Inspiring Students to Take Action Through the GPS LifePlan

1. Inspiring Students to Take Action Through the GPS LifePlan Presented by: Aarin Distad, Dara Hagen and Jenn Rassett Century College, White Bear Lake, MN ACPA National Convention – 2009 Metro, DC

2. Outline for today’s presentation • Who is Century College? • What is the GPS LifePlan? • How is the GPS LifePlan used on campus? • Future initiatives for on campus • How do faculty view the GPS LifePlan? • How do students view the GPS LifePlan? • Is it making a difference on campus? • Beyond Century College

3. Century College • Community & technical college in White Bear Lake, MN • Students enrolled in credit courses – 9,276 • Females: 56% Males: 44% • Full-time students: 47% • Average age: 25 • Students of color: 26% • 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. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. Timeline

14. How is it Used on Campus? • New Student Orientation • Presentation of information • Student Planner • Registration Guide • Online Orientation

15. How is it Used on Campus? continued • Workshops during Fall and Spring • About 50 each semester • Span all 5 Plans • Free • Less than one hour long • Completion certificates for attendance • 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

16. 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

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

18. How is it Used on Campus? continued • Website – www.gpslifeplan.org/century • Each plan has links, surveys, worksheets and tutorials • Teaching Circles, Awards of Excellence, curriculum integration • eFolio Support • Electronic portfolio to capture, organize and manage information

19. eFolio Features • Provides a virtual three-ring binder • Allows more ownership for the student • Can password protect areas and provide feedback • Can be shaped • and polished for • use beyond college • experience

21. Other student samples

22. How is it Used on Campus? continued With High School Students • Upward Bound • General overview and leadership assessment workshop offered as part of an all day workshop • UB students receive a Century College student planner • Used as a resource and tool within curriculum • District 916 • PACE Program (Preparing to Achieve a College Education) • Access and Opportunities Grant • North Lakes Academy Charter School

23. How is it Used on Campus? continued 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

24. Future Initiatives Student Organizations • eFlios for organizations and linked to main web site • Recognition program based on the five plans Welcome Week • Continued involvement from departments in GPS LifePlan • Continued presence on publications Student Planner • Use of tabs in further emphasize GPS LifePlan • Identification of activities correlating with GPS LifePlan First Year Experience • Cohort model that will provide workshops that will go over information from each Plan • Will be open to all first semester students, not mandatory Retention  efforts will be focused on students who are placed on probation

26. How Faculty use the GPS LifePlan

27. Faculty Support and View it as Worthwhile

28. Student Rating of the GPS LifePlan to help with Career and Education Plans

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

30. Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CSSEE)

32. 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. • 4 campuses are currently using GPS LifePlan and about a dozen are in the planning process • 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 • GPS LifePlan (FWD)

33. Service Members • 1200 soldiers and families have been shown and/or have used this site since it went live in December, 2008. • Soldiers who are deployed will use the tools on the web to help other soldiers maintain focus on their future and finding meaning both during deployment and upon returning. • Starting this summer, soldiers will be able to take online courses while deployed and the GPS LifePlan (FWD) will be a resource for them. • FWD – stands for those who are currently deployed

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

35. Contact Information Aarin Distad, Student Experience Director aarin.distad@century.edu Dara Hagen, Director of Upward Bound dara.hagen@century.edu Jenn Rassett, Associate Director of Student Life and Leadership Development jennifer.rassett@century.edu