Student Retention Best Practices

NC Community College System, Noel Levitz and Sallie Mae, Inc.

Student Retention WorkshopNovember 14, 2006

Presenter: Charletta Sims, M. Ed.

Associate Director of Student Development Services for

NC Community College System

Overview of NC Community Colleges

Student Retention Best Practices

2005-2006 Survey Results

Area of Best Practices in Student Retention

Early Outreach Testing Registration

Deadlines Special Services &

Programs Academic Advising

Programs Mentoring

Programs

Learning Communities

Minority Male Mentoring

Textbooks on Library Reserve

Cultural Enrichment Activity

Committees & Task Force

Recognition

Student Retention Best PracticesNC Community College Participants

Asheville-Buncombe TCC Beaufort CC Bladen CC Carteret CC Coastal Carolina CC Cleveland CC Craven CC Durham TCC

NCCCS - Best Practices

Edgecombe CC Halifax CC Isothermal CC James Sprunt CC Johnston CC Piedmont CC Randolph CC Wake TCC

Characteristics of SuccessfulStudent Retention Programs

Highly structured Interlocked with other

programs/services Rely on extended, intensive student

contact Place special emphasis on staff/faculty

quality Focus on attentive & cognitive needs Track and monitor student satisfaction

Early Outreach

Require first time students to attend Orientation programs

Offer on-line Orientation Programs Provide extensive Orientation

instructions on special services, graduation requirements, support services, etc.

Require students to take College Success Course

Early Outreach - 2

Financial Aid Awareness -Offer Financial Aid workshops

within the college -Offer Financial Aid Workshops to

high school students and the community

Testing

Offer One Stop Testing Sessions High School Testing Program: Offer

Placement testing to high school students on their premises

Placement testing for new students Provide orientation information in

small groups after testing Register students for classes

Registration

Limit the number of registration days

Send notification to students who have dropped from courses or programs

Telephone students who drop from courses or programs

Special Services & Programs Curriculum Learning Center Student Support Specialist Student Support Services Special Workshops Disability Services Student Focus Groups Re-organization of Admissions and

Counseling Office

Curriculum Learning Center Provides Tutorial Services - English,

Math, basic computer skills, etc. Provides professional staff counseling Instructor Referrals - Instructor

Retention Alert Forms

Student Support Specialist Counsels students regarding problems

that lead to withdrawal or dropout - transportation -childcare -emergency funds -provides tutorial services -other services needed by the student

Student Support Services Provides Social, Academic &, Career

Counseling Provides Tutorial Services Provides special assistance to low

income and first generation students Provides workshops & seminars Provides remedial instruction

Special Workshops

Stress Management Note Taking Time Management Test Taking Study Skills Student Success Workshops

Disability Services

Facilitates success in classroom through support and accommodations

-Resolve disability related barriers -Monitor student attendance -Monitor academic performance

Student Focus Groups

Used to engage students in college decision making

Re-organization of Admissions and Counseling Offices

Provide proactive intrusive academic, personal and career counseling

Provide Customer Service Orientation -Encourage collaborative effort by the

college faculty & staff to offer friendly customer service

Academic Advising

Establish early warning system Offer routine counseling Early alert referral by faculty Establish Academic Advising Day Transfer Advising Center Encourage faculty meetings and mandatory

appointments Academic Probation after two consecutive semesters Require student to complete recommended

remediation

Academic Fresh Start Program Students apply to Admissions

Committee to remove F’s from Transcript

Student must meet specific criteria Eligible Students improve GPA Increase transfer opportunities

Academic Support Center Provides computer assisted instruction

-Tutorial -Academic advising -Individual learning models

Committee and Task Forces

Develop Retention Quality Improvement Team or Committee

-Review methods to retain students -Make recommendations for retention

solutions Develop Student Success Committee -Discuss issues & polices that impact

student success -Include faculty, staff and students

Mentoring

The Mentor Project -Utilizes student mentors to- -model good academic behavior -teach study skills -meet regularly with students -identify campus resources -monitor student progress -Keep progress journals

Mentoring -2

TRIO - Mentoring Component - Faculty & staff serve as mentors - Assess individual student need - Follow up to insure needs are met - Mentors guide students through the system Encourage Leadership through

mentoring

Learning Communities

Provide integrated support system for students

Students bond and serve as support to each other

Selected students are assigned to two or more courses

Students are encouraged to study together and work on projects together

Minority Male Mentoring Initiative

Program developed to improve retention and graduation rates among minority males

Program features - -Counselor/Advisor -Extensive mentoring -Weekly counseling -Monthly group sessions -Enrichment activities

Textbooks on Library Reserve Developed to help students who cannot

purchase books Books are placed on reserve in the

Library for student use Students can use books for (2) hours at

a time

Cultural Enrichment Activity

The Channel TRIO - Book Club -Piedmont CC

-increases participants sense of self awareness, self knowledge, self discovery

-provides contact with faculty and staff outside the classroom

-students read (4) books a year -students meet (3) times a semester

Communication

Provide more avenues to disseminate retention information through -

-Web Pages -Workshops -Cultural enrichment -Newsletters -Counseling -Mentoring

Recognition

Reward academic achievers Reward & train staff Retain staff who perform well

Thank You!

Contact Information

Charletta Sims

NC Community College System

simsc@nccomunitycolleges.edu

919-807-7106