“You Complete Me!”

1. “You Complete Me!” Dr. Pamela Phillips Megan Popkey John Grant Mark Franks Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

2. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College • Two-year technical college in Green Bay, WI • Established as a vocational school in 1912 • Serving 41,500 students annually in nine counties in Northeast Wisconsin • Offer over 100 associate degrees, technical diplomas and apprenticeships • 88% of our 2010 graduates were employed within 6 months of graduation • Ranked among America’s 20 fastest growing two-year colleges in 2003, 2004, and 2006 American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

3. Enrollment grows 79% in 13 years – No signs of slowing down FTEs Academic Year American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

4. Profile of Program Student • Average age is 27 • 60% female, 40% male • 10% students of color • 75% receive financial aid • 64% are pursuing associate degrees • 95% of 2010 graduates are employed in Wisconsin • After six months on the job, 2010 associate degree graduates earned a median salary of $35,100 American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

5. “You had me at… completion.” • NWTC Dream Catchers Initiative • Achieving The Dream • Student Engagement • Academic Advising • Automation of Graduation Process American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

6. NWTC Dream CatchersAchieving the Dream • Dream Catchers initiative started in 2009 • Core Team and 6 subcommittees – over 80 staff • Move toward building a “culture ofevidence” across the College • “Got Evidence?” sessions • 2010: NWTC joined national Achieving the Dream network as a self-funded member • 160 community colleges in 30 states • Focused on student success American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

7. NWTC Dream CatchersAchieving the Dream • Purpose: improve 3-year degree and diploma program completion rates by focusing on five target areas: • Basic Education • Gateway Courses • Successful Course Completion • Persistence • Program Completion American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

8. NWTC Dream Catchers Interventions • Integrate student success principles throughout the college to increase depth of student engagement • Implement new developmental education model • Implement Placement for Success • Improve and mandate Program Orientation • Mandatory advising • Academic Success Center • Course Signals American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

9. “You had me at…engagement.” • What does the research tell us? • How College Affects Students (1991), Pascarella and Terenzini • FYE – “Catch the Wave” • Program Orientation • Welcome Days • Student Ambassadors • Student Involvement American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

10. “Catch the Wave” • Catch the Wave – overall marketing theme for NWTC First Year Experience (FYE) initiatives • FYE – paradigm shift –”Just in Time” information • Web presence geared toward new student resources American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

11. New Student Orientation • Operational productivity event • Standardization of content across Student Services and Learning • Alternative delivery modes- e.g. video streaming • Movement toward mandatory orientation • Checklist for success American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

12. Add summer postcard so dates are current? American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

13. Welcome Day • Student Support Services tour, breakout sessions, tips to find classes, parking • Resource fair for last minute questions • Met all 7 learning objectives at a rate of 87% or better (5 of 7 objectives were at 97% or better) • 97% of respondents would recommend Welcome Day Responses from students were overwhelmingly positive American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

14. Student Ambassadors • Facebook page • Ambassador e-mail – StudentAmbassador@nwtc.edu • Ambassador business cards • Future ideas: • Ask an ambassador • On-demand welcome services • Welcome week workshops American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

15. Student Involvement • Linking core abilities: “Food for Thought” speaker series • Intentional data tracking for event attendance • Creative programming for on-line students • Innovative support initiatives • Shared Harvest Food Cupboard • Student Emergency Funding American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

16. “You had me at… advising.” • Major shift in student service model - 2006 • Advising and counseling roles defined • Mental health counseling model • Intentional advising in open access environment • Team has grown to 15 advisor positions • Serve 18,000-20,000 walk-ins and appointments annually American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

17. Advising Model at NWTC • Advisors assigned to 95% of programs – 9,500 students • Course planning, degree progress, transfer of credit, financial aid, and student advocacy • Embedded in academic divisions, Multicultural Center, and Regional Learning Centers • Assessment and focus on learning outcomes, syllabus, and mission statement • Overall improved collaboration American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

18. “Help me, help you.”Advising Interventions • Assign students at program acceptance • Deliver program orientation content - Making the early connection for student success • Utilize degree audit: • Contact students with <2.0 G.P.A. • Contact non-returning students each term • Contact students within 6 credits of graduation • Deliver Student Success Workshop series • Mass registration of continuing program students • Will soon participate in Academic Success Center American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

19. Advising Technology to Enhance Student Success • Social networking • Mass e-mails, E-newsletters • Course Signals – pilot to begin summer 2011 • Camtasia video tutorial library • http://www.nwtc.edu/services/advising/Resources.aspx American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

20. “Show me the money!”Graduation Project • Student-initiated petition form and fee, manual graduation process for staff • In late 2009, NWTC decided to pursue an automated graduation process and reduce fees for students • After four months of business analysis, programming, and testing, IIT created a graduation system that saved Admissions approximately 975 hours annually American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

21. ContactInformation • Dr. Pamela Phillips pamela.phillips@nwtc.edu • Vice President of Student Services • Megan Popkey megan.popkey@nwtc.edu • Manager of Student Involvement • John Grant john.grant@nwtc.edu • Director of Student Support Services • Mark Franks mark.franks@nwtc.edu • Dean of Enrollment Services American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, April 9-12, 2011, New Orleans