1. The Influence of Counseling-Based Interventions on Student Success Indicators
Strategies Increasing Student Retention & Success
Esau Tovar SMC Counseling Department Flex Day
February 12, 2004

2. Select Interventions & Evaluation of Services
Effect of Counseling on Students’ Self-Development
Piloting & Institutionalization of Retention Initiatives
SSP Grant 1 & 2
Title III Grant
Title V Grant?

3. Utilization of Student Services
Percentage of Most Used

4. Importance of Counseling Services
By Decreasing Level of Importance

5. Level of Agreement for Counseling Service
By Decreasing Agreement

6. SMC Counseling Department Mission Statement
The Counseling Department is committed to promoting student success by providing a broad range of innovative services that address the educational, developmental, psychological, and social needs of Santa Monica College students. We actively contribute to the broader academic mission of the College through our instructional services and by building a multicultural learning community.
Values Statement
The Counseling Department places priority on the following values as it pursues its mission by fostering:
Responsiveness to the developmental growth and changing needs of students and staff.
Innovation and creativity in the services we offer.
Interpersonal respect at all levels.
Reinforcement of student responsibility, self-direction, and decision-making   skills.
Diversity as reflected in our programs, services, and staff composition.
Commitment to the ethical standards of the counseling profession.

7. Self-Development Measures
12 Items, 2 Self-Development sub-scales
Understanding & Managing Self Subscale
Q56 Understanding my career prospects
Q57 Developing my self-confidence
Q58 Developing a sense of personal identity
Q59 Recognize my potential for success
Q60 Helping me cope with change
Q61 Helping me handle stress
Q67 Developing time management skills
Developing Personal Values Subscale
Q63 Understanding people of diverse cultures, values, and ideas
Q64 Working with groups of people
Q65 Developing leadership skills
Q66 Taking responsibility for my own behavior
Q62 Helping me develop a personal code of values and ethics

8. Effects of Counseling Services on Self-Development
Significant effects on: Self-Development Full Scale, Understanding/Management of Self Subscale, & Developing Personal Values Subscale
As may be expected, the greater the number of times a student used counseling services, the greater their level of self-development (even after controlling for Age & GPA)
Differences:
Full Scale: 1 & 4**; 1 & 5***; 2 & 4**; 2 & 5***; 3 & 5**
UMS Subscale: 1 & 4**; 1 & 5**; 2 & 4*; 2 & 5**; 3 & 5*
DPV Subscale: 1 & 4**; 1 & 5***; 2 & 4*; 2 & 5**; 3 & 5*
*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001

9. Effects of Special Programs on Self-Development
Students participating in SMC’s select “special programs” (e.g., African American Collegiate Center, Latino Center, Pico Partnership) expressed significantly higher levels of self-development than non-participants (even after controlling for Age & GPA)
Findings support the premise that the very nature of their function and the added services they provide (social, cultural, affective) further assist students.
***p < .001

10. Effects of Special Programs on Self-Development
EOPS participants differed to a significant degree from non-EOPS participants (even after controlling for age and GPA)
EOPS students required to meet with counselor three times per semester.
*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001

11. Impact of Self-Development Conclusions
Students particularly credit college attendance as positively impacting their ability to:
Understand people of diverse values and cultures;
Taking responsibility for their own behavior;
Helping shape a personal identity;
Enhancing their self-development;
Recognizing the potential for success.

12. Student Success Indicators
Student Success Project:
Grant 1: First-Time Students
Grant 2: Probationary Students

13. SSP Outcomes for Grant 1
Success Rates for Students Participating in Specialized Intervention Strategies
Success Indicator
Intervention*
Overall Rate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Study
Control
GPA
2.73
2.29
2.58
2.22
2.50
2.25
2.59
2.44
2.46
2.35
Units Completed
10.4
8.61
9.9
7.4
9.8
5.6
10.0
10.8
9.3
Retention (%)
98.8
100
97.8
89.5
84.1
Persistence (%)
84.9
83.3
89.7
60.0
87.7
90.0
79.8
67.2
Academic Probation (%)
15.1
34.0
23.1
33.7
25.4
33.3
23.6
25.7
28.1
34.6
Progress Probation (%)
1.2
5.4
9.6
13.3
3.8
1.4
7.8
7.9
* Legend
1. Extended College Orientation with college credit
2. Extended College Orientation without college credit
3. Enrollment in collaboratively taught Math
4. Did not enroll in collaboratively taught Math
5. Enrollment in collaboratively taught English
6. Did not enroll in collaboratively taught English
7. Received intensive counseling/monitoring
8. Attended co-curricular or extracurricular academic and social activities
Source: Student Success Project, 2001

14. SSP Outcomes for Grant 2
Effects of Re-Orientation & SSP Counseling on Probationary Outcomes
Effects of Re-Orientation & SSP Counseling on Success Indicators
Effects of Re-Orientation & SSP Counseling on English & Math Completion

15. Re-Orientation & Other Retention Initiatives
Current effort to institutionalize probationary student re-orientation
As part of Title III Grant retention plan:
Development and use of Electronic SEP & Degree Audit System

16. Re-Orientation & Other Retention Initiatives (cont.)
As part of Title III Grant retention plan:
Developing on new Early Alert Program (prototype for instructors being alpha tested; counselor, department, and program EA program under development)
Focus on tracking and reporting
Completion of CSI by new, probationary, and COUN 20 students
All students to be contacted for interpretation and planning session (efforts under way)

17. Re-Orientation & Other Retention Initiatives (cont.)
Partly Based on SSP & Title III Initiatives:
College applying for Title V Grant, with focus on:
First Year Full Time Students
Summer Bridge Program
First-Time Students on Probation: Re-Orientation Expansion
Classroom Changes: Faculty Development, Linked Courses, Supplemental Instruction
Comprehensive Intake Services: e-SEP, Revamped EA Program Expansion, Intrusive Counseling