Presented by: Marti Demarest Assistant Director, Student Success Center (former)

1. Turning the Revolving Door into the Staircase of Academic Success for Basic Skills StudentsNACADAOctober 5, 2011 Presented by: Marti Demarest Assistant Director, Student Success Center (former) Director, Gateway to College, Front Range CC Paula Yanish Director, Student Success Center

2. Program Overview: About Aims Community College District National (USA), Colorado & Institutional Retention Data Institutional Strategies Emerging Scholars Accomplishments

3. Campuses: Greeley, CO Fort Lupton, CO Loveland, CO Windsor, CO Online Founded: 1967 Over 130 degree & certificate programs About Aims

4. Weld County 3,992 Square MilesElevation: 4,658 ft. Climate: Snowfall: 33.7” Days Sunshine: 340

5. Aims College Enrollment

6. Retention – National Data First to Second Year Retention Rates (ACT Institutional Data File 2010)

7. Lack of “College-Readiness”(National Center for Educational Statistics, US Department of Education, 2007) Percentage of U.S. College Students Needing Remediation in 2007

8. 2009 Colorado High School Graduates Requiring Remediation at Two-Year Public Schools Colorado Commission on Higher Education 2011 Legislative Report—02/11

9. Aims Data

10. Comparison of Remedial Needs of New Students at Aims

13. Institutional Strategies for Improving Student Retention Fall 2006 – STAR pilot (STudent Achievement and Retention) – Title III grant funded (US Department of Education) High-risk students (1st generation, low income, undecided/undeclared, academic probation) 74% of cohort required remediation Services include intensive academic advising, extended orientation, early alert 60% retention of first term cohort

14. Theoretical Framework Nevitt Sanford Challenge & Support Vincent Tinto Academic/Social Integration Goal/Institutional Commitment Nancy Schlossberg Mattering vs. Marginality

15. Staff Working with Emerging Scholars Program Assistant Director Retention Advisor—full-time 3 part-time Retention Advisors Advisors at outlying campuses College Prep Faculty First-Year Experience Course Coordinator Financial Aid Director

16. Emerging Scholars Admission Criteria New to Aims Community College Unless concurrently enrolled in high school Degree or Certificate Seeking Have 2 or more academic deficiencies (English, Math, Reading)—optional Have 3 or more needs—highly recommended Cohort Goal – 300 students

17. Emerging Scholars Program Requirements Fill out an ES application during first registration period Meet 3 times each semester with the assigned advisor Allow the institution to place a registration hold on his/her account requiring an approval for any changes Enroll in and complete college prep courses with a “C” or better and limit enrollment on other academic courses Enroll in and complete a college success (FYE) course—1st semester Attend a minimum of 2 student success workshops during each semester after 1st term Financial incentive

18. College Success Class (AAA 101) Topics include: Welcome, class overview, college jargon Time management Reading your textbook Note-taking from a textbook Campus resources on the web Note-taking from a lecture Stress free math Students rights and responsibilities Memory and concentration Wellness and health issues Mastering self-management (setting priorities and goals) Paying for college Test taking strategies and final exam preparation Career exploration College pathways – transferring and career

19. Emerging Scholars - Fall 2007 Demographic Breakdown 95 participants in Fall 2007 Age 60% are 18-19 years of age Ethnicity 49% White 42% Hispanic 3% Native American 2% Black 3% Unknown Gender 63% Female 34% Male Status 62% Full-time students Academic Needs 26% with 2 academic needs 74% with 3 academic needs

20. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

21. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

22. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

24. Emerging ScholarsFall ‘07 Emerging Scholars Cohort vs. Control GroupFall to Fall Retention Comparison

25. Emerging Scholars – Spring 2008 Demographic Breakdown 117 participants in Spring 2008 Age 43% are <18-19 years of age 17% are 30+ years of ages Ethnicity 47% White 42% Hispanic 2% Native American 2% Black 1% Asian 6% Unknown Gender 57% Female 41% Male Status 53% Full-time students Academic Needs 32.5% with 2 academic needs 67.5% with 3 academic needs

26. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

27. Emerging Scholars Outcomes

28. Emerging ScholarsSpring ‘08 Emerging Scholars Cohort vs. Control GroupSpring to Spring Retention Comparison

29. Quantitative Results

30. Some Key Accomplishments • Served over 1,185 students since Fall 2007 • Moved to a new location within Learning Commons (STAR Center) • Established a Peer Mentoring Program • Received TG Grant Program ($115,750) • Instrumental in developing and implementing the institutional “Mandatory Course Placement Chart” and procedure • Modified financial incentive model from grant to scholarship with support of Financial Aid Director

31. Contact Information Dr. Patricia A. Matijevic Paula Yanish Dean for Student Services Director, Student Success Center 970-339-6374 patricia.matijevic@aims.edu 970-339-6537 paula.yanish@aims.edu Marti Demarest Shannon McCasland Director, Gateway to College Assistant Director, Student Life Marti.Demarest@frontrange.edu 970-339-6563 shannon.mccasland@aims.edu 303-404-5167