Student Success Initiatives

1. Student Success Initiatives Supplemental Instruction Leaders Learning Communities Success in College and Life Course Fall 2007

2. Supplemental Instruction Leaders • Coordinated by Mary Turner and Pat Stowe • 14 leaders in the fall • Supported students in English, history, political science, computer science, engineering, and math • SI leaders were used in two of the Learning Communities.

3. SI Leaders • Attendance logs are not routinely kept by all SI leaders, but that is area being worked on. • A tutoring area has been created in the Library-new this fall! • SI Leaders training sessions are held. • Faculty and students are recruited for this program.

4. SI-Spring • The same courses will be served in the spring (English, history, political science, computer science, engineering, and math) • Additional support will be provided in in developmental math and college algebra • Other programs planned for spring: general zoology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, art, CAT, and GCOM.

5. Spring Possibilities • Spanish, cadaver anatomy, and some developmental writing sections • The academic divisions have agreed to handle PAFs and time sheets for the SI leaders in the appropriate divisions.

6. Learning Skills and SI’s • Challenges • Finding and recruiting appropriate students to be Supplemental Instruction Leaders • Encouraging students to use the SI’s. • Mixed results over the years

7. Learning Communities • Three Fall Communities: • College Writing II/College Reading II/Success in College and Life • English Composition I/American History Since the Civil War • English Composition/Introduction to Sociology • 73 enrolled; 62 were still enrolled at the end of the semester

8. Fall LC’s • All sections were taught by full time faculty. • Enrollment was speedy in two LCs: CWII/CRII/Success and Comp I/Hist. • Students were surveyed in class. 44 responded. • LC Survey Fall Results Handout 1 • LC Survey Fall Results Handout 2

9. Learning Communities Survey • Why did you enroll in this learning community? Check all applicable responses. • ___24___ The times fit my schedule. • ___19___ The courses were on my degree plan. • ___26___ An advisor or some other person at the college suggested it. • ___14___ I was interested in the concept of learning communities. • ___13___ I felt the learning communities would benefit me. • ___2___ I saw a flyer or read about the learning communities in the Pioneer. • ___6___ Other—please explain.

10. Survey Question • Do you feel that participating in the learning community sections has helped you? Check the applicable responses. • _27__ The LC sections have helped me to make friends. • _16_ I feel more connected to OCCC because of the LC classes. • _33_ I feel more connected to my LC instructors because they attended each of the classes. • _28_ The class size was helpful to me. • _12_ Compared to regular classes, participating in the LC classes helped me to improve my grades in the LC courses. • _30__ I liked having the classes in the same classroom. • _3__ Other—please explain.

11. Survey • Would you enroll in another learning community in the future if it fit your schedule and degree plan? _42_____ yes __1____ no If you answered no, please explain. • Would you recommend a learning community to a friend? __41___ yes _2____ no

12. Survey Comments • “Teachers were helpful with the other class.” • “I like how the instructors also participate in the other instructor’s class by doing the same assignments we have to do.” • “It made me feel more comfortable asking questions and made the teachers seem more accessible.”

13. Challenges • Enrollment • Targets first time freshmen, so word-of-mouth does not help • Choosing appropriate pairs of courses • Finding compatible and enthusiastic faculty members

14. Success in College and LifeSCL-1001 1,521 enrollments for SCL 1001 in Fall 2007. Seven (7) Incompletes were given and these are excluded, which brings the enrollments to 1,514. Following are the grade frequencies: • A 641 • B 226 • C 150 • D 84 • F 261 • W 152

15. Success Statistics • 67.2% received a grade of A, B, or C, and are successful according to AtD standards. This means that approximately 2 of every 3 students were successful in completing a course that OCCC has specifically designed to help students be successful in their college experience and in life.

16. Evaluations • Special evaluation form was used. • Results of on-campus evaluations are attached. • Students indicated that the area of greatest interest in both the online and on campus classes was time management skills. • The second area was study strategies.

17. Enrolled For Spring • 59.2% (896) of the total 1,514 are enrolled for Spring 2008. • 74.2% (755) of the Atd successful 1,017 are enrolled for Spring 2008. • 29.2% (145) of the Atd unsuccessful 497 are enrolled for Spring 2008. • (1/4/2008)

18. Curriculum • A task force developed the basic curriculum in spring, 2007. • Minor changes were made for spring, 2008 based on feedback from instructors. Additional activities were added also. • Instructors are asked to emphasize group building, skill development, and activity-oriented assignments.

19. Future Plans/Challenges • Retention—improve the 67% success rate. • Hire a dynamic coordinator/faculty member. • Revise curriculum again after the spring semester and probably throughout next year. • Continue the instructor meetings to share successes and areas of improvement.