AQIP Retention Action Project
Committee Recommendations
June 24, 2014
Project Foundation
• Retention action project began early 2013
– Committee kick-off February, 2013
• Datatel Retention Alert module
implementation
– Formed in 2010
– Implement/commission in 2012
Continuous Quality
Improvement
• Strength from diversity of committee
• Broad based group from all areas of the
college
• Group involvement in every aspect of
developing project
• Leverages employee knowledge,
counseling perspective, faculty in-class
experience
Team Members
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Avon Burns - Criminal Justice
Bernard Cunningham-Faculty - Mathematics
Cheryl Bassett-Chief Technology Officer
Dan Thomas-Student Success Specialist
Emily Varney-Director, Student Financial Services
Gail Van Etten-Counselor
Gary Brasseur-Manager - Enrollment Services
Janis Block-Faculty - Reading
Lynn Wandrey-Faculty - Biology
Mara Fulmer-Coordinator - Graphic Design
Patricia Ward-Faculty Coordinator - Allied Health
Troy Boquette-Executive Dean - Student Services
Kirk Yaros-ITS (Co-Chair)
Mike Cieslinski-Student Services (Co-Chair)
Action project description from HLC
"The focus of the AQIP Action Project
team on Retention will be to study
and recommend the design of
proactive, research-based student
retention strategies… to increase
student retention"
CQI Framework
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Identify area
for improvement
Define
current
situation
Analyze
current
situation
Develop an
improvement theory
Implement
best
strategies
Monitor
results
Adjust,
standardize,
or plan
further
Brainstorming Activities
What is retention?
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Graduate with Associates Degree or other accreditation
Completing a certificate/Completing a program/Completing a degree
Program completion / course graduation
Student completes program of study
Student stays until they complete their goal (goal may be to take one class)
Keeping students here until they achieve their goal - whether the goal is
certificate, degree or transfer
Student returning consecutive semesters until degree / credential completed
Student achieve “long” term goal - graduation or transfer
Student returns the next semester until completing a degree
Helping student successfully complete each term they are enrolled
When students return > enroll in consecutive terms
Student returns the next semester until completing a degree
Maximize students “Actualization” - Total College experience: Academic,
Social, Political Leadership, Athletic
Fall to Fall Enrollments
Degree/Goal Focus : Term Focus : Course Focus : General/Continuous
Definition & Scope
• With assistance of the AQIP liason,
narrowed scope to graduation
• Scope narrowed to manage the project,
but committee felt it was important to keep
the other retention definitions in mind for
future AQIP projects
Goal
• Increase graduation and successful goal
completion using existing data, research,
term based and long range strategies
• Create a broad recommendations to guide
future initiatives
• Document current activities and ideas on
retention
• Create consensus among group
Team Structure / Process
Process
Identify existing retention related initiatives
• Term focused
Example: Retention Alert, Tutoring, Math
Empowerment Center
• Degree/goal focused
Example: Post graduation surveys, Student Life/Student Clubs
• General/continuous support
Example: Disability Services, Veteran Resource
Center
Challenges
• Coordinating Schedules
• Large group discussions
-Differing perspectives
-Balance between value on student success
and impact of strategy implementation
-”Round and Round” effect
• Led to break-out groups
Groups
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Avon Burns
Troy Boquette
Pat Ward
Gail VanEtten
Bernie Cunningham
Lynn Wandrey
Janis Block
Emily Varney
Kirk Yaros
Mara Fulmer
Cheryl Bassett
Dan Thomas
Mike Cieslinski
Activities
Breakout Group assignment:
Brainstorm ways that we can positively influence retention. Come
up with 4 ideas on ways to meet our group objective.
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Breakout groups met outside large group meetings
Breakout groups directed to not design implementation
Each group used their own brainstorming methods
Each group reported back with their top 4 ideas
Activities
• Compilation of breakout group reports
revealed 3 common topics.
• These topics became the 3 strategic
initiatives presented in the Team’s final
report:
Policy
Technology
Student Experience and Cohort Learning
Activities
• Success of breakout groups led to more
small group activities
• These activities were held during large
group meetings
• Participants could pick their group based
on interest and area of representation
• These groups worked on flushing out the
detail behind each strategic initiative
Recommendations
Recommendations
• Policy
• Technology
• Social Learning / Cohort
Recommendations
• Policy
– Institution to Student
• Technology
– Student to Self
• Social Learning / Cohort
– Student to Student
Policy
• Recommendations had the most polarized
conversations
• From an institution level, this is where we
are in most need of direction.
Policy
The integration of student retention into
institutional culture creates both
opportunities for student success as well as
great operational challenges. A balanced
approach should be adopted and is the
single biggest area that EC support and
direction would be required to ensure long
term success.
Key Indicators –
Predictive Reporting
• Student retention is, by it’s nature, a
reactionary exercise.
• Low mid-term grades, Repeated
Add/Drops, Financial Aid, Repeating a
Course, Attendance, Developmental
Courses
• Combination of certain indicators predicts
higher risk
Attendance
• Student retention is, by it’s nature, a
reactionary exercise.
• Attendance tracking procedures could be
reevaluated.
Technology
Technology – FA Dashboard
• Give students visual of where they stand
with FA or loan / debt
• Used / Remaining balances
• Helps keep students focused as they get
closer to their limits.
Technology – FA Dashboard
Technology – FA Dashboard
Technology – Degree Planning
• Encourages students to choose goal
– and keep it updated
• Shows outline of courses required / timing
on when to take them
• With a more “mapped out plan” students
are more encouraged to continue to
completion.
Technology – Priority Registration
• Students who meet certain criteria (#
credits, certain goals, etc) are allowed to
register ahead of “open” registration
• Less concern for getting into classes
needed for graduation.
• Paperless Instructor Signatures
Student Experience & Cohort
Learning Initiatives
Cohort Learning
• Premise – Strengthen retention through a cohort process
Examples: Nursing, LERTA, Clubs
• Purpose – Establish “support groups” for potential retention
Example: AA Groups
• Proactive – Enhanced focus on first year students
Example: First Year Experience - Admissions, Financial
Services, Orientation, Courses, Mentoring
Challenges
• Changes in the Intake Process
- Streamline Admissions
- Increase financial aid awareness
- Changes in current Orientations
- Changes in Advising (Mentoring)
- Establishing a FYE course
- Establish and encourage Student Mentors
Challenges
• Criteria for Cohorts
Examples: Programs, Education, Race, Sex
• Ways to deal with social issues
Example: Personal verses College Cohorts