Turning the Revolving Door into the Staircase of Academic Success for Basic Skills Students International FYE Conference

1. Turning the Revolving Door into the Staircase of Academic Success for Basic Skills StudentsInternational FYE Conference Dublin, IrelandJune 23-26, 2008 Presented by: Patricia A. Matijevic, Ph.D. Dean for Student Services Paula Yanish Director, Student Success Center

2. Program Overview About Aims Community College District National (USA), Colorado & Institutional Retention Data Institutional Strategies Emerging Scholars Outcomes & Next Steps

3. Campuses: Greeley, CO Berthoud, CO (future campus) Downtown Greeley Fort Lupton, CO Loveland, CO Windsor, CO (future site for Auto Tech) Online Founded: 1967 Over 130 degree & certificate programs About Aims

4. Canada United States Mexico

5. State of Colorado

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

7. Aims Community College District

8. Aims Community College District

9. Aims Community College District

10. Aims College Enrollment

11. Retention – National Data First to Second Year Retention Rates (ACT Institutional Data File 2007)

12. Lack of “College-Readiness”(National Center for Educational Statistics, US Department of Education, 2000) Percentage of U.S. College Students Needing Remediation in 2000

13. Colorado High School Graduates Requiring Remediation at Two-Year Public Schools Colorado Commission on Higher Education 2007 Legislative Report—1/18/08

14. Aims Data

15. Comparison of Remedial Needs of New Students at Aims

18. Institutional Strategies for Improving Student Retention Fall 2005 -TRIO Student Support Services Program – Funded by US Department of Education High-risk students (1st generation, low income, with a disability) 85% of cohort requires remediation Services include intensive academic advising, extended orientation, early alert, additional tutoring, mentoring, monetary incentive 73% retention of first year cohort (83% retention from fall 06 to spring 07)

19. 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 (1st generation, low income, undecided/undeclared) 74% of cohort required remediation Services include intensive academic advising, extended orientation, early alert 60% retention of first term cohort

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

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

22. 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) Cohort Goal – 300 students

23. Emerging Scholars Program Requirements Participate in an Emerging Scholars orientation prior to the start of classes 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 Attend a minimum of 2 student success workshops during each semester 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 Receive a financial incentive (Emerging Scholars Grant)

24. 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 Campus involvement and diversity Wellness and health issues Paying for college Personal finance Test taking strategies and final exam preparation Career exploration College pathways – transferring and career

25. Emerging Scholars - Fall ‘07 Demographic Breakdown 95 participants in Fall 2007 Age 60% are 18-19 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

26. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

27. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

28. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

29. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

31. Emerging Scholars – Spring ‘08 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

32. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

33. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

34. Next Steps Growing of Emerging Scholars Cohort Active recruiting in high schools and through GED program Conducting Accuplacer testing in high schools Current student referrals Identify location for an Emerging Scholars Center Develop 2nd year programs for 2007 Emerging Scholars Cohort Utilize a continuous improvement model – ongoing data collection and evaluation

35. Contact Information Dr. Patricia A. Matijevic Paula Yanish Dean for Student Services Director Student Success Center 970-339-6374 patricia.matijevic@aims.edu 970-339-6537 paula.yanish@aims.edu Marti Demarest Shannon McCasland Coordinator, Retention Services Coordinator, Student Life 970-339-6607 marti.demarest@aims.edu 970-339-6563 shannon.mccasland@aims.edu