The MAC:
One Provider’s Story of
Implementing a Transitions Center
Cynthia Gaede – I-BEST and Transitions Director
Cammie Ochoa – Program Specialist, Master Achiever Center
ACTIVITY
Transition Center Ideas & Practices:
1.
2.
Fill out the half-sheet, addressing these questions:
Green Sheet
Blue Sheet
Question: What three
resources would you include as
part of a transitions center in
order to best meet the needs
or your students?
Question: What three
resources would you never
eliminate from your transitions
center?
In a group of 4 to 5, discuss which three resources
or additions you would implement and prepare to
share with the larger group.
TRANSITIONS
BEST PRACTICES
Clear definition
of “transitions”
Funding
“Transitions”
atmosphere;
attitude of
institution
Low-cost for
students
Non-academic
resources and
support available
to students
Understanding of
student and
community
needs
Innovative
Services
Set institutional
goals
Institutional
priority
INITIAL PLANNING
Question: What can we do to increase
student transition rates?
Solutions:
 Support functions that align with
instructional efforts related to transitions
 Lessons From TRiO
Physical Space
 Intrusive Advising
 Access to Tutoring
 Connection with Support Services

THE MASTER ACHIEVER CENTER:
MAC GOALS
MAC students will:




demonstrate higher retention rates
increase total number of momentum points
earned
specifically increase number of momentum
points by completing pre-college English or
Math
self-assess at a higher level of independence
regarding knowledge of college processes
INFRASTRUCTURE
Location
• Dedicated space in Basic Skills
building
Staffing
• 1 Full-time Advisor/Specialist
• AmeriCorps Position
Campus
Connections
• Student Services and Instruction
• Steering Committee
Data
Tracking
• TABdb
• Google Docs
Funding
• College Spark Washington
MAC FUNCTIONS

Goal Setting

Career Exploration

Advising

Financial Planning

Barrier Mitigation

Workshops

Peer Mentoring
GOAL SETTING AND CAREER
EXPLORATION

ICA Curriculum: Self–exploration
Occupational Exploration
Career and Educational Planning

SMART GOALS
ADVISING



Certificate/Degree Planning
Class Registration
Intrusive Advising
FINANCIAL
PLANNING

FAFSA Application Support

Scholarship Search Guidance

Identify Program Specific Funding
Worker Retraining
 Opportunity Grant
 WorkFirst
 BFET

PRESENTATIONS
AND WORKSHOPS

COMPASS Preparation Workshop

Tutoring and Resources Orientation
The Math Learning Center
 Tutoring & Resource Center
 The Speaking Center
 The Writing Center



Registration Workshop
Beginning of Quarter Classroom
Presentations
PEER MENTORING
 One-on-One Meetings
 FAFSA Application Support
RESOURCES
 Computers
 Books
 Student Achievement
Portfolio
 Start-up Kits
STUDENTS SERVED:
MAC VISITS
2011
BASIC SKILLS
PROGRAM
2012
SEPTEMBER 12
JANUARY
42
OCTOBER
23
FEBRUARY
97
NOVEMBER
52
MARCH
42
DECEMBER
36
APRIL
TOTAL
123 MAY
125
183
ABE
36
BRIDGE
40
ESOL
64
GED
77
JUNE
69
I-BEST
72
JULY
107
OTHER
14
AUGUST
68
TOTAL
303
SEPTEMBER
58
OCTOBER
TOTAL
147
938
1ST YEAR RESULTS:
Category
Measurement
Method
Actual
Results
Retention Rates
Increase year to year
retention from 48% to
65%
76% of MAC students
were retained from
summer/fall through
spring quarter
Momentum Points
Increase from 3.4
points per student to
3.7 points per student
MAC students earned
an average of 4.5
points per student
Developmental
Education
Completion
Developmental
In the first year, 9% of
Education taken within
MAC students have
2 years will increase
already earned
from 11% to 20%
momentum points
MAC
EXPANSION
Student
Expansion
• I-BEST
Program
Expansion
• Part-time MAC Advisor/Specialist
• FT AmeriCorps Member
• Part-time Office Assistant
Location
Expansion
• Already need bigger space!
ABE/GED
ESOL
IMPLICATIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The MAC model took best practices from TRiO
and adapted them for our basic skills population
What worked:
Challenges:
Dedicated space for our
students
Workshops and activities
that meet the scheduling
needs of our students
Full-time, intensive
advising supports
Scaffolding – Building
independence
Keeping strong
connections with existing
Student Services
Populations have different
needs/advising pathways
Questions?
Contact Information:
Cynthia Gaede
253.833.9111 ext. 2317
cgaede@greenriver.edu
Cammie Ochoa
253.833.9111 ext. 2016
cochoa@greenriver.edu