Student Retention Best Practices NC Community College System, Noel Levitz and Sallie Mae, Inc. Student Retention Workshop November 14, 2006
Mar 27, 2015
Student Retention Best Practices
NC Community College System, Noel Levitz and Sallie Mae, Inc.
Student Retention WorkshopNovember 14, 2006
Presenter: Charletta Sims, M. Ed.
Associate Director of Student Development Services for
NC Community College System
Overview of NC Community Colleges
Student Retention Best Practices
2005-2006 Survey Results
Area of Best Practices in Student Retention
Early Outreach Testing Registration
Deadlines Special Services &
Programs Academic Advising
Programs Mentoring
Programs
Learning Communities
Minority Male Mentoring
Textbooks on Library Reserve
Cultural Enrichment Activity
Committees & Task Force
Recognition
Student Retention Best PracticesNC Community College Participants
Asheville-Buncombe TCC Beaufort CC Bladen CC Carteret CC Coastal Carolina CC Cleveland CC Craven CC Durham TCC
NCCCS - Best Practices
Edgecombe CC Halifax CC Isothermal CC James Sprunt CC Johnston CC Piedmont CC Randolph CC Wake TCC
Characteristics of SuccessfulStudent Retention Programs
Highly structured Interlocked with other
programs/services Rely on extended, intensive student
contact Place special emphasis on staff/faculty
quality Focus on attentive & cognitive needs Track and monitor student satisfaction
Early Outreach
Require first time students to attend Orientation programs
Offer on-line Orientation Programs Provide extensive Orientation
instructions on special services, graduation requirements, support services, etc.
Require students to take College Success Course
Early Outreach - 2
Financial Aid Awareness -Offer Financial Aid workshops
within the college -Offer Financial Aid Workshops to
high school students and the community
Testing
Offer One Stop Testing Sessions High School Testing Program: Offer
Placement testing to high school students on their premises
Placement testing for new students Provide orientation information in
small groups after testing Register students for classes
Registration
Limit the number of registration days
Send notification to students who have dropped from courses or programs
Telephone students who drop from courses or programs
Special Services & Programs Curriculum Learning Center Student Support Specialist Student Support Services Special Workshops Disability Services Student Focus Groups Re-organization of Admissions and
Counseling Office
Curriculum Learning Center Provides Tutorial Services - English,
Math, basic computer skills, etc. Provides professional staff counseling Instructor Referrals - Instructor
Retention Alert Forms
Student Support Specialist Counsels students regarding problems
that lead to withdrawal or dropout - transportation -childcare -emergency funds -provides tutorial services -other services needed by the student
Student Support Services Provides Social, Academic &, Career
Counseling Provides Tutorial Services Provides special assistance to low
income and first generation students Provides workshops & seminars Provides remedial instruction
Special Workshops
Stress Management Note Taking Time Management Test Taking Study Skills Student Success Workshops
Disability Services
Facilitates success in classroom through support and accommodations
-Resolve disability related barriers -Monitor student attendance -Monitor academic performance
Student Focus Groups
Used to engage students in college decision making
Re-organization of Admissions and Counseling Offices
Provide proactive intrusive academic, personal and career counseling
Provide Customer Service Orientation -Encourage collaborative effort by the
college faculty & staff to offer friendly customer service
Academic Advising
Establish early warning system Offer routine counseling Early alert referral by faculty Establish Academic Advising Day Transfer Advising Center Encourage faculty meetings and mandatory
appointments Academic Probation after two consecutive semesters Require student to complete recommended
remediation
Academic Fresh Start Program Students apply to Admissions
Committee to remove F’s from Transcript
Student must meet specific criteria Eligible Students improve GPA Increase transfer opportunities
Academic Support Center Provides computer assisted instruction
-Tutorial -Academic advising -Individual learning models
Committee and Task Forces
Develop Retention Quality Improvement Team or Committee
-Review methods to retain students -Make recommendations for retention
solutions Develop Student Success Committee -Discuss issues & polices that impact
student success -Include faculty, staff and students
Mentoring
The Mentor Project -Utilizes student mentors to- -model good academic behavior -teach study skills -meet regularly with students -identify campus resources -monitor student progress -Keep progress journals
Mentoring -2
TRIO - Mentoring Component - Faculty & staff serve as mentors - Assess individual student need - Follow up to insure needs are met - Mentors guide students through the system Encourage Leadership through
mentoring
Learning Communities
Provide integrated support system for students
Students bond and serve as support to each other
Selected students are assigned to two or more courses
Students are encouraged to study together and work on projects together
Minority Male Mentoring Initiative
Program developed to improve retention and graduation rates among minority males
Program features - -Counselor/Advisor -Extensive mentoring -Weekly counseling -Monthly group sessions -Enrichment activities
Textbooks on Library Reserve Developed to help students who cannot
purchase books Books are placed on reserve in the
Library for student use Students can use books for (2) hours at
a time
Cultural Enrichment Activity
The Channel TRIO - Book Club -Piedmont CC
-increases participants sense of self awareness, self knowledge, self discovery
-provides contact with faculty and staff outside the classroom
-students read (4) books a year -students meet (3) times a semester
Communication
Provide more avenues to disseminate retention information through -
-Web Pages -Workshops -Cultural enrichment -Newsletters -Counseling -Mentoring
Recognition
Reward academic achievers Reward & train staff Retain staff who perform well
Thank You!
Contact Information
Charletta Sims
NC Community College System
919-807-7106