THE ROAD TO COMPLETION A LEARNING-CENTERED APPROACH

THE ROAD TO COMPLETIONA LEARNING-CENTERED APPROACH

Harvey-Smith, A., Muhammad, C., & Perkins, L. ( 2012).

League for Innovation In The Community College National Conference, Philadelphia PA

SPOKEN WORD THE ROAD TO COMPLETION

ALICIA B. HARVEY-SMITH, PH.D.VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

INFLUENCE COMPLETION - CHANGE

INFLUENCE COMPLETION - RETAIN

INFLUENCE COMPLETION - CONNECT OR ELIMINATE FRAGMENTED PROGRAMS AND FUNCTIONS

Goal: to create a seamless, functionally aligned learning-centered model for effective program and service delivery.

Establish a dynamic and responsive infrastructure in support of improved retention student success and completion.

INFLUENCE COMPLETION - BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

1Substantive

Change in Learners 2

Learners as Full Partners 3

Multiple Learning Options 4

Collaborative Learning Activities 5

Roles Defined by Learner Needs6

Improved and Expanded Learning Documented 7

Create and Nurture an Organizational Culture that is Open and Responsive to Change and Learning

The Seven Learning College Principles

INFLUENCE COMPLETION - CREATE AND NURTURE AN OPEN AND RESPONSIVE CULTURE

THE ROAD TO COMPLETION

A LEARNING-CENTERED APPROACH

DEMOGRAPHICS KEY COMPLETION COMPONENTS

INFLUENCE COMPLETION – INTEGRATE SYSTEMS

INFLUENCE COMPLETION THROUGH MISSION

MISSION • Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) provides outstanding

educational, cultural, and social experiences to the residents of Baltimore City, the state of Maryland, and surrounding areas.

• The College’s accessible, affordable, comprehensive programs include college transfer and career preparation, technical training, and life skills training.

• The College provides a variety of student services that meet and support the learning needs of an increasingly diverse student population.

• BCCC is a dynamic higher education institution that is responsive to the changing needs of its stakeholders: individuals, businesses, government, and educational institutions of the community at large.

INFLUENCE COMPLETION BY DESIGN

DEMOGRAPHICS

• 6788 Enrollment Spring 2012• 59% Part time• 71% Need at-least 1 developmental • 45% 1st Generation• 71% African-American• 49% Pell Eligible• 53% Employed > 20 hours• 12% International

INFLUENCE COMPLETION THROUGH SYSTEMS

Institutionalize Performance Alert Intervention System

• The Performance Alert Intervention System (PAIS) was fully implemented and is now required of faculty. This web-based referral system has faculty and advisors partnering in identifying students’ obstacles and challenges.

• Working together they recommend appropriate interventions and provide referrals to college resources or community/social service agencies, as necessary. This system tracks performance and behavioral challenges. Reports are provided during the 3rd, 7th, 9th and 15th weeks of the semesters and at mid-term.

INFLUENCE COMPLETION BY DESIGN

COMPLETION INITIATIVE

• Continuously tracks students and credit accumulation in progression to degree/certificate completion. Upon completion of a degree/certificate, students are notified of completion status and are no longer required to complete an application to apply for graduation.

• The Office of Records and Registration conducts regular student degree/certificate audits and identifies students who have completed, notifies them and confirms if they wish to participate in commencement exercises. Completion of degrees/certificates can occur during the fall, spring and summer.

• During spring 2011, the College experienced a 14% increase in the number of graduates over the previous year

LESLIE PERKINSCOORDINATOR FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE AND COLLEGE HONORS

INFLUENCE COMPLETION – FOR ENTERING STUDENTS

• Enhance the transition and educational experience of first year students

• Incorporate best practices outlined by the National Resource Center for First Year Experience.

• Coordinate institutional resources to support learning.• Front-load resources and services. • Implement intrusive advising techniques to improve

performance and decision making. • Monitor student progress. • Focus on academic and social integration strategies.• Target efforts: First Time New students who test into

80 and 81 for all 3 development courses.

INFLUENCE COMPLETION THROUGH PERSISTENCE, RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

• Orientation• Advising• Registration• Mentoring• Learning Communities• Summer Bridge• Individual Learning Plans

INFLUENCE COMPLETION THROUGH INTRUSIVE ADVISING

MANDATORY ADVISING CONTACTS – BENCHMARKS

• Baltimore City Community College’s comprehensive advising model includes: Advising Benchmarks and Required Advising Contacts as a key components to facilitate purposeful interaction with students, foster positive relationships and guide students to the completion of their degree or certificate programs.

• In addition to Advisors having regular contact with students throughout the semester for approval of course registrations, students are also required to meet with advisors at key points throughout their matriculation to assure progression toward degree and certificate completion. Contacts are required and activated through hard blocks when students reach 15 Billable hours, 15 Credits, 30 Credits, 45 Credits and 60 Credits milestones/benchmarks.


PROCESS

• Students are notified on their Confirmation Bill, Student Inquiry Report and COL 710 Degree Audit Report that they have reached a milestone and should contact advisors for approval for registration. Blocks are activated and until removed by advisors students are unable to register. Upon making contact with advisors, the advisor will lift the hard-stop by going to the Faculty portal. Course recommendations are also placed in the Goal Attainment Plan (GAP) by the advisor.

• These measures ensure accurate selection of courses to fulfill completion standards for each degree or certificate program and complies with regulations relevant to Financial Aid and the U.S. Office of Veterans Affairs. Students have been and will continue to be notified about the Milestone Advisement process through campus flyers, workshops, and communications from the Vice President of Student Affairs posted on the College’s webpage and Blackboard.


PROCESS CONTINUESThese changes in advising processes were accomplished by adapting our current system and developing innovative yet simplified advisement tools, including developing web based applications on the Faculty Portal for using the Goal Attainment Plan (GAP) for advisement, previously considered cumbersome by faculty and staff due to its reliance on the SIMS database.

Advisors now have critical resources immediately assessable on the GAP screen:

1. Student Inquiry - Shows student’s academic performance and academic status2. Student Educational Plans Template - Shows student’s degree/certificate

program outline3. General Education Requirements- Shows College’s General Education

Requirements4. Student Milestone- Shows whether student has or has not met a milestone

CARLOS MUHAMMADCoordinator of Student Life

INFLUENCE COMPLETION – THROUGH INSTRUCTION OF ORIENTATION COURSES (PRE 100)

Preparation for Academic Achievement

• Every new student who enrolls or transfers in with less than 15-credits is required to complete this 1 credit course within their first 6-hours of coursework.

• Course prepares students for learning and success in college.

• Students explore reason for attending college, motivation, personal and professional aspirations, study strategies, and selection of a major.

• Career success topics begin with an assessment.

INFLUENCE COMPLETION – SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS

Course Content Getting on Course to Your Success Accepting Personal Responsibility Mastering Self-Management Accepting Personal Responsibility Discovering Self Motivation Employing Interdependence Gaining Self-Awareness Adopting Lifelong Learning Developing Emotional Intelligence Staying on Course to Your Success

INFLUENCE COMPLETION – SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS

Student Life and Co-curricular Programming

Engaging Beyond the Classroom Building Strong Partnerships Active Learning Community Involvement Peer Engagement Social Integration


PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Passport to Leadership

Hosted by the Office of Student Life, in conjunction with the Business and Technology department. The program provides workshops and discussions focused on leadership development. Students attended 5 sessions and are awarded certificates at the annual honors and awards banquet honoring their completion of the program.


PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Real Talk Series

The Office of Student Life, in conjunction with Student Government Association, The Office of Judicial Affairs, and Institutional Advancement, Marketing and Research, developed and collaborated on the Real Talk Discussion Series. These monthly events tackled challenging behaviors students display and makes an attempt to positively change the behavior. Topics center around civility, appropriate and professional behavior on a college campus and abroad.

Civility, Sensitivity and Diversity Conference

The Office of Student Life in collaboration with the Office of Judicial Affairs and Human Resources sponsor this annual experience for students, faculty and staff to gain greater understanding of a broad range of diversity matters and cultures.


OTHER PROGRAM COMPONENTS

• Welcome Week Activities• Student Forums• Community Service• Student Governance Association• College Conferences• Panther Pride Week Celebration• Lecture Series• Respect the Craft Creativity Experience• Cookout on the Quad• Major Decision Day• Faculty/Staff vs. Student/Alumni Games• International Cultural Day

INFLUENCE COMPLETION THROUGH ENGAGEMENT

INFLUENCE COMPLETION THROUGH LISTENING

STUDENT REFLECTIONS ON COMPLETION

SPOKEN WORD INFLUENCING COMPLETION

QUESTIONS

THANK YOU

Documents

THE ROAD TO COMPLETION A LEARNING-CENTERED APPROACH