1. Presented by Rita Serotkin, Nicole Cornett Arnold, Carrie Moran, Sharna Newton, & Ferris Wilkins February 22, 2012 Durham, NC

2. The Goal: Only about 27% in the US have completed college. To double the number of college graduates by 2020, another 12- 15,000,000 associate and bachelor degrees need to be earned. The Problem:  In only half the states do more than 50% of first-year students at community colleges return for a second year.*  In 27 states, less than half of first-time, full-time (FTFT) college students complete a bachelor's degree in 5 years*  In 24 states, less than half of FTFT students complete a bachelor's degree in 6 years  In NO state do more than 70% of FTFT students complete a degree within 5 or 6 years.  Given the falling or level numbers of 18-24 year olds, it is anticipated that only 30% of the new degrees will be from “traditional” students; 70% will need to be “nontraditionals.”** *Measuring Up. http://measuringup.highereducation.org/ **Pathways to Success. p. 12. http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf

3. “In only a few states do large majorities of first-time, full-time students graduate from four-year institutions within five or six years…[but]…in no state do more than 70% of students complete a degree within five or six years of enrollment.” Downloaded 2/19/2012 from NCHEMS Information Center website: http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=27&year=2009&level=nation&mode =map&state=0 http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=27&year=2009&level=nation&mode =map&state=0

4. Part- Time Full- Time Mixed Attained degree or certificate (any) 15%64%46% Earned Bachelor’s 044%20% Earned Associate’s 2%8%14% Earned Certificate 13%12% Still enrolled 12%7%23% Left, no degree 73%28%30% Left after 1 year 46%12%3% % over age 30 46%14%19% * Data taken from Chen & Carroll, 2007

5. NC Top States in US % of population with less than a high school diploma 18%16% % of population with bachelor’s degree or higher 27%35% 1 st year community college student persistence to year 2 49%63% 1 st year 4-yr student persistence to year 2 80%83% 1 st -time, full-time students completing bachelor’s degree within 5 years of starting 57%66% 1 st –time full-time students completing bachelor’s degree within 6 years of starting 59%68% Data Downloaded from http://measuringup.highereducation.orghttp://measuringup.highereducation.org Data Downloaded from: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education.html andhttp://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education.html Downloaded from: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d10/tables/dt10_011.asp D2/19/12http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d10/tables/dt10_011.asp

6.  Students age 25+ increased from 28% to 41% between 1970 and 1998 and now make up 47% of all new and returning students on many campuses (Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education ).  6.8 million college students are age 25 or older and 3.74 million are first-generation students (NCES, 2007)  Students age 35+ in degree-granting institutions increased from ~823,000 to ~2.9 million between 1970 and 2001 — doubling from 9.6% of total students to 19.2% (NCES). “Quite simply, states cannot reach the target of having 60 percent of the adult population earn some type of college degree…by 2025 without a major commitment to increasing college completion among these students.” (Spence, p. 13) ADULT STUDENTS: An increasingly critical population

7. Priscilla S. is a mother of three, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of five. At 63, she was also one of the oldest students to receive a bachelor’s degree from Post University in 2011…Laid off from her job at age 59, she reinvented her life. “Everything happened for me from age 59 to 63. Don't tell me you're too old. You are never too old as long as you have breath in your body. It's never too late for you to do what you think you can't do. Every day God gives you the chance to do what you want with your life. Don't let insecurities prevent you from living out your dream.” Rowley, Laura (2012), Huff/Post50. Downloaded 2/18/2012

8. DemographicAdultTraditional Have families44%2% Low income30%2% Single parents20%7% Minority14%10% First generation52%29% Work >30 hrs/wk54%33% Certificate or 2-year56%34% BA enrollment29%55% For-profit programs11%5% Full-time study39%60% *Data taken from Horn & Carroll, 2005

9. Delayed enrollment in college Attend part-time and often “stop out” Are financially independent of parents Work full-time while enrolled Have dependents other than a spouse Are single parents Lack a standard high school diploma First-generation college students Pathways to Success. p. 3. http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdfhttp://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf

10. SituationalInstitutionalDispositional Financial/Cost/ Lack of aid Academic program requirements Lack of confidence/self- esteem Lack of timeLack of articulation of transfer credits Unfamiliarity with academic world Family/work Responsibilities Class schedulesAnxiety/fear of failure Family attitude/ support Institutional complexity/ bureaucratic procedures Worry over conflicting responsibilities Medical/health Issues Lack of interest/value of nontraditional students Learning differences/ poor prior educational experiences * Classification of barriers developed by Cross (1981).

11. AcademicPsychologicalBackgroundEnvironment Poor academic advising/support StressAgeFinances/ financial aid Poor study habits Commitment strength GenderWork hours & responsibility AbsenteeismCompeting priorities/“life” EthnicityFamily responsibilities Major/goal uncertainties Reluctance to ask for help Enrollment status (full- time/part-time) Family & employer support Course availability Time management Socioeconomic status Transportation Poor GPAHealth IssuesDependentsChild Care

12.  Experienced. Oldest program for adults in NC (since 1953).  Dedicated to adults. Support services, advisement, financial aid, & an SGA, all housed in one building  Flexible Scheduling. Day, evening, & weekend classes. More than 80% of CCE students work, yet 67% maintain a full-time load attending just 2 nights a week.  Generous transfer policy. 90% have transfer credit.  Financial Aid. 67% Pell eligible; 84% receive federal aid.  Unique. Focused on personal contact and connection.  Recognized. Enrollment increased from 275 in 2002 to 1,300 in 2011-2012. Graduation rates as high as 58%.

13. Female Male 67% 33% Transfer Readmits Unclassified New 57% 29% 10% 4% Average Age35 yrs Average # of Transfer Credits 49 Single Married Divorced/ Widowed First – Generation 49% 36% 14% 67% Top 4 Transfer Colleges GTCC NC A&T UNCG Rockingham CC 35% 6% 5% Employed Unemployed 72% 28% In State In-County (Guilford) 98% 72% Caucasian People of Color 53% 47% Satisfied with Guilford & CCE Plan to graduate from Guilford Have declared a major 94% 97% 94%.

14. Publicity  Online and media outreach  Images of adult students  Public information sessions & open house events  Recruitment through employers, agencies, education & job fairs  Express Admissions Fridays  Calls always answered Ease of Applying  Online information & application  5-minute application  Transcripts requested  No SAT/ACT  Veterans liaison/ admissions counselor  Day and evening admission & financial aid appointments  Transfer evaluations

15. Dedicated Facility for Adults  Lounge  Computers  Canteen  Day & evening hours of advisors, mentors, tutors  Coordinated administrative functions and evening hours  Adult student activities and family-friendly social events Convenient Parking Classes & Scheduling  Small Class Size ▪ Year–round admission  Flexible Class Schedules ▪ Year-round classes  Full-time study leads to financial aid eligibility

16.  Summer Bridge programs  All-in-one Check-in Day  New Student Orientation  Adult Transitions class  Gateways to Success class  Learning Strategies class  Full summer schedule  Mentoring program  Student Success Workshops  Online and hybrid class pilot tests

17.  First registration with program advisement/ explanation  GPS binder at registration  Adult Student Government Association & activities  Assigned financial aid advisors  Dedicated faculty  Faculty advisors  Learning Commons— tutoring, support services  Support person  Office for Student Success  Outreach to faculty and at- risk students  Tracking/intervention  Referral to on/off campus resources

18. Spring to FallFall to Spring 2011-201275%84% 2010-201174%84% 2009-201074%86% 2008-200974%84% 2007-200871%80% 2006-200771%81% 2005-200676%80% 2004-200575%81% 2003-200474%84% 2002-200375%82% 2001-200271%72%

19. MEET OUR STUDENTS

20. Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (2012). Pathways to Success: Integrating learning with life and work to increase national college completion. Washington, DC: A Report to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of Education. Downloaded from: http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/ptsreport2.pdf Berkner, L, et. al. (2007). Persistence and attainment of 2003-2004 beginning postsecondary students: After three years. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Chen, X. & Carroll, C.D. (2007). Part-time undergraduates in postsecondary education 2003-2004. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Complete College America (2011). Time is the enemy. Washington, DC: Complete College America Alliance of States. This and other reports available at: http://www.completecollege.org. http://www.completecollege.org Cross, K. P. 1981 Adults as Learners: Increasing participation and facilitating learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

21. Day, J. C and Newburger, E. E. (2002). The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau. Downloaded at: http://www.census.gov/prod.2002pubs/p23-210.pdf http://www.census.gov/prod.2002pubs/p23-210.pdf DeAngelo, L., et al. (2011). Completing College: Assessing graduation rates at four-year institutions. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA. Horn, L., Cataldi, E.F., Carroll, C.D. (2005). Waiting to attend: Undergraduates who delay their postsecondary enrollment. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Pusser, B., et. al. (2007). Returning to learning: Adults’ success in college is key to American’s future. Indianapolis: Lumina Foundation. Measuring Up 2002: The state-by-state report card for higher education. San Jose, CA: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Downloaded from: http://measuringup.highereducation.org/ http://measuringup.highereducation.org/

22. Measuring Up 2008: The national report card on higher education. San Jose, CA: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Downloaded from: http://measuringup.highereducation.org/ http://measuringup.highereducation.org/ National Center for Educational Statistics. http://ies.ed.gov/http://ies.ed.gov/ National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Graduation Rates-2009. Downloaded from: http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=27 &year=2009&level=nation&mode=map&state=0 http://www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=27 &year=2009&level=nation&mode=map&state=0 Spence, D., et al. (2010). No Time to Waste: Policy recommendations for increasing college completion. Atlanta: Southern Regional Education Board. Downloaded from: http://publications.sreb.org/2010/10E10_No_Time_to_Waste.pdf http://publications.sreb.org/2010/10E10_No_Time_to_Waste.pdf US Census Bureau 2012 Statistical Abstract http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education.html http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education.html