League Innovations Conference 2011 Listen Up! Learning from Students about College Readiness.

League Innovations Conference 2011

Listen Up! Learning fromStudents about College Readiness

Center for Community College Student Engagement

Arleen Arnsparger

Project Manager Initiative on Student Success Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)

[email protected]

Entering students are highly motivated, are committed to achieving their academic goals, and sincerely believe they will.


90%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they believe they have the motivation to do what it takes to succeed in college.



But…Am I Ready for College?

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85%…of new students responding to the SENSE survey say they’re academically prepared for college.



I Thought I Was Ready…

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During the first 3 weeks of college…

• 43% came to class unprepared at least once.

• More than one-quarter of students skipped class at least once.

• Almost one-quarter did not turn in an assignment at least once.



…of our students leave before the start of their second year.

50%


Helping students succeed through the equivalent of the first semester (12–15 credit hours) can dramatically improve subsequent success rates.


Quantitative

CCSSE

CCFSSE

SENSE

Qualitative

Initiative on Student Success / Starting Right


SENSE focuses on…• Early Connections

• High Expectations and Aspirations

• Clear Academic Plan and Pathway

• Effective Track to College Readiness

• Engaged Learning

• Academic and Social Support Network



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What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…

• Almost 30% didn’t really feel welcome.


Welcome to college!

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• Fewer than half participated in on-campus orientation.


Getting Started

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Getting Started

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What do students say is the most important college service?

Academic Advising & Planning

What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks… • 70% said an advisor helped them pick classes.• Fewer than 60% said an advisor helped them

select a major or program.• Fewer than 40% said an advisor helped them set

academic goals and create a plan for achieving those goals.

• Only 26% said a college staff member talked with them about balancing school with other commitments.

out


Please advise me!

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What’s my plan?

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1. What is mandatory? For whom?

2. What does your college data show about the impact of orientation and academic planning on student persistence and first term academic success?

3. What steps is your college taking to ensure that all students start right?

Discussion Questions – The Front Door – Orientation, Advising


• Fewer than one-quarter enrolled in a class designed to teach them the skills needed to succeed in college.


Creating an On-Ramp to College

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• 84% Never used face-to-face tutoring.

• 65% Never used writing, math or other skill labs.

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I need help, but…

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Students don’t do optional!!


I’m Getting Help…

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1. Are student success classes mandatory? For whom?

2. Is the academic support students need integrated into their courses?

3. What does your college data show about the impact of student success classes and integrated support?

Discussion Questions –

Some Observations about Entering Students

• Students experience culture shock and academic shock.

• Students don’t know what they don’t know…but we expect them to!

• You have to ask to be told…but what if you don’t know what to ask?


Observations about Entering Students

• Orientation is necessary…and students want to meet faculty and other students before classes start.

• Students don’t consider it “advising” when someone simply helps them sign up for class.

• Students feel disconnected. “They didn’t notice me when I got here, they didn’t notice me when I left.”


What does this mean for us?

• Create an “on-ramp” to college life.

• Streamline registration – help students understand the “what” and the “why.”

• Make everything more personal – show them we care!

• If we know what students need – make it mandatory!


What strategies does your college currently have in place that are making a difference to improve student success. How do you know?


What if we stopped penalizing students for what they don’t know?


How might we design the entering student experience differently?



The Road to College Completion!

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Arleen ArnspargerProject Manager, Initiative on Student Success

Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)Community College Leadership Program The University of Texas at Austin

Web site – www.cccse.org


For more information:

League Innovations Conference 2011 Listen Up! Learning from Students about College Readiness.

Documents

college readiness1center

student success center

student groups

new students

quarter of students

engaging community colleges

right center

overall performance