Redesigning America’s Community Colleges ACC Futures Institute – Spring 2016 Campus Update: Guided Pathways

The Community College Landscape • Community colleges enroll about 43% of all undergraduates nationally; 54% in Texas • Community colleges enroll a disproportionate number of lowincome, immigrant, first generation, and ethnic minority students • Nationally, fewer than 40% of cc students complete any type of degree/certificate within 6 years • The 6-year completion rates for Texas are 32.9% for FT students, 22.7% for PT students; the 6-year comp rates for ACC are 26.1% for FT and 12% for PT students (CB Website) Spring 2016

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A Critical Need for Greater Student Success • Most jobs today require some post-secondary education • Higher level education credentials lead to higher incomes • Increasing demand for HE, but decreasing state funding have driven costs up for students • Low completion rates have fueled greater demands for accountability • US has fallen to 12th in percentage of 25-34 year olds that have obtained a post-secondary credential • New Texas plan for HE calls for “60x30” – 60% of Texans to have a post-sec credential by 2030 Spring 2016

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Redesign Needed Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: a Clearer Path to Student Success Thomas R. Bailey Shanna Smith Jaggars Davis Jenkins Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2015 Spring 2016

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Redesign Needed Present – Cafeteria-Style

Future – Guided Pathways

• Focus on Courses • Limited advising, focus on registration (enrollments), poor tracking of progress • Primary instructional technique one of “knowledge transmission” • Developmental ed with inadequate diagnosis, lengthy pre-requisites, noncontextualized, uninspiring

• Focus on Programs • Focus on early actions to help students identify and clarify goals; continuous tracking of progress • Primary instructional technique of “learning facilitation” • Developmental ed as “onramp” – contextualized, accelerated, personalized

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Futures Institute & Recommendations Fall 2015 • Research/Discussion • Presentations/Gather feedback • Sept 25: Davis Jenkins • Advisory Committee • Visits: Miami-Dade, City Colleges of Chicago, Sinclair College • Report

Spring/Summer 2016 • Operationalize Pathways • Redesign Student Onboarding Processes • Improve tracking, early alert and support processes • Develop comprehensive training and professional development for advising

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ACC Areas of Study (AoS) 1) Arts, Digital Media and Communications

7) Liberal Arts (Humanities & Social Sciences)

2) Business

8) Design, Manufacturing, Construction and Applied Technologies

3) Computer & Information Sciences 4) Culinary, Hospitality, and Tourism 5) Education

9) Public and Social Services 10) Science, Engineering, and Math

6) Health Sciences Spring 2016

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Areas of Study Program Mapping Sessions Sessions held to date

Sessions in March/April

• • • •

• • •

Health Sciences Business Culinary, Hospitality, and Tourism Design, Manufacturing, Construction, and Applied Technologies

• • •

Science, Engineering, and Math Computer and Information Sciences Arts, Digital Media, and Communication Education Public and Social Services Liberal Arts

Sessions facilitate conversations across programs and between instruction and student services. • • • • •

Continuing Education (CE) Adult Basic Education (ABE) Developmental Education Transfer Library Services Spring 2016

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Goals of Program Mapping 1. Identify a course sequence that effectively introduces and offers students opportunities to master program student learning outcomes (SLOs) and clearly demonstrates progression towards an award. 2. Determine default common electives that best align with program SLOs across an Area of Study and meet transfer and/or career requirements. 3. Develop common semesters across Areas of Study Programs incorporating, as appropriate, opportunities for experiential learning (co-ops, internships, service learning, etc.) 4. Ensure program student learning outcomes (SLOs) effectively prepare students for job entry/career opportunities and/or transfer into a baccalaureate program. 5. Outline a viable set of continuing education and/or college-credit stackable credentials, as appropriate, in the form of marketable skills achiever (MSA), certificates, and degree awards. 6. Incorporate as appropriate industry certifications. Spring 2016

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Improved Student On-boarding 1.

Updated application – – –

2.

Students choose an Area of Study May choose pathway/major if known Identify students’ intent (certificate, degree either at ACC or transfer institution, casual, continuing education or post-baccalaureate)

Revised online orientation to: – Introduce/Explain Areas of Study (AOS) and schedule an AOS information session – Provide information about Student Services, including financial aid and test preparation

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Implementation of AOS Information Sessions to: – – – –

Advise students in selection of pathway (major) and courses Offer career and transfer information about Area of Study programs Introduce assigned advisers and counselors Begin engagement with students and build community Spring 2016

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Structured On-boarding New Credential-Seeking Students new to college or new to ACC with less than 12 SCH of college credit – Complete TSI testing if necessary – Complete Online Orientation – Attend Area of Study Information Sessions conducted by assigned advisors, counselors, and/or faculty – Take student success course as required in pathway (major) in first semester – Take required developmental courses in first semester paired with a college credit course

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Student Services for returning students • Advisers – provide general assistance as needed to students within assigned Area of Study • Counselors – provide general assistance as needed to students within assigned Area of Study and provide specialized assistance for students in need: – Academic suspension and probation – Mental health and wellness issues – Financial issues Spring 2016

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Feedback on Futures Institute? Please give us your feedback! How can our interactions with students be improved at the following stages? • • • •

Connection (recruitment, preparation) Entry (application, testing, advising, registration) Progress (helping students stay on track, make progress) Completion (crossing the goal line!)

Go to http://www.austincc.edu/future Spring 2016

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