1. INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO SHERIDAN AU STUDENT SUPPORT

2. Who Am I?
My name is Shaian Clarke and I am a Student Support Specialist at Sheridan College. I graduated from the Child and Youth Care program in I began my journey at a homeless shelter, and worked there for 4 years until I came to Sheridan. I held various roles at the homeless shelter and gained a numerous amount of experience. I always knew that I wanted to help individuals, specifically with obtaining their life goals.

3. Student Support Process
HOW IT BEGAN…
Sheridan AU held face-to-face group information sessions every Tuesday
Students would learn about the program and register on the spot
Some weeks there were 40 students that would show up and other weeks only 2
Longer wait times to meet with a student support specialist if there were a lot of students in attendance
Continuous intake of students
Students worked at their own pace and attended classes on a need be basis
Unlimited course load
Assessments done in person (Math)
Was this method effective for our learners?

4. STUDENT SUPPORT PROCESS Out with the old & In with the new!
Information sessions available online – directly on our website
Students apply online or in person
1:1 sessions scheduled with a student support specialist
Assessments done through the Essential skills group testing site – Fast results
Less wait times
Intake process revised and more efficient
Student handbooks as a guide to provide continued support
Smaller course loads
We are always looking for new ways to provide optimal support to our learners and enhance their student experience, right from the beginning

5. A Guide Student hears about AU Visits our website
Views online info video
Fills reg form online
Completes assessments
Attends orientation
Sheridan account set up
1:1 with SSS
Starts program with AU

6. How Students Find out About Our Program
Community Partners (i.e. outreach)
Departments within Sheridan College (i.e. Admissions, Student Services)
Word of mouth (i.e. Friends, Family, etc.)
Other Colleges
Internet/Website
Quote:
“Don’t take age as a hindrance to success. Education is something that grows with us. It’s a continuing process and there is always something to learn about.”

7. Lets Take A Closer Look…
Link to our website:

8. Online Information Video

9. How Have We Improved our 1:1 Intakes?
Less paperwork
Majority of the personal information filled out from the online reg form
Calendar request sent to student with details of the appointment (i.e. what they need to bring, Campus location, etc.)
Revised Learning Styles form
Ability to obtain detailed info from the reg form to fill out suitability
Shared inbox/calendar with the team
Being adaptable (i.e. fitting schedule to the students needs)
Student Handbook
Online workshop (Retaining our students)

10. How Do We Help Our Students Succeed?
SSS works closely with our assessors
Advising role revised
Ongoing support
Designated tutors for AU students
Access to their timetables online
Student handbook (Guide)
Outreach/Connecting with various agencies
Classroom visits
Online workshop (Math & English)
Training Support (Revised criteria to have more students be eligible)
All the points listed above and more are just the various ways of how we support our students on an ongoing basis.

11. What Does Our Ongoing Support Look Like?
Lunch ‘n’ Learn Info Sessions
An initiative we began Fall 2018 semester to help our students have an easier transition into post-secondary
We collaborated with our Student Services Centre and came up with a way to help get the frequent questions asked answered for our students by the experts
Set up in between our Morning and Afternoon classes to allow our students to attend
Incentive FOOD
OCAS Presentations
At the beginning of each term SSS visits our ACE classrooms to discuss applying for college
Step-by-step presentation on how to apply
Handout with steps on where to go and who to call
Info regarding popular programs and additional requirements

12. What Does Our Ongoing Support Look Like (Continued)
Advising – Student Support
Making changes to students learner plans
Assist with applying to post-secondary programs
Discuss post-secondary and career goals
Discuss any challenges that may arise while attending
Referrals based on needs
Online Workshop
Began in the Fall 2018 semester
Students who did not qualify for Math or English
5 week online course (Done at home)
Support from faculty
Help keep our students and get them up to speed
Some of the many ways that we are trying to improve our support to our students before the classroom and outside of the classroom.

13. Let’s Hear From Some Of Our Students…
“If you believe it, you can achieve it, it’s never too late”
“For many of us, we image the future. We dream an elaborate dream. However, we must awake and strive towards our dreams. If you want your dreams to come true, keep working hard and do not give up”
“It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve had to face, what matters is where you still have to go”
“I came to this country vulnerable, without confidence, but Academic Upgrading was a place where people embraced you and made you feel comfortable. That was what I needed to move forward”

14. Orientation… How Has That Evolved?
Use to be mandatory, now it is optional for our students
Majority of the information is given during the 1:1
Students had to sign their learner plan at the orientation, now they sign their learner plan at the 1:1
Less chaotic, more organizated
Inviting other departments to the orientation (i.e. Library services)
More students attend now that they are given the option
Inviting some of our team members to the orientation
Success story video shown at the beginning of the orientation
Refreshments provided
Campus tours
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

15. Let’s Look At The Numbers
Between the Davis and Oakville Campus we receive about 1,000 applications per year
Davis Numbers
Oakville Numbers
The importance of relationship building with our students from the very beginning helps us to achieve our numbers every year
2 SSS’s at Davis and 1 SSS at TRAF – working together consistently even from different campuses, making sure we are providing the same support to our students equally

16. Exit Process & Exit Form
Students would fill out an exit form in the office
Not much organization (scrambling to capture all students)
Exit form was two pages long
Exit form revised (Worked alongside our Program Coordinator)
Brainstormed an efficient and effective way to have our students fill out our exit form
One page front and back
Added more relevant questions
Instructors distribute during their last week of class before the term ends
Much smoother process for our students
Higher percentage of response rate from students in person than
online

17. Graduation Video

18. QUESTIONS?