1. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 1 retention 101 Professional Development Workshop The Educational Policy Institute’s Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 PART VI: FastTrack

2. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 2 SESSION OVERVIEW The Vision: Learning Centered Institutions The Challenges: –The Student Profile: Diversity –Managing Diversity –Bridging the Needs-Use Disjunction –Changing Organizational Cultural Vehicle for Change: FastTrack System © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

3. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 3 Vision: Learner & Learning Centered Learner Centered Concept: Micro Level –Learner Engagement –Targeted Learning Services –Legitimizing Service Use Learning Centered: Macro Level –Managed Learning Services Delivery –Proactive Learning Services Delivery –Analysis of Learning Environments –Managed Student Experience –Creating a Learning Centered Culture © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

4. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 4 Our Students Key Feature: Diversity Some Dimensions of Diversity –Academic Ability –Career Clarity –Personal Context Keys to Student Retention –Academic Skills: 3Rs, learning skills –Importance of Career Certainty: Motivation –Importance of Time on Task: Working While Studying –Impact of Instructional Methods: Active learning © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

5. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 5 Managing Diversity Systems Theory –One size does not fit all Typical Diversity Management Strategy –Admissions selectivity –The ‘Bums in Seats’ Imperative Managing Diversity via Processes –Curriculum diversity: language, math, etc. –Services: personal & career counseling, learning center The Medical Model –Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prescription © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

6. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 6 Institutional Cultures Current State: Darwinian Model –“One size fits all” –“Survival of the fittest” –Results: 50-60% graduation rate New Paradigm: Emile Durkheim –Collaborative/Partnership Model –Importance of Community, Making Connections, Integrating Learners –Personalized delivery of learning services: Mass customization © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

7. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 7 The Needs-Use Disjunction Needs at Entry –Learning Skills: 64% –Career Guidance: 54% –Language Skills: 50% –Math Skills: 49% First-Year Service Use –19% –20% –23% –18% Disjunction is, in part, a product of how services are offered and how student’s perceive service use.

8. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 8 Delivering Learning Services

9. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 9 Cultural Change Trigger Events –Administrative change –Accreditation exercise Basis for ‘Conversations about Learning’ –Etiology of student success –Etiology of student departure Diagnosing the Organization –Providing information for discussion © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

10. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 10 Achieving Change The FastTrack System

11. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 11 Basic Components Database –Collects information on individual students over time Graphical User Interface –Visual basic –Reports for all stakeholder groups –Graphical representations –Identify predictors of success/persistence

12. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 12 FastTrack System Overview FastTrack System Structure FastTrack Database

13. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 13 Promote Student Involvement and Engagement

14. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 14 Partners in Education Inventory College id: college name, campus name, program name, enrolment status respondent id: first name, last name, student number, email, phone number demographic: gender, age, socioeconomic status, first language, residence academic background: highest level of education, high school average, high school study freq., high school homework freq., high school class attendance behaviour: activity prior to college, p-t work hours expected, participation in pre registration college events, exploration of program-related job duties attitudes: confidence in success, orientation to job, value of education, commitment to graduation, occupational uncertain needs: writing skills, reading skills, math skills, study skills, test taking skills, career guidance, academic advising, financial, childcare, learning disabilities, personal stress receptivity to help: writing skills, reading skills, math skills, study skills, test taking skills, career guidance, academic advising, financial, childcare, learning disabilities perceptions: sources of info about college, factors in decision to attend college goals: personal, occupational, generic skills, general ed. © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

15. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 15 Student Experience Inventory college identification : college name, campus name, program name demographic : age, gender respondent id : first name, last name, student number, email, phone number behaviour : p-t work hours, course dropped, self-reported program average study freq., homework freq., class attendance freq., interaction with faculty freq., study with peers freq., college service use frequency, participation in extracurricular activities frequency attitudes : confidence in success, preference for job, value of education, difficulties with college, occupational uncertainty, quality of peer interaction, quality of faculty interaction, intent to leave college, commitment to graduation, commitment to institution needs : writing skills, reading skills, math skills, study skills, test taking skills, career guidance, academic advising, financial, childcare, learning disabilities receptivity to help : writing skills, reading skills, math skills, study skills, test taking skills, career guidance, academic advising, financial, childcare, learning disabilities perceptions : perception of program, perception of college © P.Dietsche Ph. D.

16. Virginia Beach, VA September 30 – October 2, 2007 16 FastTrack Deliverables Connecting with Learners –Personalized, Targeted Services Connecting with Learning –Diagnosing the Learning Climate A ‘Decision Support’ System Outcomes –Student Level: Achieving educational goals –Institutional Level: Achieving Mandate & Mission © P.Dietsche Ph. D.