Enrollment Management Project
Focus Groups and Student Success
Miami-Dade Community College
Professional Development Day
March 6, 2003
Kendall Campus
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What is a Focus Group?
• Definition:
A structured, interactive group interview
• Function:
To solicit in depth responses to a
group of questions
• Composition: 8-15 participants, 1-2 facilitators,
and a scribe
• Duration:
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
1-1/2 to 2 hours
Background
Rationale:
To solicit opinions, suggestions, and information regarding
factors affecting retention, recruitment and student success
Steps:
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Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Identify target group
Develop questions
Recruit participants
Conduct focus groups and analyze results
Review results with appropriate areas
Develop strategies to address issues identified
Reactions from Focus Group Participants
• Extremely positive
• Honored to be asked
• Heightened sense of ownership
• Comfortable, secure atmosphere
• Optimistic about change
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Target Groups
M-DCC Students
•College preparatory students
•EAP(ESL) students
•Honors College students
•Students in HSC0001- Introduction to Health Care
•International students
Transfer Students – FIU
•With AA degree
•Without AA degree
High School Seniors
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory Mathematics students said…
Students should:
1) Attend class regularly
2) Form study groups
3) Be focused
4) Change negative attitude
5) Talk to instructor about difficulties
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory Mathematics students said…
Faculty should:
1) Answer even basic questions patiently
2) Give practice tests – mirror test format
3) Explain clearly, step by step
4) Change perceived attitude – be positive, motivate
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory Mathematics students said…
The College should:
1) Have smaller classes
2) Increase number, quality of tutors/lab personnel
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory English students said…
Students should:
1) Be more organized
2) Study every day
3) Focus and set goals
4) Prioritize, manage time well
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory English students said…
Faculty should:
1) Be more energetic and interesting
2) Be more human, sensitive
(do not label questions as “stupid”)
3) Be available
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory Reading students said…
Students should:
1) Spend more time studying
2) Do assignments promptly
3) Focus and set goals
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory Reading students said…
Faculty should:
1) Slow down
2) Make sure students understand
3) Be positive, make students feel comfortable
4) Vary teaching strategies
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
College Preparatory Reading students said…
The College should:
1) Encourage better customer service
2) Lower the cost of books/ higher resale
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
EAP (ESL) students said…
Faculty should:
1) Teach in English only
2) Align classes and labs
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
EAP (ESL) students said…
The College should:
1) Improve registration – too time consuming
2) Provide orientation about programs,
majors, financial aid
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Transfer students said…
Students should:
1) Take responsibility for themselves
2) Be self-sufficient
3) Connect with other students, work together
4) Know requirements, complete prerequisites
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Transfer students said…
The College should:
1) Provide better orientation for transferring students
2) Emphasize value and importance of completing
AA before transferring
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Honors College students said…
Reasons for enrolling:
1) Scholarship
2) Better transfer opportunities
3) Challenging, smaller classes
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Honors College students said…
The College should:
1) Adjust credit load and GPA requirements
2) Offer Honors College mathematics and
science
3) Improve the Colloquium
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Medical Center Campus students said…
Students should:
1) Be disciplined and not procrastinate
2) Try not to work - get loans, financial
assistance
3)
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Manage stress
Medical Center Campus students said…
Faculty should:
1)
Lecture less
2)
Have one instructor per class – no team teaching
3) Align text, lecture, tests – be consistent
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Medical Center Campus students said…
The College should:
1) Allow financial aid for students in the
Accelerated Option
2) Create better faculty evaluations and include
written comments
3) Provide professional counseling
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
HSC0001 students said:
Problems hindering success:
1) Lack of financial support, must work
2) Poor skills (reading, writing, math)
3)
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Stress (professional and personal)
HSC0001 students said:
Suggested College solutions:
1) Increase financial aid, extend payment
deadlines
2) Offer more individual tutoring, offer speed
reading
3) Provide professional counseling
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International students said:
Reasons for selecting M-DCC:
1) Cost
2) Friends already attending
3) Visited M-DCC on vacation
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
International students said:
What the College can do to help international students:
1) Create an SLS course tailored for them
2) Allow students to take fewer than 12 credits –
many need to work
3) Designate an area as an international student
lounge
4)
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Provide loans
High school students said…
Miami-Dade means:
1) Attend for two years and then transfer
2) Really the 13th grade
3) Many students drop out
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
High school students said…
Students would not consider M-DCC because:
1) Think parents are against community colleges
2) More like a technical school
3) Lack information about M-DCC
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
High school students also said…
M-DCC can improve its reputation by:
1) Sending information to students’ homes,
providing a “return” portion for specific
information
2) Arranging classroom visitations for high school
students to see the College, classes and faculty
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Actions Based on the Results:
Math Departments
• Participated in Roundtable Discussions
• Held Retreat
• Revising CP mathematics curricula
• Consolidation of skills taught – core skills taught
with more depth
• Modifying instructional delivery
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Actions Based on the Results:
Math Departments (con’t)
•Establishing resource center for faculty
•Increased training for adjunct faculty
•Increased support outside class – align lab & class
• Offer math anxiety workshops
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
Actions Based on the Results:
Transfer Practices
• Plan and conduct orientation for students
preparing to transfer
• Collaborate with FIU to address problems students
face
• Advertise benefits of completing degree before
transferring
• Identify factors which contribute to success once
students transfer
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Actions Based on the Results:
Honors College
• Honors courses to be offered in math and science
• Students will participate in planning colloquium
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Future Focus Group Projects:
• Transfer students (UM, UF, FSU)
• Vocational students
• High school seniors – college ready
• Web site focus groups
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Suggestions from You!
??????
Media Services North Campus Feb 2001