 1= not very satisfied, 4= neutral, 5= somewhat satisfied,
6=satisfied, 7= very satisfied

10. The Navigation Classes and Workshops Cover:
Pre-Grant Challenge: Students not empowered to manage their academic experience
Data Sources: Accuplacer Results; ; Admissions Applications data; MMCC Human Resource Statistics; Strategic Council Presentation ; Enrollment Management Reports ( )
The Navigation Classes and Workshops Cover:
Time Management
Study Skills
Goal Setting
Financial Aid
Support Services

11. The Navigation Classes and Workshops Cover:
Pre-Grant Challenge: Students not empowered to manage their academic experience
Data Sources: Accuplacer Results; ; Admissions Applications data; MMCC Human Resource Statistics; Strategic Council Presentation ; Enrollment Management Reports ( )
“Orientation” at Community Party, Workshops, Huron ISD
The Navigation Classes and Workshops Cover:
Time Management
Study Skills
Goal Setting
Financial Aid
Support Services
Navigation Classes
for Huron ISD classes begin

12. Pre-Grant Challenge: Unacceptable numbers of undeclared students Data Sources: Accuplacer Results; ; Admissions Applications data; MMCC Human Resource Statistics; Strategic Council Presentation ; Enrollment Management Reports ( )
2012- present
Career Workshops 20
Student Appointments
1545
Career Expos 4
Classroom Visits 54
Number Using Focus 2: 961
-Data clarification
-Currently efforts are limited by staffing
-Goals: Career Services Expanded: currently “Career Services” offered through “Student Services” is 1 part-time employee, expend
-More communication about events, ensuring faculty know about our services and can refer students– how to improve communication to new employees (esp. faculty?)
-scale experiential and/or volunteer opportunities
-Reach out to students, alumni and businesses
-Ensure career component to orientation activities and other events on campus
-Course to ensure students are ready with cover letter, interviewing, functioning in the workplace, professionalism, sexual harassment (make it required for all students doing a co’op/internship the next semester, and encouraged for others).

13. Pre-Grant Challenges: -Low retention rates fall to fall
-Low graduation/program completion rates
Data Sources: Accuplacer Results; ; Admissions Applications data; MMCC Human Resource Statistics; Strategic Council Presentation ; Enrollment Management Reports ( )

14. Pre-Grant Challenge: Services and programs are fragmented and underutilized by students; disconnected from each other and the college community Data Sources: Accuplacer Results; ; Admissions Applications data; MMCC Human Resource Statistics; Strategic Council Presentation ; Enrollment Management Reports ( )

15. Faculty and Students On Retention Management System (RMS):
“The Retention Management System is an integral part of our institution… The RMS team works effectively, positively, and – most importantly I think – with care and understanding to build a bridge to these students…Thank you for both creating and staffing a team that is truly engaged and cares about the continued success of our students.”  -English faculty member comment
“I do appreciate the advice and concern. It means a lot as a student to know that teachers and other employees of the school are willing to put in time and effort to make sure students succeed.” – Student comment

16. Pre-Grant Challenge: -Services and programs are fragmented and underutilized by students; disconnected from each other and the college community 2010 Advising Presentation to Board of Trustees; Annual Instructional Report 2009; 2009 AQIP Portfolio Feedback Report; Five Year Master Plan 2009; Student Satisfaction Survey (2008); ACS Report 2009; IT Technology Committee Report 2009
Average GPA of MMCC Students
2011 (fall)
2011 (winter)
2012 (fall)
2012 (winter)
2014 (winter)
2.2
2.26
2.34
2.29
2.42
Average GPA of students who Received Tutoring Services
2011 (fall)
2012 (fall)
2012 (winter)
2013 (winter)
2014 (winter)
2.65
2.35
2.75
2.81
2.95

17. Then and Now: Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction: LLS
** Measured on a 7 point Scale: 1= not very satisfied, 4=neutral, 5= somewhat satisfied,
6=satisfied, 7= very satisfied

18. But Back to the Big Picture…

19. Retention, Graduation, and Transfer IPEDS Rates 2009-2013
2010
2011
2012
2013
Retention 46 50 52 54
Graduation 15 9
Transfer 25 26 45 48 51
2014 Data will be available in the fall 2015.
GOALS SET IN THE TITLE III GRANT: Graduation 18%; Transfer 45%; Retention 56%

20. Retention, Graduation, and Transfer IPEDS Rates 2009-2013
2010
2011
2012
2013
Retention 46 50 52 54
Graduation 15 9
Transfer 25 26 45 48 51
2014 Data will be available in the fall 2015.
GOALS SET IN THE TITLE III GRANT: Graduation 18%; Transfer 45%; Retention 56%;

21. Retention, Graduation, and Transfer IPEDS Rates 2009-2013
2010
2011
2012
2013
Retention 46 50 52 54
Graduation 15 9
Transfer 25 26 45 48 51
2014 Data will be available in the fall 2015.
GOALS SET IN THE TITLE III GRANT: Retention 56%; Graduation 18%; Transfer 45%

23. Reflection and Discussion
“When you climb a mountain,
it is as much the mountain
that lifts you as your legs.”
-Shoji Hamada
Reflection and Discussion