1. Got Goals? Inspiring Students to Take Action Through the GPS LifePlan
Presented by: Kristin Hageman and Aarin Distad
Century College, White Bear Lake, MN
FYE Conference – 2010 Denver, CO

2. Outline for today’s presentation
Who is Century College?
Why GPS LifePlan?
What is the GPS LifePlan?
How is the GPS LifePlan used on campus?
First Year Experience Workshop Series
How do students view the GPS LifePlan?
Beyond Century College

3. Century College Community & technical college in White Bear Lake, MN
Students enrolled in credit courses – 10,469
Females: 55% Males: 45%
Full-time students: 47%
Average age: 25
Students of color: 28%
First generation students:
new – 34% returning – 60%
Of the new students entering Century, 78% intend on earning their associate’s degree

4. Students with no idea

5. Now, think back to when you were in college…
Did you have goal(s)? Who/what helped you achieve your goal(s)?
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?

6. Timeline 2005 CCSSE results Steering Committee Workshop restructuring
Best practice visit to Valencia Community College
2005 CCSSE results
President vision and support
Steering Committee
Workshop restructuring
Launched at New Student Orientation April 2006
External program evaluation
Continual
Program
enhancements

7. 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

8. Who can use the GPS LifePlan?
Students
Faculty
Staff
Guests / Community Members
Service Members

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

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

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

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

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

16. How is GPS LifePlan Used on Campus?
New Student Orientation
Presentation of information
Student Planner
Registration Guide
Online Orientation

17. Workshops during Fall and Spring
How is it Used on Campus? continued
Workshops during Fall and Spring
About 50 each semester covering all 5 Plans
Sample workshops:
“Read It Twice and Still Don’t Get It”
“Budget 101: How to Develop a Budget”
“Creating Your Leadership Philosophy”
“So, You Need a Resume?”
Online workshops
Cover workshops that have been presented on campus as well as some from other resources.
Sample online workshops:

18. How is it Used on Campus? continued
Student Success Day
Day each semester to support and celebrate student success
Meet with instructors and check progress
Get acquainted with offices and services on campus
Attend workshops on a variety of topics
Keynote speaker/group on a timely issue
Held on a regular school day during fall and spring semesters

19. Student Organizations Leadership Institute Welcome Week
How is it Used on Campus? continued
Student Organizations
Leadership Institute
eFolio component paying specific attention to the LeadershipPlan
Welcome Week
GPS LifePlan interactive tour of campus
Departmental involvement
Organizations included GPS LifePlan aspects in Student Activities Fair
Publications
Student Planner
Activities Calendar

20. Faculty support and utilization
How is it Used on Campus? continued
Faculty support and utilization
Curriculum integration
Assignments
Workshop attendance
Conversations with students
Reading 0080 Mentor program
Academic planning
GPS LifePlan assisgnment
Teaching Circles
Awards of Excellence
Lesson plan examples on web

21. Examples Developmental English Marketing (Professional Development)
Budget Analysis, Understanding Your Credit, Getting out of Debt, Goal Setting, and Scholarship Applications (FinancePlan)
Creating Your Own Vision/Mission (CareerPlan)
Marketing (Professional Development)
Leadership Styles (LeadershipPlan)
Stress Management Project (PersonalPlan)
Dental Hygiene
Learning Styles Assessment and Class Instruction (EducationPlan)
Develop a S.M.A.R.T. goal to identify a study skill the student would like to improve (EducationPlan)

22. Faculty support of the program and view it as worthwhile (F 2006)
Century College Faculty Fall 2006 (N=130)

23. Faculty support of the program and view it as worthwhile (SP 2009)
Century College Faculty Spring 2009 (N=150)

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

25. First Year Experience Workshop Series
Free 6-week program offered to new students
Built with a GPS LifePlan foundation
Utilized “On Course” material by Skip Downing
Designed as a cohort model
Five-six cohorts depending on the semester
Recruit students at New Student Orientation
Introduced in small group setting
Sign-up sheets handed out and collected after registration

26. Incentives for Participating
Only one hour a week
Free activity/resource workbook
Free giveaways:
2 gig flash drive
GPS LifePlan water bottle
Drawings for gift certificates to the campus bookstore and cafeteria for participants that attend all six weeks.
Connection to staff and current students

27. Week Two: Getting Connected to Century College
Week One: Technology 101
Introductions
Overview of the FYE Workshop Series / What are their expectations?
Go over technology used on campus:
eServices
Desire 2 Learn (D2L0
Student Portal
Century’s Website
GPS LifePlan
Week Two: Getting Connected to Century College
Ice breakers
Candy introductions
Human bingo
GPS LifePlan overview
Getting Connected to Campus: Activity Hunt

28. Week Three: Making Wise Choices
Marshmallow challenge
Five minutes to build the tallest free-standing tower
Victim versus creator
Personal responsibility
Wise choice process
Time management activity
Test your time management skills
Week Four: Got Goals? Setting Goals for Your Future
Explain what is a goal and why is it important to have goals
S.M.A.R.T goal setting method
Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely
As a large group worked on a goal as an example
Allowed time for students to develop their own goals

29. Week Five: Keeping a Healthy Balance in Your Hectic Life
Group discussion:
What is balance? What does keeping a healthy balance look like?
Paper plate balance activity
Write down everything that you do/are responsible for
Group discussion and activity:
What are values? How do you define them?
Values exercise worksheet
Do your values and activities match?
Do you have balance in your life?
Week Six: What’s Next? Things to Know for Next Semester
Celebration: Cupcakes and soda
Hand out participation certificates
Review “What’s Next” sheet
Book buy-back
Finals schedule
Registration and tuition down-payment for next semester
Group Discussion: Likes and dislikes of FYE
Drawing for prizes
Gift certificates to the campus bookstore and cafeteria
Post survey reminder

30. Pre and Post Survey Results of FYE Students:
I know how to get involved on campus:
3.5% disagree and 66% agree (Post)
36% disagree and 48% agree (Pre)
I know what resources are available to me at Century:
5% disagree and 62% agree (Post)
32% disagree and 54% agree (Pre)
I know how to manage my time effectively:
5% disagree and 71% agree (Post)
23% disagree and 61% agree (Pre)
I know where to go if I have questions about Century:
7% disagree and 59% agree (Post)
38% disagree and 47% agree (Pre)

31. Students with goals

32. Noel-Levitz Satisfaction Inventory
1=Not satisfied at all
2=Not very satisfied
3=Somewhat dissatisfied
4=Neutral
5=Somewhat satisfied
6=Satisfied
7=Very satisfied
Item
2007
2009
Difference
The GPS LifePlan provides several planning tools and resources : Priority
5.42
5.64
.39
Satisfaction
5.24
5.4
0.16
Using the GPS LifePlan has helped me define my career goals and educational plan: Priority
5.36
5.43
0.7
4.96
5.03
0.07

33. Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CSSEE)
Benchmarks
Century 2005
Century 2009
Change
Active and Collaborative Learning
48.2
50.5
+ 2.3
Student Effort
51.1
52.0
+ 0.9
Academic Challenge
50.8
50.9
+ 0.1
Student-Faculty Interaction
44.1
47.6
+ 3.5
Support for Learners
45.7
50.2
+ 4.5

34. Beyond Century College
Collaboration with the Office of the Chancellor and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU) – 32 institutions, 25 two-year and 7 state universities.
13 campuses have developed their own customized sites and are at various stages of integration on their campuses
Minnesota Online and Distance Minnesota
Workforce Centers
Promoting on campus workshops for them to attend
Working with their staff to highlight pieces from the web site that their job seekers can use
Service Members Version
All returning Minnesota National Guard members are introduced to the Service version through 30 day, 90 day and one year re-integrations.
With High School Students
Upward Bound, District 916, PACE Program (Preparing to Achieve a College Education), Access and Opportunities Grant, and North Lakes Academy Charter School
Topics covered with high school students: How and why to set goals; Holistic approach to goal setting; Detailed goal setting and action plans; Each of you as leaders; Test taking help: preparing for college exams; Creating eFolios

35. What would the GPS LifePlan look like on your campus
What would the GPS LifePlan look like on your campus? Which programs, services, etc. do you have on your campus? List them on the sheet under the Plan you think they fit best.

36. Contact Information
Kristin Hageman, Dean of Student Life
Aarin Distad, Student Experience Director