Today’s Session

1. Maine College Transitions + Advising Success= Double FundingNational College Transitions Network ConferenceNovember 13, 2013

2. Today’s Session • Provide an overview of Maine College Transitions (MCT) Programs • Share the program components with an emphasis on advising • Report on the increased funding and expansion of services

3. Private Funding to State Funding in 5 Years • 2001:Nellie Mae Education Foundation funded 7 Demonstration projects • 2003: Maine Compact for Higher Education • 2006/07: Legislatively approved one year State funded pilot programs at 6 sites and the Betterment Fund funded a 7th site • 2007/08: Legislative action resulting in state funding supporting 22 programs delivered in over 40 Maine communities

4. Past 5 Years • 2008-2013 • 22 Programs serving 40 communities

5. A Statewide, Systemic Approach • All MCT Programs offered through Adult Education Programs • College Preparation and Advising • Comprehensive Program • 2 Distinct Scheduling Designs • Must enroll in college in 12-18 months • Reference: NCSALL Occasional paper, 2006 “Transitioning Adults to College: Adult Basic Education Program Models”

6. Delivery Schedule There are two (2) schedules: • SET Entry/Set Exit Cohort Model • Students take set classes as a group scheduled in one day, evening, or over a few hours over several days. Academic and career counseling, college life skills, and other classes are included in the curriculum • Menu Plan • Students select the classes, based on assessment scores, that meet their academic and career goals, with college life skills classes and academic and career counseling mandatory supports • Programs are offering both models to attract and accommodate student schedules

7. Required Program Components • Assessment, intake, orientation & advising • Career exploration, assessment & planning • College Experience and College Success • Academic Preparation • ACCUPLACER pre and post testing • Technology • Tracking and follow up

8. Curriculum/TeachingPromising Practices • Academics aligned with post secondary partner • Academic rigor: Classes based on developmental courses and run like a college class • ACCUPLACER pre and post testing • Use standards based curriculum: College Ready standards

9. Curriculum/TeachingPromising Practices continued • Comprehensive programming including self management skills • Integrated technology into all classes, and some programs utilized Moodle, Blackboard, Ning, Goggle Docs or other web sites • Classes mesh with student needs, aligned with assessments

10. Curriculum/TeachingPromising Practices continued • Research and research papers assigned. All written assignments submitted using technology (no handwritten papers accepted) Writing prompts often focus on career awareness • College Financial Aid forms submitted

11. Curriculum/TeachingPromising Practices continued • College Application completed; College visits preceded by information and introduction to campus enabling students to ask informed questions • Partner agencies provide core services such as financial aid, college readiness, time management, self esteem, etc.

12. Advising • All Programs must offer advising services • MCT Coordinator often acts as the advisor • Currently no advising credential required • Support Staff often act as coaches…cheering team, advocates, guides from the side

13. Advising Services • Begin with initial interview • Intake/assessment • Provide clear understanding of program’s comprehensive nature and intensity of services • conversations around supports/barriers • Establishing relationship/trust • Monthly schedule/as needed • Check-in/goal setting & progress/monitoring

14. Advising Services Include • Discussions of student strengths/needs/interests/abilities/responsibilities/motivation/supports/barriers/fears/schedules • Referrals to support services • Supports for goal setting/career plans/college applications/self efficacy/self esteem/financial planning/program completion and student success

15. How Do We Know Advising is Key to Success? • Program Report • Quantitative and Qualitative Annual Reports • Student Report • Student Surveys/Self Report • Alumni Report • Student Panels at local programs &conferences

16. Programs Report • Advising • Is a key component to the student’s and the programs success.

17. Students Report • Advising is key to: • Setting, reassessing and completing action steps towards goals • Staying on course • Building self confidence • Managing work/family and academic assignments • Gaining a better understanding of themselves and the work before them • Having courage to prepare for college and careers

18. MCT Student Survey • Mirrors Persistence Research • Completers have confidence in college and career success • Advising key to building self esteem • Goal setting and incremental achievement helps build confidence and is a retention factor • Student relationships with family and friends important factors for success • Student relationships with other students key factor in student motivation, retention and success • Relationships with teachers and advisors important factors in building self-efficacy

19. Alumni Report • Advising is key to: • Their completing the MCT Program • Their belief in themselves • Their courage to enter and successfully complete college • Their entry into new careers

20. In 2013 The state increased funding by an additional $500,000 to enhance and expand MCT services.

21. Doubled the Funding • Programs expand from 22 programs serving 40 communities to • 42 programs serving 91 communities

22. Service Area Maine is the largest state in New England and 39th in size among the 50 state Maine extends 207 miles E-W; the maximum N-S extension is 322 mi (518 km). Maine is the least densely populated U.S. state U.S. state east of the Mississippi River.

23. Maine’s 49 most populous cities and towns as of the year 2010 US Census

24. Need for Postsecondary • By 2018, 59% of all jobs in Maine (396,000 jobs) will require some postsecondary education. • Between 2008 and 2018, Maine will create 196,000 job vacancies from new jobs and from job openings due to retirement - 115,000 of these vacancies will require postsecondary credentials. • And, Maine's population of 15 to 24-year-olds--traditional-age high school and college students--is projected to decline by 20% over the next decade..

25. Increased Funding • Intention of the expansion funds is to enhance and expand services to enable more adults to have the opportunity to receive MCT services.

26. Expansion Collaborations/Partnerships • Expansion Grants Serve more communities Support RFP 2014 Support Professional Development

27. MCT Influence on Adult Education Advising services in MCT has led to: • an understanding that advising services should be offered to all adult education students. • LD 1780 • Adult education programs include intake, assessment, career advising, instruction and individual learning plans;

28. Resources • www.maine.gov/education/aded/dev/transitions.htm • www.collegetransition.org • www.collegeforme.com

29. Nancy Dionne Maine College Transitions Coordinator Maine Department of Education 23 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0023 207-624-6780 nancy.dionne@maine.gov