Helping New Students Along Their Higher Education Journey: - - - Keeping Them on Track - - -

Working with Todays Students: Keeping Them on Track

Betsy Barefoot, EdD40th Anniversary AIHEC ConferenceAugust 9, 2013Santa Fe, New Mexico

Helping New Students Along Their Higher Education Journey: - - - Keeping Them on Track - - -

What We ShareA belief in the value of higher education

From High School to and through College

Some students ride an express trainthrough college in and out in two or four years.Many students are on a much slower train that makes lots of stops orsometimes gets derailed.Helping Students Maintain their MomentumThe Twenty-Hour RuleBachelors degree earners by 2000 who graduated from high school in 1992

Of students who earned 15 19 credits hours in the first calendar year, 35% earned bachelors degrees.

Of students who earned 20 or more credit hours in the first calendar year, 78% earned bachelors degrees.

Source: NCES: NELS:88/2000 Postsecondary Transcript Files

Bachelors degree earners in 2000 by number of credits earned in summer terms (1992 h.s. grads) Race/ethnicityNo credits1 4 credits> 4 creditsAll56.2%68.1%79.7%White59.8%74.2%82.2%Af.Amer21.2%42.5%78.2%Latino48.6%28.3%56.4%Asian66.8%70.0%77.9%Source: NCES: NELS:88/2000 Postsecondary Transcript FilesStudents Who Stay on TrackHigher-level socioeconomic statusStrong pre-college preparationFemalesFull-time studentsStudents who work no more than 20 hours/weekStudents who have a regular high school diploma

Students Who Get Off Track

Lower socioeconomic statusPoor pre-college preparationMalesStudents who work full-timeStudents with a GEDFirst-generation studentsStudents whose lives are pressured and filled with distractions

Students Who Get Off TrackDevelopmental students

Making slow progress

Never seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

Look to the Right, Look to the Left

SeparationAdaptable Best PracticesSubstantive OrientationSummer Bridge ProgramsFirst-Year SeminarsLearning Communities Service LearningIntrusive Advisingand many others

Where Are We Heading: Trends that Will Affect Higher Education

Rethinking Developmental Education

Remedial education is the Bermuda triangle of college education. Too many students go there never to be seen again. (Complete College America website) Alternatives to developmental education. See http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu Dual Enrollment/Early CollegeHelping students attain college credits as quickly as possible.

Tightening the Rules and RegulationsNo late entry

Must participate in orientation

Must take a first-year seminar

Must attend class

Must follow the educational path we set for you

TransferCurrently 1/3 of all students (nearly 2.8 million) will transfer during the undergraduate years.

Vertical transferLateral transferTransfer in reverseTaking courses from more than one higher education institution at the same time

Increased Use of AdjunctsReasonsLower costPractical expertise of adjunctsAvailability

Overusing adjuncts can have a negative impact on retention

TechnologySocial media

Smart phones

Online courses

Critical Juncture, Defining Moment, Crossroads

To collegeTo a menial jobTo droppingout of highschoolTo drug addiction or prisonBe Alert for These Critical Junctures that Can Derail Your Students Progress When statements are made that predict failure, or success, in collegeWhen college expectations are set for students and familiesWhen students make a decision to attend college for reasons unrelated to educationPlacement exams; placement into provisional or developmental status.Major selectionEnd of term academic disappointment (probation)Critical Junctures in Social/Personal LifeElimination from an athletic teamRomantic breakupOther forms of rejectionPersonal or family problems (divorce, mental or physical illness, financial reversal, pregnancy)

Providing Help

Finding the balance between too much and too little assistance for students

The Purpose of Higher Education at Your InstitutionHow will your students be different when they leave your college or university?

What will you add to the knowledge they already have?

Engaged CitizenshipStanding for social justiceAdvocating for marginal individuals and communitiesSpeaking out rather than remaining silentEntering the political arenaOwning their individual and collective powerYour Comments or QuestionsBetsy Barefoot, EdDVice President & Senior ScholarGardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate [email protected] Information