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Student Success: The Road to Understanding Retention

Student Success: The Road to Understanding Retention. Iris Godes Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management Quinsigamond Community College MASFAA Conference – November 2009. A Bit About QCC. 2-year Public Community College Located in Worcester, MA

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Student Success: The Road to Understanding Retention

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  1. Student Success: The Road to Understanding Retention Iris Godes Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management Quinsigamond Community College MASFAA Conference – November 2009

  2. A Bit About QCC • 2-year Public Community College • Located in Worcester, MA • Highest enrollment ever Fall 2009 with 8349 students • Represents a 38% increase in FTE over three years when we had 6022 students • So far this year received 8000 FAFSA’s, more than ever before. Last year reached 7000 FAFSA’s in April • Typically about 54% on aid, expect increase this year

  3. Our Students • 56% under age 23; average age 25 • 30% minority • 49% full time • 11% taking online courses • 52% Independent; 48% Dependent • 61% of awarded students are Pell eligible (up 4% from 2008-09) • Many are first generation

  4. It’s All About Access • Access is most significant aspect of our mission • Open enrollment: accepted if graduated from high school, completed GED or qualify under Ability to Benefit • Students have multiple goals for attending community colleges • Extremely flexible scheduling • Can enroll right up to the start of the semester

  5. Challenges to Student Success • Academically unprepared, starting at a developmental level or ESL takes longer to complete degree • Achieving a degree is not always their top priority. Students juggle work, family, transportation, money • No campus housing • Classes run 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. Hard to provide support services over all of those hours • Limited family support • Students stop out multiple times

  6. Financial Aid Challenges • Getting through the process • Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy • Withdrawal Policy (R2T4) • Limit to number of remedial courses that can be funded • Inability to use current funds to pay prior balances

  7. Efforts to Improve Success • Lenient SAP Policy • Policy to enroll even without financial aid award • Provide book vouchers, even if not awarded yet • Free academic support services: tutoring and disability services • Advising Center open 8:00 am to 7:00 pm • First Year Experience Course • Online courses • Opened additional site in Southbridge Fall 2009

  8. Efforts to Improve Success • If withdraw, cover the balance with QCC funds • Waive charges if extenuating circumstances • Changed admissions criteria in some programs; some became more selective, some less selective • Intervention when on Financial Aid Probation • Transition Center • Seminar • PACE Committee (Process and Communication for Enrollment)

  9. New Efforts – Fall 2009 • Renewed priority being placed on retention • Major part of QCC Strategic Plan • Enrollment Management Council • QCC President has made this her priority • Becoming a culture of “Student First” • Improving cross functional collaboration and decision making • President Obama’s Challenge

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