ACTION PLAN
BACKGROUND
Since joining Achieving the Dream (ATD) in 2006-07, the Community College of Allegheny
County (CACC) has implemented many policy changes and initiatives to help students
succeed. CCAC became an ATD Leader College in 2011 by demonstrating a commitment to
the four principles of Achieving the Dream and documenting sustained improvement on
the number of students who successfully completed their developmental coursework
within two years. CCAC’s experience with ATD has served to highlight the issues related to
the challenges faced by developmental students, as well as the challenges faced by the
college in providing an appropriate array of supports and interventions in order to help
these students successfully complete their courses.
GOAL STATEMENT
Through the Roadmap Project, the Community College of Allegheny County will integrate
existing student success initiatives so that each complements and builds upon the others to
streamline student progress from a Strong Start to a Great Finish.
Bridges to Success is designed to guide students to educationally-purposeful behavior. This
means:
•
Ensuring a strong start by preparing students for success in the first term;
•
Being intentional, providing services that support progress and the achievement
and celebration of key milestones; and
•
Ensuring that critical engagement opportunities are part of every student’s
experience.
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
Team members will identify the types of information and recipients to create a detailed
communication plan.
Communication Plan
Recipients (↓)
September 2013
Types of information
(→)
How:
What:
When:
By Whom:
How:
What:
When:
By Whom:
How:
What:
When:
By Whom:
CORE TEAM ACTIONS AND TIMELINE
Action
Purpose/Details
Develop a goal statement
Helps the team communicate
the purpose and keeps the
project on track
> Create a common language
Ensures consistent
communication
> Consider team
Assemble a team with the
composition/select team
right balance of attributes
members
and skills, ensure crossdivisional collaboration
Orient new team members
Help people understand their
roles
Submit budget
AAC&U deadline
Develop measures
Collaborate with data
partners to develop
definitions and measures
Develop a communication plan
Determine what needs to be
communicated to whom,
when and how.
Submit update
AAC&U deadline
Submit report
AAC&U deadline
Assessment of first year
Monitor implementation,
collect feedback, use
assessment data to make
improvements
Assessment of second year
Monitor changes, collect
feedback, use assessment
data to make improvements
( = completed; > = in progress)
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE FOR CAMPUS WORK
Action
Who
Audit existing processes
Deans of Student
Development , Student
Services Staff and Deans of
Academic Affairs
Students will create academic
ART 250 students
maps based on their experience
at CCAC
Review student maps
Cross-functional Roadmap
team
Review audit materials
Cross-functional Roadmap
team
September 2013
When
August 2013
September 2013
Sept – Oct 2013
Fall 2013
November 15, 2013
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
May 2, 2014
June 30, 2014
2014-15
2015-16
When
Spring 2013
Fall 2013
(mid-term)
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Action
Create a prototype academic
map
Who
Cross-functional Roadmap
team
When
Late Fall 2013/
Early Spring 2014
Share prototype, get input from
college community (including
students)
Finalize product
Cross-functional Roadmap
team
Spring 2014
Cross-functional Roadmap
team
Cross-functional Roadmap
team
Late Spring 2014
Deliver product to marketing
for printing
( = completed; > = in progress)
June 2014
EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS (How will we know we’re making progress?)
1. Successful completion of first term
2. Achievement of milestones (15 CR, 30 CR, 45 CR, completion)
3. Improve the two-year gateway course completion rates for students who place into
developmental English.
September 2013