NJ STARS AT ACCCNJ STARS AT ACCCRecruitment & Retention Strategies for NJ Recruitment & Retention Strategies for NJ

STARS at Atlantic Cape Community CollegeSTARS at Atlantic Cape Community CollegePresented by Gina Skinner, Director of Presented by Gina Skinner, Director of

Admissions & College RecruitmentAdmissions & College RecruitmentCollege Board Regional Forum, Atlantic City, College Board Regional Forum, Atlantic City,

Friday, February 15, 2008Friday, February 15, 2008

Program started in 2004 by State of New Program started in 2004 by State of New Jersey in an effort to keep “best and Jersey in an effort to keep “best and brightest” students in State.brightest” students in State.

Students must have placed into the top 20 Students must have placed into the top 20 percent of their N.J. high school class by percent of their N.J. high school class by the end of their junior year.the end of their junior year.

Students can move into top 20 percent Students can move into top 20 percent during their senior year and still qualify.during their senior year and still qualify.

Student MUST apply for financial aid. Student MUST apply for financial aid. All grants/scholarships are applied before All grants/scholarships are applied before

STARS funding is givenSTARS funding is given Students have two years from date of high Students have two years from date of high

school graduation or one semester at another school graduation or one semester at another college/university.college/university.

Must be enrolled in at least 12 college-level Must be enrolled in at least 12 college-level credits, may be funded for up to 15 credits. credits, may be funded for up to 15 credits. Summer classes not funded.Summer classes not funded.

Must attend home county college unless Must attend home county college unless program of study is not available.program of study is not available.

Assumption:Assumption: Top 20 percent of graduating class would be Top 20 percent of graduating class would be

“college-ready”“college-ready” Reality:Reality:

30 percent of STARS eligible students in Fall 30 percent of STARS eligible students in Fall 2007 tested into remedial level or ESL 2007 tested into remedial level or ESL courses.courses.

Program was tweaked to allow for this.Program was tweaked to allow for this.

Funded for up to five continuous Funded for up to five continuous semesters (summer excluded).semesters (summer excluded).

Must maintain a 3.0 GPA to continue to be Must maintain a 3.0 GPA to continue to be eligible at the community college.eligible at the community college.

Must graduate with a 3.0 GPA and be Must graduate with a 3.0 GPA and be accepted to a New Jersey State college or accepted to a New Jersey State college or university to be eligible for STARS II.university to be eligible for STARS II.

STARS stats at ACCC:STARS stats at ACCC: Fall 2004Fall 2004 39 students39 students Fall 2007Fall 2007 288 students288 students

ACCC created a comprehensive report ACCC created a comprehensive report with all relevant data for tracking to ensure with all relevant data for tracking to ensure eligibility is maintained.eligibility is maintained.

ACCC recruitment plan:ACCC recruitment plan: List of STARS eligible students for Atlantic & Cape List of STARS eligible students for Atlantic & Cape

May counties is received from HESAA in late May counties is received from HESAA in late November/early December (approx. 900 students)November/early December (approx. 900 students)

ACCC hosts an information session in early Spring, ACCC hosts an information session in early Spring, inviting all those on the list and any students the high inviting all those on the list and any students the high schools identify as STARSschools identify as STARS

College website provides link to STARS information College website provides link to STARS information from homepage and Admissions pagefrom homepage and Admissions page

NJ STARS brochure is provided at all NJ STARS brochure is provided at all recruitment events and Open Housesrecruitment events and Open Houses

ACCC conducts a “Jump Start” program with ACCC conducts a “Jump Start” program with all the sending high schools in its service area all the sending high schools in its service area and informs students about STARSand informs students about STARS

Publicity throughout local area supports Publicity throughout local area supports recruitment activitiesrecruitment activities

Admissions has one staff member assigned to Admissions has one staff member assigned to work with incoming STARS work with incoming STARS

Second mailing done in late Spring to those Second mailing done in late Spring to those on the list who have not yet applied “It’s not on the list who have not yet applied “It’s not too late to enroll as a STAR”too late to enroll as a STAR”

Admissions staff member follows up Admissions staff member follows up personally with all who applied and have not personally with all who applied and have not yet enrolledyet enrolled

Third mailing done around Thanksgiving to Third mailing done around Thanksgiving to those who might have attended another those who might have attended another college but are still eligible for STARScollege but are still eligible for STARS

Application process:Application process: Admissions Office processes application and Admissions Office processes application and

codes student with an entry term, creating an codes student with an entry term, creating an application cohort.application cohort.

Student is added to STARS list, which is run Student is added to STARS list, which is run weekly for college staff membersweekly for college staff members

Registration hold is placed on student so that Registration hold is placed on student so that he/she must meet with counselor and register he/she must meet with counselor and register in personin person

State sends letter to all STARS eligible State sends letter to all STARS eligible students encouraging them to consider their students encouraging them to consider their local Community Collegelocal Community College

State website provides information and links State website provides information and links to participating collegesto participating colleges

Parents/counselors are main source of Parents/counselors are main source of information for high school studentsinformation for high school students

Enrollment/Retention Strategies:Enrollment/Retention Strategies: Student completes the Placement Test or Student completes the Placement Test or

provides appropriate waiverprovides appropriate waiver Student is assigned to a designated STARS Student is assigned to a designated STARS

counselor, who will monitor the student’s counselor, who will monitor the student’s progress throughout their program of studyprogress throughout their program of study

Counselor meets with the student to review Counselor meets with the student to review the STARS “contract” with ACCCthe STARS “contract” with ACCC

Contract spells out in detail the rights and Contract spells out in detail the rights and responsibilities of the student in order to responsibilities of the student in order to maintain STARS eligibilitymaintain STARS eligibility

Student signs the contract and is provided Student signs the contract and is provided with a copywith a copy

Registration hold is removed and an Registration hold is removed and an enrollment term is entered, creating an enrollment term is entered, creating an enrollment cohort.enrollment cohort.

Student continues to meet with counselor to Student continues to meet with counselor to plan classes but is free to register or drop/addplan classes but is free to register or drop/add

Student must apply for financial aid every Student must apply for financial aid every year and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0year and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0

Enrichment program offered to students who Enrichment program offered to students who fall below the required GPAfall below the required GPA

Advent of STARS II in 2006 has generated Advent of STARS II in 2006 has generated much more interest in the programmuch more interest in the program

Student who meets all criteria could earn a Student who meets all criteria could earn a four-year degree at minimal cost by staying in four-year degree at minimal cost by staying in State.State.

STARS issues:STARS issues: Labor intensive process that requires Labor intensive process that requires

dedicated resourcesdedicated resources Students not always fully aware of importance Students not always fully aware of importance

of maintaining eligibilityof maintaining eligibility Resistance to attending a community collegeResistance to attending a community college Unanticipated issues continue to need State Unanticipated issues continue to need State

interpretationinterpretation Getting a true count of STARS Getting a true count of STARS

STARS contacts at ACCC:STARS contacts at ACCC: Gina Skinner, Director of Admissions & College Gina Skinner, Director of Admissions & College

Recruitment, 609-343-5086, Recruitment, 609-343-5086, rskinner@atlantic.edurskinner@atlantic.edu Linda McLeod, Assistant Director of College Linda McLeod, Assistant Director of College

Recruitment, 609-343-5009, Recruitment, 609-343-5009, mcleod@atlantic.edumcleod@atlantic.edu Sue Weisgerber, Financial Aid Office Coordinator, Sue Weisgerber, Financial Aid Office Coordinator,

609-343-4900, ext.5276, weisgerb@atlantic.edu609-343-4900, ext.5276, weisgerb@atlantic.edu Hal Lugerner, Counselor, 609-343-5627, Hal Lugerner, Counselor, 609-343-5627,

hlugerne@atlantic.eduhlugerne@atlantic.edu