February/March 2013
Info Sheet
“FIGS Show Results”:
Interest Group Persistence Higher Than Control Group
New data tracking Fall-to-Spring and Fall-to-Fall retention rates indicates that Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) have
been successful in encouraging students to continue their enrollment in courses at Tyler Junior College. Of the 41
students enrolled in three of the first FIGs in Fall 2011, 33 continued the following Spring and 19 were enrolled in the Fall
of 2012. Students in the FIGs were enrolled as Business, Criminal Justice or Career Exploration majors. Their retention
rates exceed those of a control group of “Non-FIG” students. The Non-FIG cohort was comprised of First Time Students
in Fall 2011 who declared majors of Business, Criminal Justice or Career Exploration and lived in the same residence hall
(Ornelas) as the FIG students. Retention rates for FIG students were 80.4% Fall-to-Spring and 46.3% Fall-to-Fall,
compared to 73.8% for non-FIG Fall-to-Spring and 35.7% Non-FIG Fall-to-Fall data.
AtD Leader Awarded Endowed Teaching Chair
The 2013 Endowed Teaching Chair
Awards, presented in surprise
fashion to TJC professors selected
by their peers recently, included a
campus leader in Achieving the
Dream efforts – Linda Bellington,
this year’s Mable Williams
Endowed Chair recipient.
Seven TJC faculty and staff members
attended DREAM 2013, the national
Achieving the Dream conference in Anaheim
in February.
The conference attracted approximately 1,400
AtD members and guests nationwide.
Bellington serves on the AtD
steering and communications
committees.
Other winners were: Gloria Brooks,
the Dorothy Fay and Jack White
Endowed Teaching Chair recipient;
and Heather Mensch, the El Freda
TJC Team Attends
DREAM ’13 Conference
Taylor Pirtle Endowed Chair for
Teaching Excellence.
Taking part for TJC were: Provost Dr. Homer
“Butch” Hayes; Assistant Provost Dr. Tampa
Clark; Enrollment Management Dean Janna
Chancey; Director of Institutional Research
Jacque Messinger; Professor,
Mathematics/Developmental Education
Linda Bellington; Professor, Sociology David
Hubbard; and Director of Public Affairs and
Grant Development Fred Peters.
Next Month, Look For …
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More information about modular mathematics
New communications strategies
Mission Statement: To provide a comprehensive collegiate experience that is anchored in the rich traditions of a quality education, vibrant student life and community service. Accreditation: Tyler Junior College is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions
about the accreditation of Tyler Junior College. Tyler Junior College gives equal consideration to all applicants for admission, employment and participation in its programs and activities without regard to race, creed, color, national origin,
gender, age, marital status, disability, veteran status or limited English proficiency (LEP). ). Tyler Junior College respects the legal rights of each person to work and learn in an environment that is free from unlawful sexual discrimination
including sexual harassment and sexual violence.