1. A Holistic Program for Student Planning
MnScu Student Affairs and Diversity Conference
February 5, 2009
Presented by:
Katie Svoboda, Director of Orientation and Student Engagement
Michele Jersak, Counselor
Randy LaFoy, GPS LifePlan Media Coordinator

3. Now, think back to when you were in college…
What made your college experience successful?
Was it a person?
A resource?
A club?
How accessible was this person/resource?
Was it 24-hours a day?
Only between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Monday-Friday?

4. Century College Community and technical college in White Bear Lake
Students enrolled in credit courses – 9,276
Females: 56% Males: 44%
Full-time students: 47%
Average age: 25
Students of color: 26%
First generation students:
new – 34% returning – 60%
Of the new students entering Century, 78% intend on earning their associate’s degree

5. Goals + Plans = Success
Planning tool that assists students in developing and achieving their goals and plans while attending Century.
There are 5 sub-plans that were created to meet the needs of students in all areas of academic, personal and career development.
CareerPlan – EducationPlan – FinancePlan – LeadershipPlan - PersonalPlan

7. Topic Areas
Self-Assessment - Interests - Skills - Work Values - Personality
Career Research
Links to Education
Integration
Decision-Making

8. Topic Areas Degree/Program Course Planning Links to Education
Study Skills
Learning Styles
Grade Issues
Transfer Planning
College Readiness

9. Topic Areas Budget Debt Management Saving for the Future
Financing Education Financial Aid Scholarships Tax Related Benefits
Budget
Debt Management
Saving for the Future
Credit Management

10. Topic Areas Leadership Skills Resources for Leading Civic Engagement
Service Learning
Global Competence

11. Topic Areas Life Transitions Stress Management Relationships
Fitness and Physical Health
Child Care
Housing
Transportation
Mental Health

12. eFolio Features Provides a virtual three-ring binder
Allows more ownership for the student
Can password protect areas and provide feedback
Can be shaped and polished for use beyond college
experience
Michele

13. Michele

14. Other student samples

15. Timeline President’s vision and support
Best practice visit to Valencia Community College
President’s vision and support
Counselor sabbatical created CareerPlan
Steering Committee
Workshop restructuring
Launched at New Student Orientation April 2006
External program evaluation
Program
Redesign

16. New Hires Two Student Experience Directors, 2006
GPS LifePlan Outreach Coordinator, 2008
GPS LifePlan Media Coordinator, 2008

17. How is it Used on Campus? New Student Orientation
Student Planner
Registration Guide
Workshops during Fall and Spring
Student Success Day
eFolio Support
Website
Teaching Circles, Awards of Excellence, curriculum integration
Daily interactions between students, faculty and staff

19. Curriculum Integration Examples
Developmental Reading
Multiple Intelligences, Bloom’s Taxonomy of Critical Thinking (EducationPlan)
The Differences Between High School and College; Resiliency Activity and Mental Health Issue (Personal Plan)
Public Speaking
Leadership Philosophy, Articulating a Vision (LeadershipPlan)
Interests, values, skills, possible careers, major of study (CareerPlan),
Persuasive speech on finance related topic (FinancePlan)

20. How Faculty Use The Program

21. Faculty Support the Program and View it as Worthwhile

22. Evaluation Highlights
High awareness:
Faculty 86%
Students 92%
Retention rates up 9%

23. Student Rating of Program to Help with Career and Education Plans

24. Reading 80 AQIP Project Re-enrollment Fall to Spring Rate

25. Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CSSEE)
Benchmarks
Century 2005
Century 2007
Change
Active and Collaborative Learning
48.2
50.1
1.9
Student Effort
51.1
52.4
1.3
Academic Challenge
50.8
51.4
0.6
Student-Faculty Interaction
44.1
48.9
4.8
Support for Learners
45.7
49.4
3.7
Pakou: The GPS Lifeplan ties into a larger initiative on student engagement, which is measured by the CCSSE. Century College has completed two CCSSEE administrations (will do the 3rd this spring).

26. Beyond Century College
Collaboration with the Office of the Chancellor and MnScu.
Other colleges interested in bringing GPS LifePlan to their campuses.
MnOnline and Veterans version

27. Contact Information
Katie Svoboda, Director of Orientation and Student Engagement
Michele Jersak, Counselor
Randy Lafoy, GPS LifePlan Media Coordinator