Uniform Recruitment and Retention Strategy Proposal 2007-08 Requirements Revised 6/08 Cedar Valley College Dallas County Community College District 3030 North Dallas Avenue, Lancaster, TX 75134 Recruitment Strategies For the 2007-08 requirements, Cedar Valley College will focus on partnerships with high need public schools. Most of the Dallas ISD high schools in the college s service area are on the HB 400 list and have a relatively low college going rate and high percentage of disadvantaged students. The following strategies are being implemented in 2007-2008 to achieve the Closing the Gaps targets: Name & Type of Strategy: College Connections 1. Workshops for high school seniors 2. Weekly high school visits 3. Follow-up communications 4. Intensify efforts to enroll dual credit students 5. Implement Summer Bridge program Cost of Program & Funding Source $100,000 (projection): THECB grant = $37,000 Cedar Valley College = $ 63,000 Cedar Valley received a College Connections planning grant, which enabled a representative of Austin Community College to come to Cedar Valley to share the model (2/08). Grants applications are being developed for the THECB Work-Study Mentorship Program and College Connections for 2008-09. Number of Students Served & Demographic Information Students In the Uniform Recruitment & Retention report for 2006-07, Cedar Valley College reported that 8,680 K-12 students were served and 540 parents. In 2007-08, the number of students served will be reported and the following data on first-time applicants from the service area high school students will be reported: 1) Gender 2) Financial aid eligibility (economically disadvantaged) 3) Academically disadvantaged (number testing into Developmental courses) 4) Ethnicity Program Description & Details
1) Students are being encouraged to submit applications, take placement tests, apply for Financial Aid and scholarships, and seek early academic advising regarding their interests. Special events are planned for target groups in cooperation with advisory committees (Hispanic Initiative Advisory Committee and Male Initiative Advisory Committee) 2) Recruitment staff (including student ambassadors) are scheduled for weekly visits at lunch hours 3) All seniors from A. Maceo Smith, Seagoville, Spruce, and Carter High Schools visit Cedar Valley College for a day of orientation and tours. 4) Follow-up communication (letters, postcards, emails, is being sent to prospects and applicants to ensure completion of the college enrollment process. Graduate lists for 2007 and 2008 from Dallas ISD service area schools, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster High Schools are obtained. 5) Workshops and discussions with Cedar Valley College faculty, advisors and administrators and high school instructors, counselors and administrators are scheduled to improve communication about college readiness issues and high school and college curriculum alignment. 6) Dual credit-eligible students are identified and enrolled in courses either at their high school or at Cedar Valley College. 7) Preparation is completed for the establishment of two Early College High Schools in collaboration with Dallas ISD and Cedar Hill ISD in 2008-09 to serve 100 students each. 8) A Summer Intensive Program (grant-funded by THECB) is being implemented for Summer, 2008. How Does Strategy Impact Institutional Targets? This strategy is projected to substantially increase: 1. The number of K-12 students and parents served by college enrollment workshops 2. The percentage of first-time in college entering applicants accepted and the percentage of those who enroll 3. Increase in number of students enrolled in dual credit courses by a minimum of 5% per year. 4. Increase college-going rate of HB400 High Schools or other high need high schools with low college-going rates by 5% (THECB goal) Evaluation Design Recruitment activities, follow-up on contacts, and workshop outcomes will be reported. Information is currently available on the number of students who are May-August high school graduates who attend Cedar Valley College the following Fall. By December 1, 2008, Cedar Valley College will report on the number of students who enter Fall, 2008 and document the percentage of increase. Due to substantially
increased efforts in 2006-07, there was an increase from 235 to 264 in the number of recent high school graduates who enrolled in Fall, 2007 as compared to Fall, 2006 (a 12% increase, from 235 to 264). The Cedar Valley College enrollment for Fall, 2007 and Fall, 2008 of high school graduates from our service area (especially those on the HB 400 list) will be reported by high school to document percentage of increase. The number of students enrolled in Dual Credit courses will be reported for 2007 and 2008 to report percentage of increase. The evaluation design and results for the Intensive Summer Program Grant as required by the grant will be reported. Retention Strategies Name & Type of Strategy: Cedar Valley Achievers In 2007-08, Cedar Valley College is implementing a comprehensive student success initiative ( Cedar Valley Achievers ) focused on improving student performance indicators, especially Fall to Spring and Fall to Fall retention of first-time in college students. College-wide professional development workshops are being held to inform all faculty and staff of the initiative, which also encompasses the development and measurement of student learning outcomes in the Instruction and Student Services areas. Workshops to improve the academic advising skills and knowledge of staff and faculty are part of this initiative. An emphasis on retaining and supporting Hispanic/Latino students and males, particularly African-American males, is included in the student success initiative. Strategies include: 1. Professional development workshops for college employees 2. Workshops to improve advising skills 3. Implement web-based software to track and measure outcomes Cost of Program & Funding Source $580,000 estimated. The total cost of the program is currently being supported by the general operating budget of Advising & Counseling and Professional Development funds. A Title III Department of Education grant application has been submitted for expansion of the program. Number of Students Served & Demographic Information Students In the Uniform Recruitment & Retention report for 2006-07, Cedar Valley College reported that 378 students were served by a pilot of the Cedar Valley Achievers program. In 2007-08, the number of students served will be reported and the following data on student participants will be reported: 1) Gender 2) Financial aid eligibility (economically disadvantaged) 3) Academically disadvantaged (number enrolled in Developmental courses) 4) Ethnicity
Program Description & Details The Cedar Valley College Advising & Counseling department implemented a pilot of a consistent case management approach to 253 first time in college students and 125 probation students in Spring, 2007. In Fall, 2007, full-time advisors, faculty counselors and the Director of Advising/Counseling are assigned a total of 358 new students and are continuously improving procedures and process in coordination with support staff. The initial contact is made during registration and follow-up appointments are scheduled to review student progress, develop a Cedar Valley Achievers academic action and degree plan (including educational and career goals), provide econnect training and discuss best practices for successful students. Discussion of the importance of communication with instructors, use of support services and development of study skills, planning for financial aid or payment options, and planning for next term are standard services imbedded in a series of three appointments during the semester. These students are also enrolled in a Learning Frameworks or Career Exploration HDEV (Human Development) course to improve learning and career planning skills. Web-based software is being implemented to record and measure the outcomes of this holistic approach to advising, counseling and student support. The award-winning system, developed by Sinclair Community College in Ohio to support case management and early alerts, is being installed and will be adapted to Cedar Valley College in January, 2008. How Does Strategy Impact Institutional Targets? This strategy is designed to increase: 1) Persistence Rate: First-time degree-seeking undergraduate students who remain enrolled 2) Developmental Education: The percent of students who return the following fall (to achieve the THECB goal of 5% increase for 2008) 3) Developmental Education: The percent of under-prepared and prepared students who successfully complete a subject areas college-level course (math, reading and writing) to achieve the THECB goal of 5% increase for 2008. Evaluation Design Student success initiative activities and workshop outcomes will be reported. Data on students who participate in the Cedar Valley Achievers program in 2007-08 will be reported, including the number of students who are assigned to advisors/counselors for case management and data on the following performance indicators: 1. Persistence to end of semester 2. Retention to next semester and next Fall 3. Grade point average at end of first semester 4. Successful completion of a Developmental course (math, reading or writing
Compiled data will be compared to data on first semester Fall, 2007 and Spring, 2008 students who did not participate in the Cedar Valley Achievers program but who have similar characteristics (placed into at least 2 Developmental courses, including at least one of the lowest level Reading courses). For more information, contact: Anna M. Mays, Vice President Student Services and Enrollment Management Cedar Valley College 3030 N. Dallas Avenue Lancaster, TX 75134 972-860-2931 amays@dcccd.edu
Goal Strategies Outputs Outcomes Measures RECRUITMENT: Create partnerships with high need public schools (A.M.Smith, W.W.Samuel, Seagoville. S. Oak Cliff, H.G.Spruce) 1. Provide workshops for HS seniors on applying, testing, financial aid, scholarships and advising. # attending each workshop # applying, 2% Increase in FTIC numbers of students enrolled from the targeted HSs # workshops, Total # applications completed, Total # attending workshops, Total # applying 2. Schedule weekly HS visits during lunch hours 3. Send follow-up communications to prospects and applicants # advisors & student ambassadors making visits, # students reached at each visit # mailings sent # prospects reached # applying 2% Increase in FTIC numbers of students enrolled from the targeted HSs 2% Increase in FTIC numbers of students enrolled from the targeted HSs # advisors participating # visits held # HSs involved Total # students reached Total # mailings sent Total % increase in FTIC students from targeted HSs RETENTION: Improve student performance indicators of FTIC students June 1, 1. Provide professional development workshops to inform faculty and staff about the Cedar Valley Achievers initiative 2. Provide workshops to improve the academic advising skills and knowledge of staff and faculty 3. Implement web-based software to record and measure the outcomes of this holistic approach to advising, counseling and student support # employees attending each workshop # employees attending each workshop Software installed, # employees trained Inform 80% of faculty and student services employees Increase retention of Hispanic and male students Successful use of the new software to track targeted students Total # workshops Total # attending workshops Total # students participating in the Achiever s initiative Total # attending workshops Total # workshops Increase in retention of FTIC Hispanic and male students Anecdotal evidence of satisfaction, Results of tracking