Creating a System Culture of 15 2015 College Connections for Student Success: Focus on Foster Care, Homeless & Other Disconnected Youth Presented by: Dr.

Creating a System Culture of 15

2015 College Connections for Student Success: Focus on Foster Care, Homeless & Other Disconnected Youth

Presented by:Dr. Matthew K. RobisonMs. Elizabeth Thornton

Welcome and Introductions

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What is 15 to Finish?

• 15 to Finish is a retention, progression, and graduation initiative designed to increase on-time completion rates by establishing 15+ credit hours per semester as the new norm.

• This cost effective and enrollment intense approach shortens the time to graduation through a number of advising strategies, such as the development of Program Maps, the creation of Meta-Majors, and the use of structured scheduling.

Why 15 Matters?An October 2013 Complete College America survey of 329 institutions in 30 states, covering both two and four year public colleges, found:

• Most college students (69%) were not enrolled in a schedule that would lead to on-time graduation, even if they never changed majors, failed a course, or took a class they didn’t need.

• Even among “full-time” students, most (52%) were actually taking fewer than 15 hours, the standard course load that could lead to on-time graduation.

• At most two-year colleges, less than a third of “full-time” students were taking 15 or more hours.

(Complete College America, 2013)

It makes economic sense!

• Taking 15 credit hours per semester saves in annual tuition and fee costs as well in room and board expenses.

• Graduating college on time can save a student as much as $50,000 in extra tuition, lost wages, and additional related costs.

• Not only do parents and students pay more, but also public financial aid programs may incur more costs when students enroll in additional semesters.

Using Georgia State University as an example . . .

University System of GeorgiaTuition and Fees(Calculated based on in-state tuition, not including residential fees)

Credits to Degree

Max Credits Paid For 3 6 9 12 15 12 vs 15

Georgia State University 120 15 $1,312.00 $2,624.00 $3,404.00 $4,184.00 $4,964.00

Sem to degree 40 20 14 10 8

Cost of degree $52,480.00 $52,480.00 $45,564.00 $41,840.00 $39,712.00 $2,128.00

As the number of hours per semester goes up, the total cost for college goes down!

HOURS

COSTC

Using Georgia Perimeter College as an example…

As the number of hours per semester goes up, total cost for college goes down!

HOURS

COST

University System of GeorgiaTuition and Fees(Calculated based on in-state tuition, not including residential fees)

Credits to Degree

Max Credits Paid For 3 6 9 12 15 12 vs 15

Georgia Perimeter College 62 15 $548.20 $931.40 $1,214.60 $1,497.80 $1,751.00

Semesters to degree 21 11 7 6 5

Cost of degree $11,417.80 $9,767.80 $8,407.80 $7,942.80 $7,457.80 $485.00

GPC NumbersSpring 2014 Graduating Class

• Average Number of Semesters to Graduation– 8.4

• Average Number of Hours Attempted – 76.5

• Number of Graduates Receiving Loans– 874

• Of those 874 with loans… -least…$495-most…$56,663-average…$14,743

Education = Income

• The more time students spend in school the longer they delay employment and wage earnings.

• Current data suggests individuals with a Bachelor’s degree could expect to earn 84% more over their lifetime than high school graduates.

• A high school graduate can expect to earn 1.3 million over a lifetime.

• On average, an Associate’s degree-holder earns 1.7 million over a lifetime while someone with a Bachelor’s degree earns 2.3 million.

15 to Finish sweeping the nation!

Utah University of Hawaii System

Tennessee

Colorado

15 states across the nation have launched similar 15 to Finish initiatives.

Nevada

Texas Kentucky

Kentucky’s Take on 15 to FinishThe Governor of Kentucky, Steven L. Beshear, declared Wednesday, January 8, 2014 as 15 to Finish Day in Kentucky.

• Kentucky Lt. Governor, Jerry Abramson, stated “The governor and I know that if Kentucky is to compete for 21st century jobs, we must have a highly trained, skilled and educated workforce. Fifteen to Finish is an important campaign . . . that will raise awareness for our students and their families about the benefits of on-time graduation.”

http://www.themoreheadnews.com/msunews

And 15 to Finish news from Indiana

• “…less than a third of Indiana students seeking a bachelor's degree graduate on time, which is why the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and Learn More Indiana have mounted an awareness campaign called 15 to Finish.”

• “15 to Finish reminds full-time students that they need to take 15 credits or more each semester to graduate on time with a bachelor's degree. Without a plan to graduate, too many Indiana students find themselves wasting time and money on the wrong classes and credits.”http://www.gradind.com/education/15-to-finish

Utah promotes 15 to Finish through a website and video

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Bringing 15 to the Peach State!• According to CollegeMeasures.org, Georgia ranks 31st in

college completion with an average rate of 52.1% of its students at 4-year institutions graduating in 6 years. In addition, for students at 2-year colleges, Georgia is ranked 39th with a 32% graduation & transfer rate.

• According to the USG’s Complete College Georgia webpage, by 2020, it is projected that over 60% of jobs in Georgia will require a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree. Presently, approximately 42 % of the state’s young adults are prepared to such a level. To remain competitive, Georgia must not only maintain current graduation levels, but also produce an additional estimated 250,000 graduates in upcoming years.

Complete College Georgia and 15 to Finish on our minds!

• The University of North Georgia is taking the 15 to Finish message to local high schools.

• In Fall 2013, Georgia Southwestern State College increased their standard freshmen student course load from 12 credit hours to 15; at the conclusion of the semester, they saw a slight increase in overall GPA.

• Georgia Regents University developed their own brand, “Four Years For You!”

• Georgia State University is implementing a variety of retention and graduation strategies…all in the larger 15 to Finish family. Click Here

• Spring 2014 saw the launch of Georgia Perimeter College’s Program Maps. Fall 2015 GPC will launch GPCS1020: Creating a Pathway to Graduation, a course with an advising focus that promotes the importance of declaring a program of study early and staying on track to graduate on time.

English Program Map for GPCTerm 1 Term 2Courses Hours Courses HoursENGL 1101* (a) 3 COMM 1201* 3POLS 1101* 3 ENGL 1102* (a) 3PHED 1101 1 HIST 1111* or 1112* 3Area A Mathematics elective (a) 3-4 Area C Humanities elective (b) 3Area B Institutional elective (b) 1-3 Area D Math/Technology elective 3-4Area D - Science course with lab 4

Total Hours 15-18 Total Hours 15-16

Term 3 Term 4Courses Hours Courses HoursENGL 2111 or 2112 3 PHED elective 1-3HIST 2111* or 2112* 3 Area E Social Science elective 3Area C Literature elective 3 Area F Literature elective 3Area D - Science course with lab 4 Area F elective 3Foreign Lang. course (2001-2002) (b) 3 Area F elective 3

Foreign Lang. course (2001-2002) (b) 3

Total Hours 16 Total Hours 16-18

Recap: Why 15 to Finish?

• Benefits– Educational– Professional– Financial

• Groups Impacted– Students– Parents– USG institutions

Creating the Space for Dialogue and a Call to Action!

No matter your role in education, you can make a difference. As academic counselors and faculty, you can . . . .

As administrators, you can . . . .

All members of the system can…

…change the advising “cultural” norm.…promote the advantages of 15 to Finish.…be an advocate for financial aid incentives.

THANK YOU &

Please visit the website:

http://www.usg.edu/15tofinish/

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