Harper College
Project Discover Overview
High Touch-High Tech Integrated Student Success System
Project Discover builds upon several key initiatives, including our completion-­‐based strategic plan and Achieving the Dream initiatives, to take another big stride to improve student access to and completion of high-­‐quality degree programs through a high touch-­‐
high tech integrated student success system. Driving Principle: All credential-­‐seeking students will have a common faculty-­‐led experience at entry that results in a personalized education plan. This integrated personal exploration and student goal setting process will be supported by: counseling sessions informed by customized student analytics; technology-­‐based, on-­‐demand student planning tools; and personalized information and communications through the student portal. Value Proposition: • Increased completion • Less student investment (no unrequired classes) • Reduced pathway to job/transfer • High engagement levels through customized attention • Continual feedback/support through student analytics and feedback Job To Be Done: Based on student focus groups it was determined that students expect Harper College to act as a transition agent, getting them from where they are to where they want to be. The students’ desire for the outcomes Harper could provide fell into one or more of the following: Student Expectations Driver The desire for an improved near term economic future, achievement of Security lifestyle aspirations and avoidance of non-­‐desirable outcomes. The desire to grow intellectually, culturally, and gain a better Growth understanding of one’s self. The desire to obtain advice about the next steps in one’s journey. Guidance Project Concept: Harper College has concluded that increasing student success requires that each student has a personalized education plan and support system, both a high tech-­‐
high touch approach. Beginning from the first contact with Harper College, students will be supported to determine their desired goals (transfer and/or career) and the College will utilize a highly integrated system of access and support that includes cross-­‐trained staff and high-­‐end systems tools. Accomplishing this requires new levels of technological support, integration and transparency. Leveraging data systems will enhance face-­‐to-­‐face mediations—to support counselors, faculty and the students through both College and mobile devices. These systems utilize student analytics to ensure all students are placed into an educational pathway that matches their goals and increases the likelihood of success. Meeting Student Needs: • Creating a common experience for credential-­‐seeking students upon entry through a First Year Seminar; • Leveraging Student Analytics to continually inform and personalize the student experience and interactions with counselors; • Providing students with on-­‐demand access to a customized Student Portal that provides relevant information and communicates next steps based on their personal needs and the semester cycle; • Supporting students’ customized and dynamic plan to completion by providing on-­‐
demand, online planning tools that support a personalized “Harper Map” to success. Desired Outcomes: Project Outcomes: Harper College will: • Engage degree seeking students from intake to completion through integrated high tech-­‐high touch intrusive inventions including an educational plan; • Increase personalization, engagement, and efficiency; • Target and customize interventions to improve retention and completion; • Deliver affordable pathways to students by optimizing successful routes and decreasing failure and re-­‐enrollment; • Provide quality, data-­‐driven solutions to support students and leverage capital resources; • Develop an interactive dashboard for student interventions and monitoring driven by student analytics and supported by both technological and in person interactions. Project Outcomes to Date: • Increased Fall to Spring Persistence for FYS participants over comparison group by 8% (79% for FYS students and 71% for comparison group). 100% of FYS students completed educational plans. • Refocused Institutional Effectiveness Measures (lead by Board based on this project), which includes 5 Student Success Measures (Graduation Rate, Advancement Rate, Developmental Course Success Rate, Persistence Rate and Gatekeeper Course Success) and 5 Institutional Success Measures ( Diversity, Technology, Facilities, Cost per Student, High School Penetration Rate). These dashboards will represent Harper’s new institutional accountability system available on demand. • Finalized Warehouse and Dashboards design with system to go live in April 2015. Analytics based advising will begin in April for Summer and Fall registration. • Launched Harper Map Planning Tools on Educational Plan, Financial Planning, and Career Planning available to all students 24/7 on demand. • Simplified and personalized Version 2.0 of new Student Portal, moving from 8 tabs to 3, 61 Channels to 19 and 50 duplicate links to 2 with extremely positive feedback from students. The previous portal received positive student ratings ranging from 4% to 19% across 6 characteristics, while the new redesigned portal received positive ratings ranging from 69% to 83% across the same characteristics. Integrating academics, technology and support to increase student success: The Harper College Journey