WTCS Framework for Student Success

1. WTCS Framework for Student Success WTCS Board Meeting March 2013

2. WTCS Student Success initiative Charge: Demonstrate WTCS leadership in national student success initiative • Define of student success • Develop a glossary of common terms • Identify measures of success • Determine next steps Leading the charge: President’s Association & Student Services Administrators

3. Presidents’ Association student success strategic plan • A. Collaborate with ISA and Student Services leadership to share best practices of student success for WTCS students. • B. Collaborate with the WTCS District Boards Association Interagency Committee to advance a common understanding of student success for WTCS students. • C. Assess the work of ACCT’s national Student Success initiative and share Wisconsin’s best practice when appropriate. • C. Track and report WTCS student success through completion and graduation rates, student and employer satisfaction surveys, degree transfer, and other appropriate measures as determined through the work of goals A, B, & C.

4. Student Services Administrators (SSA) student success project outcomes I. Provide a common language to define student success II. Create a glossary of common terms III. Determine indicators of student success and recommended measures

5. SSA student success project work to date • Examine national models and existing research on student success, including CCA, AACC, ACCT (see handout) • Assessment of WTCS best practices in student success (presented July 2012) – demonstrate what is currently being done in WTCS regarding student success • Bi-weekly conference calls • Collaboration / discussion with WTCS staff, ISA, ABE deans, presidents

6. I. Common definition of student success In the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), a student is defined as being successful when they achieve their educational goal. Indicators of student success including the WTCS measures of course completion, retention, program completion, transfer and/or job placement.

7. II. Glossary of common terms • Course taker - A student taking a post-secondary course that is not enrolled in a program • Customized & continuing education training – training specifically designed to meet the needs of business & industry’s incumbent workforce • Pre-college courses– Adult Basic Education, English Language Leaner, or General Education Diploma (GED) courses • Program student – A student accepted into an academic degree granting area of study, including associate degrees, liberal arts degrees, short term, one year and two year technical diplomas

8. II. Glossary of common terms (continued) • Retention – The continued enrollment of a student from one academic term to the next • Persistence – A student who successfully completes a class or series of classes in a given academic term • Successful course completion – A student finishes a course with a grade of C or better or a passing grade for pass/fail courses

9. WTCS Strategic Direction 3:Ensure student success Goal #1: Expand adult career pathway opportunities Measure 1-1: Increase the number of Adult Career Pathway Bridges and embedded credentials Measure 1-2: Increase the percentage of ABE/ELL students completing postsecondary courses

10. WTCS Strategic Direction 3:Ensure student success Goal #2: Improve completion opportunities for all students Measure 2-1: Fall to Spring semester retention of program students Goal#3: Improve quality outcomes for all students Measure 3-1: Program students graduating in 3 or 5 years Measure 3-2: Job placement rates for WTCS graduates

11. Governor‘s WTCS performance-based funding criteria • Placement rate of students in a job related to students’ programs of study • Number of degrees and certificates awarded in high demand fields • Transition of adult students from basic education to skills training • Number of programs or courses with industry-validated curriculum • Participation in dual enrollment programs • Workforce training provided to businesses and individuals

12. III. Indicators of student success - SSA recommended measures • Course completion • Retention/Persistence • Program Completion/Graduation • Transfer • Job Placement

13. SSA Measure 1: Course completion Number/percent of successful course completers • Program enrolled students • Course takers – not enrolled in a program • Students in pre-college education • Students in customized & continuing education training (Governor #6)

14. SSA Measure 2: Retention/Persistence Number / percent of students retained from fall to spring semester ( WTCS 2 -1) Number / percent of students retained from fall to following fall semester The number / percent of students transitioning from ABE/ELL and GED courses to post-secondary courses (WTCS 1-2) (Governor #3)

15. SSA Measure 3: Program Completion/Graduation Number / percent of program students graduating in 3 years (WTCS 3-1) Number / percent of program students graduating in 5 years (WTCS 3-1) Number of Adult Career Pathway Bridges and embedded credentials (WTCS 1-1) (Governor #2)

16. SSA Measure 4: Transfer Number / percent of students transferring to another WTCS college, other 2 or 4 year public or private university prior to program completion • Outside of WTCS transfers measured by national clearinghouse

17. SSA Measure 5: Job Placement Number / percent of program students that attain employment in their field of study 6 months and 5 years after graduating (WTCS 3-2; Governor #1) Average wages of program graduates 6 months and 5 years after graduating • Data gathered from college graduate follow-up survey (self report)

18. Next steps • Continue discussion on ACCT action agenda: WTC Boards Assn • Maintain focus on student success as a strategy for economic and workforce development: PA • Define / measure certificates (WTCS goal 1-1) : WTCS workgroup • Work to refine measure for job placement (currently student self reported data). Include students that job out prior to graduation. • Determine goals and benchmarks for measures • Demonstrate how WTCS is reducing the workforce gap in Wisconsin (Governor #2)