Motlow State Community College
Action Plan & Outcome Assessment Report for Institutional Effectiveness
Planning Year: July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013
Assessing Year: July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012
Unit: Student Success
Related Strategic Goal:
2.1 Enhance student persistence to completion of post-secondary credential or degree.
Action Plan #: SSCS-01
Action Plan Title: New Student Orientation Program
Desired Outcome: On ground orientations for all first-time, degree-seeking students will result in at
least 85% of them increasing their knowledge of important information needed to be successful and at
least 80% of them returning for the spring term following their first semester.
Description of Action Plan and Related Activities: In order for students to be successful at Motlow
College they must be provided with all the tools and information necessary to advance in their
education while here. One way to accomplish this goal is to offer mandatory orientation sessions for all
first-time, degree-seeking students. A successful first semester is important to a successful college
career and New Student Orientation will provide that important "first step" toward a great start at
Motlow College.
The goal of this orientation is to assist students with the transition to a new learning environment and to
provide information that will acquaint them with Motlow’s policies, procedures, and resources. A few of
the information items covered include important calendar dates, basic financial aid information,
academic advisement and registration assistance.
Not only do we want to keep them for the first-semester, but we also want to track them in regard to
retention from semester-to-semester and from year-to-year and ultimately graduation.
The Director of Student Success and Assistant Directors of Student Services at each of the off-campus
locations will work together to develop and offer these sessions for all first-time freshmen at each of our
four campuses.
To increase student learning and development all students attending will be given a pre-test upon the
start of the session regarding important information that students need to know and understand in
order to be successful. At the end of each session, the students will also be given a post-test to
determine if their knowledge of these issues has increased. The results of these surveys will be used to
continually improve upon the planned sessions.
A tracking system has been developed and implemented to monitor the progression of each student.
This tracking system will provide the ability to monitor retention from semester-to-semester, year-to
year, and progress toward graduation.
This tracking system will allow for continual follow-up throughout the student’s tenure at Motlow. The
Director and Assistant Directors will send no less than two e-mails to each freshman within their first
semester. The first e-mail will go out within the first month of the student’s start to reconnect with each
student and to make the student aware that the staff is available for assistance if needed. A second email will go out prior to the beginning of pre-registration reminding the students of the process for
advisement and registration and offering assistance if needed.
Students who are not retained will be contacted to determine reason for not returning and to see if
there is anything that staff can do to help them to get re-enrolled.
Team Members: Director of Student Success and Assistant Directors of Student Services
Timeline: June-August (for fall term) beginning June 2012 and November- December (for spring term)
Est. Cost: $5,000
Budgeted: Included in current budget
Evidence of Success:
(1) Post-test results will show at least 85% of the students attending will have increased their knowledge
of important information needed to be successful.
(2) ARGOS report will show at least 80% of freshman who attended fall orientation will return for the
spring term following their first semester.
Complete the following when assessing a plan
Current Status: On Schedule
Describe Progress: Work for the summer 2012 sessions is underway. A pre- and post-test have been
created. We are working with IT staff to incorporate the pre-test process into the sign-in for the session
and also for the post-test to be given upon registration for classes. The data will feed to ARGOS where a
report will allow us to track the data.
As stated in our plan, in the Fall we will make contact with students at least twice. Copies of the e-mails
will be included at the next reporting of the IE plans.
Describe Needed Changes: None at this time.
List of Supporting Documentation: Schedule for Summer 2012 Orientations; Orientation Email List
Date Last Updated: June 1, 2012