Student-Focused Admission for Easier Transition

Objective To share the journey of Polk State College from task-focused to a student-focused admission process.

We Were Here Admission Letter Optional Orientation Purge Calls Multiple flyers with incomplete information

We Are Here Admission Letter G uide to P olk S tate College Concierge Service Required Orientation Student Convocation Follow-up Survival Guide First Year Experience

We Will Be Here in Targeted admission events by student type Admission letter GPS on mobile app with live chat Concierge service /My personal Polk flight leader Required orientation - online anytime live chat Student convocation Follow-up survival guide and interactive event as part of FYE class First Year Experience fully implemented

Admission Letter Every contact must count big time From general to personalized Retained in student web portal Contains the testing ticket Directs students to the GPS Iscored campaign to understand developmental education exemptioncampaign

G uide to P olk S tate College Don’t read it all – read what you need Development of the GPS Annual review of the GPS Interactive use of the GPS – During Orientation – Student visit to the Admission, Registrar, Advising, Financial Aid, Business, and Faculty Offices – Culture Change

Personal call within 24 hours(workday) of application Welcome Help with residency Review PERT, Exemption, and Orientation Guide them in using the GPS – and knowing the next step for them Walk them through PASSPORT login Set them up with account Document/record problems/issues for further improvements in our process Concierge Service

GREEN GLASS DOOR

Required Orientation Big project with online orientationonline orientation – Same experience, in-person or online Strong input – From faculty – College-wide (Food service vendor, bookstore, TLCC, library, facilities, safety) Interactive – Student-specific like the admission letter – Q & A – repeatable, resource rich – Uses GPS to select dev ed courses Professionally done – Voice-over and videos – Camtasia how-tos for , PASSPORT, Library, and website navigation Assessment – 96% good or very good. Nearly 1000 comments such as “Awesome”, “Don’t change anything it is great!” “Wow! I learned so much.”

Convocation I can only imagine! I can dream! I can be inspired! I can connect! – With faculty – With my campus – With student activities and government

Mentor Training What is a mentor? The Power of Peer Mentoring The Role of a Peer Mentor Flight Command – Squadrons – Flight Leaders Building Meaningful Academic Relationships Understanding Diversity and Engagement Communication and Listening Skills Confidentiality Crisis and Conflict Resolution Responding and Referral Skills Making Contact Count Responsibilities and Reporting

The Ceremony 900 attendees…. Greeted by Flight Leader Mentors Soaring to Success Video from Graduation Procession of Faculty and Staff– Led by Professor Dodie Cowan Welcome and Congratulations – Lakeland SGA President, Chris Ly Celebrating Your Choices – Vice President of Student Services, Reggie Webb Invitation to Pursue Excellence – Professor Aaron Morgan See It and Be It – Alumnus Josh Austin Fly Without Fear – President, Dr. Eileen Holden Closing Remarks and Instructions – Winter Haven SGA President, Kimberly Myers Recession Soaring Eagles Cheer and Class Photograph Soaring Inspirations

Esteemed Faculty and Staff

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Evaluation 95% of students felt: – Welcomed – Connected – Inspired – Can imagine themselves graduating – Believe their dreams of an education will come true Students loved the Academic tour Nix the lunch Nix the pre-registration as required Plan mentor experience differently

Follow-Up 3 weeks into Term Survival Guide – Advisor help Dropping down Tutoring Life issues Early Alert – Contact Information – Most commonly needed knowledge Financial Aid disbursement – Encouragement to stay the course

Assessment

Assessment Loop Student Perception of Services Survey – Fall Freshmen/FTIC Student Survey – September Event evaluations – Orientation – Convocation Focus groups of peer mentors Focus groups of incoming students – GPS Assessment of each element of the FYE

Soar Eagles! We are Polk!