Achieving the Dream At PCCCConvocation

November 3, 2011

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What we have done at PCCC

Joined the ATD Initiative – Spring 2011

Attended Kick Off in Seattle – June 2011

Identified Co-Leaders: Bill Morrison, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs

Nancy Silvestro, Associate Professor of ESL

Planned Convocation Roll Out (Hurricane Irene!)

Formed Core Group

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The ATD Core GroupBill Morrison Nancy Silvestro

Gurvinder Khaneja

Palma Benko

Pam Cavanaugh

Francis Clark

Kathy Coffey

Alexandra Della Ferra

Jennifer Dudley

Sharon Goldstein

Jackie Kineavy

Anita Kumar

Betsy Marinace

Darleen McGrath-Florence

Cheryl Mignone

Lonna Murphy

Wanda Najee-Ulla

Gaby Rinkerman

Candi Rodriguez

Steve Rose

Radha Sankaran

Michelle Softley

Donna Stankiewicz

Bassel Stassis

Chae Sweet

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Sub Groups are actively involved in gathering information and qualitative data

Student Affairs Sub Group – Sharon Goldstein

Data Advisory Sub Group – Gurvinder Khaneja

Publicity Sub Group – Betsy Marinace

Policies & Practices Sub Group: Alexandra Della Ferra

Community Sub Group: Gaby Rinkerman

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The Student Affairs Sub Group is holding a series of student engagement forums at all

three campuses

A cross-section of students participate in a series of conversations during which the students

identify barriers to achievement

collaboratively generate solutions that will be proposed the ATD core group

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The Finish Line Game

Brought to light obstacles that our student encounter

Provided a forum for frank discussion and idea exchange

Provided an opportunity to reflect on what we do well and where we can improve

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The next steps…

Core group examines data for gaps in student success (Fall 2011)

Core group, faculty and staff identify strategies for improvement (Fall 2011-Spring 2012)

Attend ATD Strategy Conference (Feb. 2012)

Refine strategies for improvement (Spring 2012)

Implement strategies for improvement (AY 2012-2013)

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What might the focus of the strategies for improving student success be?

Enhanced support for college-level students

Curriculum revisions

Professional development

Advisement

Developmental English, Math and ESL

Collaboration among different areas of the college

Collaboration with community projects

Student support

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Promising Practices2011 Leader Colleges

Consider what other Achieving the Dream College are doing…..

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Delaware County Community College: High School Partnerships

Delaware County Community College began implementing its high school partnership in Fall 2008. The college shared its developmental math curriculum with local high schools, and college faculty worked with high school teachers to help them cover material so that students were college ready when they left high school. This program has expanded to four area high schools and served 407 high school students since Fall 2008. In the 2011-12 academic year, the partnership will expand to two additional high schools. Student participants initially tested up to two levels below college-level math. Overall, when re tested at the end of the academic year, 38% of these students were prepared for college-level math.

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Highline Community College: Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language-to-Credit

Initiative

Highline’s ABE/ESL-to-Credit initiative assists advanced-level non-

credit ESL students in a successful transition to college-level degree

and certificate programs. There are three program components:

1. Career-pathway bridge classes provide students with an overview of

employment options, available credentials, and workforce expectations

2. One-to-one advising, linking students with faculty advisors

3. A Transition Resource and Referral Center (TRRC) serves as the

clearinghouse for a full range of services, with on-site staff advising,

referrals to faculty advisors, financial aid information, educational pathway

exploration courses, and information about transitioning to degree and

certificate programs.

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Thus far, progress has exceeded goals the college set:

2004-2005 Baseline

2009-2010 Cohort

Percent Transitioning to College-Level 4% 19%

Percent earning at least 15 college credits in 8 quarters

3% 6%

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The Alamo Colleges: Placement Test Preparation

Alamo has successfully implemented Prep for Accuplacer Student Success (PASS), a 15-hour math refresher course, at each of its five campuses. An August 2011 analysis revealed the following:

63% of students completing a PASS session advanced at least one course; 29% advanced two or more courses

76% of students were successful in their first attempt of the following math course

The retention rate for students enrolling in the follow-up course is 91%

In the 2011-2012 academic year, Alamo plans to expand PASS to reading and English.

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Lee College: Developmental Curriculum Revision

Lee College has increased the success rate (grade of C or better) and course-

completion rate for developmental education courses from less than 40% in

2007 to almost 60% in 2010. The college attributes this improvement to

changes to the development course curriculum and delivery. Lee College

initiatives aimed at increasing developmental coursework success and

completion include the implementation of 8-week, fast-track courses,

assigning a counselor to developmental students and locating that counselor

in close proximity to developmental classrooms; creating a separate

developmental ed department, and increased course contact hours in math,

reading, and writing, along with the inclusion of additional class time. At least

one of these affects every developmental students at the college.

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Thanks for attending the 2011 Convocation