Got Goals? Inspiring Students to Take Action Through the GPS LifePlan

1. Got Goals? Inspiring Students to Take Action Through the GPS LifePlan Presented by: Kristin Hageman and Aarin Distad Century College, White Bear Lake, MN FYE Conference – 2010 Denver, CO

2. Outline for today’s presentation • Who is Century College? • Why GPS LifePlan? • What is the GPS LifePlan? • How is the GPS LifePlan used on campus? • First Year Experience Workshop Series • How do students view the GPS LifePlan? • Beyond Century College

3. Century College • Community & technical college in White Bear Lake, MN • Students enrolled in credit courses – 10,469 • Females: 55% Males: 45% • Full-time students: 47% • Average age: 25 • Students of color: 28% • First generation students: • new – 34% returning – 60% • Of the new students entering Century, 78% intend on earning their associate’s degree

5. Now, think back to when you were in college… • Did you have goal(s)? Who/what helped you achieve your goal(s)? • What made your college experience successful? • Was it a person? • A resource? • A club? • How accessible was this person/resource? • Was it 24-hours a day? • Only between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM • Monday-Friday?

6. Timeline

7. Goals + Plans = Success • Planning tool that assists students in developing and achieving their goals and plans while attending Century. • There are 5 sub-plans that were created to meet the needs of students in all areas of academic, personal and career development. CareerPlan – EducationPlan – FinancePlan – LeadershipPlan - PersonalPlan

8. Who can use the GPS LifePlan? • Students • Faculty • Staff • Guests / Community Members • Service Members

9. Topic Areas • Self-Assessment - Interests - Skills - Work Values - Personality • Career Research • Links to Education • Integration • Decision-Making

10. Topic Areas • Degree/Program • Course Planning • Links to Education • Study Skills • Learning Styles • Grade Issues • Transfer Planning • College Readiness

11. Topic Areas • Financing Education - Financial Aid - Scholarships - Tax Related Benefits • Budget • Debt Management • Saving for the Future • Credit Management

12. Topic Areas • Leadership Skills • Resources for Leading • Civic Engagement • Service Learning • Global Competence

13. Topic Areas • Life Transitions • Stress Management • Relationships • Fitness and Physical Health • Child Care • Housing • Transportation • Mental Health

16. How is GPS LifePlan Used on Campus? • New Student Orientation • Presentation of information • Student Planner • Registration Guide • Online Orientation

17. How is it Used on Campus? continued • Workshops during Fall and Spring • About 50 each semester covering all 5 Plans • Sample workshops: • “Read It Twice and Still Don’t Get It” • “Budget 101: How to Develop a Budget” • “Creating Your Leadership Philosophy” • “So, You Need a Resume?” • Online workshops • Cover workshops that have been presented on campus as well as some from other resources. • Sample online workshops:

18. How is it Used on Campus? continued • Student Success Day • Day each semester to support and celebrate student success • Meet with instructors and check progress • Get acquainted with offices and services on campus • Attend workshops on a variety of topics • Keynote speaker/group on a timely issue • Held on a regular school day during fall and spring semesters

19. How is it Used on Campus? continued • Student Organizations • Leadership Institute • eFolio component paying specific attention to the LeadershipPlan • Welcome Week • GPS LifePlan interactive tour of campus • Departmental involvement • Organizations included GPS LifePlan aspects in Student Activities Fair • Publications • Student Planner • Activities Calendar

20. How is it Used on Campus? continued • Faculty support and utilization • Curriculum integration • Assignments • Workshop attendance • Conversations with students • Reading 0080 Mentor program • Academic planning • GPS LifePlan assisgnment • Teaching Circles • Awards of Excellence • Lesson plan examples on web

21. Examples • Developmental English • Budget Analysis, Understanding Your Credit, Getting out of Debt, Goal Setting, and Scholarship Applications (FinancePlan) • Creating Your Own Vision/Mission (CareerPlan) • Marketing (Professional Development) • Leadership Styles (LeadershipPlan) • Stress Management Project (PersonalPlan) • Dental Hygiene • Learning Styles Assessment and Class Instruction (EducationPlan) • Develop a S.M.A.R.T. goal to identify a study skill the student would like to improve (EducationPlan)

22. Faculty support of the program and view it as worthwhile (F 2006) Century College Faculty Fall 2006 (N=130)

23. Faculty support of the program and view it as worthwhile (SP 2009) Century College Faculty Spring 2009 (N=150)

24. AQIP Project - Reading 80 Mentor Project Re-enrollment Fall to Spring Rate

25. First Year Experience Workshop Series • Free 6-week program offered to new students • Built with a GPS LifePlan foundation • Utilized “On Course” material by Skip Downing • Designed as a cohort model • Five-six cohorts depending on the semester • Recruit students at New Student Orientation • Introduced in small group setting • Sign-up sheets handed out and collected after registration

26. Incentives for Participating • Only one hour a week • Free activity/resource workbook • Free giveaways: • 2 gig flash drive • GPS LifePlan water bottle • Drawings for gift certificates to the campus bookstore and cafeteria for participants that attend all six weeks. • Connection to staff and current students

27. Week One: Technology 101 • Introductions • Overview of the FYE Workshop Series / What are their expectations? • Go over technology used on campus: • eServices • Email • Desire 2 Learn (D2L0 • Student Portal • Century’s Website • GPS LifePlan Week Two: Getting Connected to Century College • Ice breakers • Candy introductions • Human bingo • GPS LifePlan overview • Getting Connected to Campus: Activity Hunt

28. Week Three: Making Wise Choices • Marshmallow challenge • Five minutes to build the tallest free-standing tower • Victim versus creator • Personal responsibility • Wise choice process • Time management activity • Test your time management skills Week Four: Got Goals? Setting Goals for Your Future • Explain what is a goal and why is it important to have goals • S.M.A.R.T goal setting method • Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely • As a large group worked on a goal as an example • Allowed time for students to develop their own goals

29. Week Five: Keeping a Healthy Balance in Your Hectic Life • Group discussion: • What is balance? What does keeping a healthy balance look like? • Paper plate balance activity • Write down everything that you do/are responsible for • Group discussion and activity: • What are values? How do you define them? • Values exercise worksheet • Do your values and activities match? • Do you have balance in your life? Week Six: What’s Next? Things to Know for Next Semester • Celebration: Cupcakes and soda • Hand out participation certificates • Review “What’s Next” sheet • Book buy-back • Finals schedule • Registration and tuition down-payment for next semester • Group Discussion: Likes and dislikes of FYE • Drawing for prizes • Gift certificates to the campus bookstore and cafeteria • Post survey reminder

30. Pre and Post Survey Results of FYE Students: • I know how to get involved on campus: • 3.5% disagree and 66% agree (Post) • 36% disagree and 48% agree (Pre) • I know what resources are available to me at Century: • 5% disagree and 62% agree (Post) • 32% disagree and 54% agree (Pre) • I know how to manage my time effectively: • 5% disagree and 71% agree (Post) • 23% disagree and 61% agree (Pre) • I know where to go if I have questions about Century: • 7% disagree and 59% agree (Post) • 38% disagree and 47% agree (Pre)

32. 1=Not satisfied at all 2=Not very satisfied 3=Somewhat dissatisfied 4=Neutral 5=Somewhat satisfied 6=Satisfied 7=Very satisfied Noel-Levitz Satisfaction Inventory

33. Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CSSEE)

34. Beyond Century College • Collaboration with the Office of the Chancellor and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU) – 32 institutions, 25 two-year and 7 state universities. • 13 campuses have developed their own customized sites and are at various stages of integration on their campuses • Minnesota Online and Distance Minnesota • Workforce Centers • Promoting on campus workshops for them to attend • Working with their staff to highlight pieces from the web site that their job seekers can use • Service Members Version • All returning Minnesota National Guard members are introduced to the Service version through 30 day, 90 day and one year re-integrations. • With High School Students • Upward Bound, District 916, PACE Program (Preparing to Achieve a College Education), Access and Opportunities Grant, and North Lakes Academy Charter School • Topics covered with high school students: How and why to set goals; Holistic approach to goal setting; Detailed goal setting and action plans; Each of you as leaders; Test taking help: preparing for college exams; Creating eFolios

35. What would the GPS LifePlan look like on your campus? Which programs, services, etc. do you have on your campus? List them on the sheet under the Plan you think they fit best.

36. Contact Information Kristin Hageman, Dean of Student Life kristin.hageman@century.edu Aarin Distad, Student Experience Director aarin.distad@century.edu www.gpslifeplan.org/century