Turning the Revolving Door into the Staircase of Academic Success for Basic Skills Students NACADA October 5, 2011 Presented by:  Marti Demarest Assistant Director, Student Success Center (former) Director, Gateway to College, Front Range CC  Paula Yanish Director, Student Success Center

Program Overview:  About Aims Community College District  National (USA), Colorado & Institutional Retention Data  Institutional Strategies  Emerging Scholars  Accomplishments

Campuses: Greeley, CO Fort Lupton, CO Loveland, CO Windsor, CO Online Founded: 1967 Over 130 degree & certificate programs About Aims

Weld County 3,992 Square Miles Elevation: 4,658 ft. Climate: Snowfall: 33.7” Days Sunshine: 340

Aims College Enrollment

Retention – National Data First to Second Year Retention Rates (ACT Institutional Data File 2010) Institution TypeNMean % Two-year public % Two-year private % BA/BS public7867.6% BA/BS private %

Lack of “College-Readiness” (National Center for Educational Statistics, US Department of Education, 2007) Percentage of U.S. College Students Needing Remediation in 2007

2009 Colorado High School Graduates Requiring Remediation at Two-Year Public Schools Colorado Commission on Higher Education 2011 Legislative Report—02/11

Aims Data

Comparison of Remedial Needs of New Students at Aims

Institutional Strategies for Improving Student Retention Fall 2006 – STAR pilot (STudent Achievement and Retention) – Title III grant funded (US Department of Education)  High-risk students (1 st generation, low income, undecided/undeclared, academic probation)  74% of cohort required remediation  Services include intensive academic advising, extended orientation, early alert  60% retention of first term cohort

Theoretical Framework Nevitt Sanford –Challenge & Support Vincent Tinto –Academic/Social Integration –Goal/Institutional Commitment Nancy Schlossberg –Mattering vs. Marginality

Staff Working with Emerging Scholars Program Assistant Director Retention Advisor—full-time 3 part-time Retention Advisors Advisors at outlying campuses College Prep Faculty First-Year Experience Course Coordinator Financial Aid Director

Emerging Scholars Admission Criteria  New to Aims Community College Unless concurrently enrolled in high school  Degree or Certificate Seeking  Have 2 or more academic deficiencies (English, Math, Reading)—optional  Have 3 or more needs—highly recommended  Cohort Goal – 300 students

Emerging Scholars Program Requirements  Fill out an ES application during first registration period  Meet 3 times each semester with the assigned advisor  Allow the institution to place a registration hold on his/her account requiring an approval for any changes  Enroll in and complete college prep courses with a “C” or better and limit enrollment on other academic courses  Enroll in and complete a college success (FYE) course—1 st semester  Attend a minimum of 2 student success workshops during each semester after 1 st term  Financial incentive

College Success Class (AAA 101) Topics include:  Welcome, class overview, college jargon  Time management  Reading your textbook  Note-taking from a textbook  Campus resources on the web  Note-taking from a lecture  Stress free math  Students rights and responsibilities  Memory and concentration  Wellness and health issues  Mastering self-management (setting priorities and goals)  Paying for college  Test taking strategies and final exam preparation  Career exploration  College pathways – transferring and career

Emerging Scholars - Fall 2007 Demographic Breakdown  95 participants in Fall 2007  Age 60% are years of age  Ethnicity 49% White 42% Hispanic 3% Native American 2% Black 3% Unknown  Gender 63% Female 34% Male  Status 62% Full-time students  Academic Needs 26% with 2 academic needs 74% with 3 academic needs

Emerging Scholars Outcomes

Emerging Scholars Fall ‘07 Emerging Scholars Cohort vs. Control Group Fall to Fall Retention Comparison

Emerging Scholars – Spring 2008 Demographic Breakdown  117 participants in Spring 2008  Age 43% are <18-19 years of age 17% are 30+ years of ages  Ethnicity 47% White 42% Hispanic 2% Native American 2% Black 1% Asian 6% Unknown  Gender 57% Female 41% Male  Status 53% Full-time students  Academic Needs 32.5% with 2 academic needs 67.5% with 3 academic needs

Emerging Scholars Outcomes

Emerging Scholars Spring ‘08 Emerging Scholars Cohort vs. Control Group Spring to Spring Retention Comparison

Emerging Scholars Retention, GPA, Success Emerging Scholars Total by Semester Retained to Spring semester % Retained to Spring Semester GPA First Semester Retained Fall to Fall % Retained Fall to Fall Fall % % Fall % % Fall % % Fall % % Emerging Scholars Total by Semester Retained to Fall semester % Retained to Fall Semester GPA First Semester Retained Spring to Spring % Retained Spring to Spring Spring % % Spring % % Spring % % Spring % Quantitative Results

Some Key Accomplishments  Served over 1,185 students since Fall 2007  Moved to a new location within Learning Commons (STAR Center)  Established a Peer Mentoring Program  Received TG Grant Program ($115,750)  Instrumental in developing and implementing the institutional “Mandatory Course Placement Chart” and procedure  Modified financial incentive model from grant to scholarship with support of Financial Aid Director

Contact Information Dr. Patricia A. Matijevic Paula Yanish Dean for Student Services Director, Student Success Center Marti Demarest Shannon McCasland Director, Gateway to College Assistant Director, Student Life