Academic and Student Affairs: Weaving College-wide Assessment to Support Retention, Graduation, and Transfer Initiatives 2012 NASPA Annual Conference Ignite Leadership, Influence Change

Origin of Retention, Graduation, and Transfer Initiatives at the University System of Georgia: Beginning largely in 2005, the issue of student retention and graduation has been an important consideration for Georgia Perimeter College since the USG requested both information and action regarding retention and graduation rates at each member institution. More specifically, the USG requested evidence of strategic efforts regarding retention and graduation initiatives across the university system.

Georgia Perimeter College Response to the USG Retention, Graduation, and Transfer Initiative Embrace GPC’s Institutional Effectiveness… Vision:  To Provide oversight and assistance to all functional areas of the college to ensure that institutional effectiveness goals are being met. Mission:  To support strategic planning, assessment and improvement of all functional areas of Georgia Perimeter College and to ensure that all functional areas carry these activities out on a regular basis.

GPC’s Response Continued… Be chaired by the VP’s for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Be chaired by the VP’s for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Develop the College’s retention framework Develop the College’s retention framework Develop a three-year plan to include: Develop a three-year plan to include: - Appropriate Goals - Performance Indicators and Metrics - Evaluation and Assessment Plans - Accountability Establish a College-wide Retention and Graduation Council (RGC) that will:

Implement and Monitor Special efforts to achieve college-wide RGT goals. Implement and Monitor Special efforts to achieve college-wide RGT goals. Identify Internal and External Best Practices. Identify Internal and External Best Practices. Establish Workshops for Faculty and Staff. Establish Workshops for Faculty and Staff. Review Appropriate Policies and Programmatic Procedures. Review Appropriate Policies and Programmatic Procedures. Infuse Technology Tools to Support and Measure Effectiveness of RGT efforts across the College. Infuse Technology Tools to Support and Measure Effectiveness of RGT efforts across the College. GPC’s Response Continued…

Retention and Graduation Council Model Institutional Research & Planning Academic Affairs Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Fiscal and Administrative Services Executive Leadership Team Informational Technology  Demonstrate data- driven research  Identify Initiatives for Improvement  Demonstrate Share Responsibility

Retention and Graduation Council Membership VP Academic AffairsVP Academic Affairs VP Student Affairs/EnrollmentVP Student Affairs/Enrollment Dean of Math, EngineerDean of Math, Engineer Dean of ScienceDean of Science Dean of BusinessDean of Business Director for OnlineDirector for Online Director for SSS TRiO – CLKDirector for SSS TRiO – CLK Director for Student FinancialDirector for Student Financial Asst. VP Stud. Dev./Spec. Prog.Asst. VP Stud. Dev./Spec. Prog. Asst. VP Enrollment Mgmt.Asst. VP Enrollment Mgmt. Associate Director ACRS – OnlineAssociate Director ACRS – Online Director for ACRSDirector for ACRS Director for Gov and PolicyDirector for Gov and Policy Director for Learning and TutoringDirector for Learning and Tutoring Director for SSS TRiO - DECDirector for SSS TRiO - DEC Library DirectorLibrary Director

Historical Perspective of GPC  GPC is not your typical two-year college  GPC is the transfer engine for the USG  GPC is assessed by the same measures as four-year colleges  No clear and effective national standards that define and measure student success at two- year transfer colleges

Georgia Perimeter College Today  Over 25,000 students  Largest associate degree-granting college  Third largest institution in the USG  Admits more students each fall  68% of all transfer students come from GPC

Georgia Perimeter College Today  Mostly part-time students  Mostly female students  Approximately 23 years of age  In need of remediation (Learning Support)  Diverse representation of students

GPC Defines First Time/Full Time Students  Retained Students - begin in the fall semester and are retained through the following fall semester  Graduates - begin in the fall and graduate within three years  Transfer Students - transfer before graduating from GPC

FT/FT Students at GPC

Retention Fiscal YearRate FY % FY % Graduation FY % FY % FY % FT/FT Student Retention & Graduation Data Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning

FT/FT Transferability Data Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning The majority of FT/FT students transfer after 3-4 semesters at GPC to other institutions: FY % FY % FY %

Enrollment Services Transfer Admission Guarantee ProgramTransfer Admission Guarantee Program Academic AdvisementAcademic Advisement Enrollment Management Suite/Business Intelligence ToolsEnrollment Management Suite/Business Intelligence Tools Enrollment Suite – Retention ModuleEnrollment Suite – Retention Module Retention and Graduation Initiatives Accomplishments

Special Programs DECADECA GPC Education Achievement Program (GEAP)GPC Education Achievement Program (GEAP) Student Support ServicesStudent Support Services Leadership AcademyLeadership Academy Retention and Graduation Accomplishments

Academic Programs Math Learning Support InitiativesMath Learning Support Initiatives Project DEgreeProject DEgree Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation (LSAMP)Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation (LSAMP) First Year Experience (FYE) - GPCS 1010First Year Experience (FYE) - GPCS 1010 Supplemental InstructionSupplemental Instruction Retention and Graduation Accomplishments

Learning SupportLearning Support High Fail Rate Courses – W,D, and FHigh Fail Rate Courses – W,D, and F Financial Responsibility & Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Financial Responsibility & Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) College-wide First Year ExperienceCollege-wide First Year Experience MyFoundationsLab (MFL) Pilot ProgramMyFoundationsLab (MFL) Pilot Program College-wide Learning Community OfferingsCollege-wide Learning Community Offerings Retool Academic Advising – Coordinators SSRetool Academic Advising – Coordinators SS SAP Policy of Understanding and Re-alignmentSAP Policy of Understanding and Re-alignment Strategies To Improve Retention and Graduation Rates Variables Impacting Retention and Graduation Rates

RGT Three-Year Strategic Plan FY

Initiatives In-Progress WEAVEOnlineWEAVEOnline Cognos - Business IntelligenceCognos - Business Intelligence Operational Data Warehouse (ODS)Operational Data Warehouse (ODS) Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW)Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) Academic Difficulty Communication CampaignsAcademic Difficulty Communication Campaigns SAP Communication CampaignsSAP Communication Campaigns Graduation and Retention Performance Management Component of EM SuiteGraduation and Retention Performance Management Component of EM Suite Director for Retention and Graduation InitiativesDirector for Retention and Graduation Initiatives

Questions, Answers, and Feedback