Transcript Academic Success Strategies

Academic Success Strategies
at Pulaski Technical College
Presented to
Remediation ISP 2009-233 and
End-of-Course/ACT ISP 2009-234
Thursday, September 9, 2010 / 9:30 a.m. / Room 138 / State Capitol
Our College
• Became a comprehensive
two-year college in 1991
• Governed by a 7-member
(appointed) board of trustees
• Fall 2010 (unofficial)
enrollment - 11,213
• 90 associate degrees and
certificates
• Achieving the Dream
institution
Our Mission
Pulaski Technical College is a comprehensive two-year
college that serves the educational needs of central
Arkansas through technical programs, a university-transfer
program and specialized programs for business and
industry. The college’s mission is to provide access to highquality education that promotes student learning, to enable
individuals to develop to their fullest potential and to
support the economic development of the state.
Our Students
• Who they are
• Where they are from
• Diversity
• Average age
• Special populations
• Financial aid statistics
Our Developmental
Education Students
Spring 2010 total enrollment = 11,167
• 31% of students taking 1 or more
developmental class
Fall 2010 (unofficial) enrollment = 11,213
• 32% of students taking 1 or more
developmental class
Fall 2010 - 727 2010 High School
Graduates
• 65% of these students taking 1 or more
developmental class
Our Academic Success Initiatives
ACT/COMPASS math placement score revisions: Why?
• Correct placement
•Students were being placed 1 to 2 levels above where they
needed to be
• All students originally were placed in Elementary Algebra,
with the option of going lower
•Example: COMPASS Course Placements Service Report
dated January 3, 2008: 936 students enrolled in Elementary
Algebra, 410 students had COMPASS scores between 1-17
and 174 (37%) students made a grade of C or better. Of the
936 students, 326 students had a COMPASS score between
18 – 22 and 166 students (51%) made a grade of C or
better. Of the 936 students, 116 students had a COMPASS
score between 23 – 29 and 59 students (51%) made a grade
of C or better.
• Increase the probability of student success in
Developmental Mathematics and College Algebra
ACT/COMPASS placement score revisions: How?
• COMPASS Course Placement Service Report was used to
study our course placement systems. The placement group
was identified as all first-time entering freshmen for fall 2005
to spring 2007.
• Compared COMPASS/ACT scores with Achieving the
Dream colleges, Arkansas two-year colleges and local 4-year
institutions
• Analyzed the COMPASS scores of students making a grade
of C or better
• Used COMPASS Algebra Math Concordance Table
• Used COMPASS default cut scores
Curriculum Changes
• Developmental Mathematics’ communication with College
Mathematics
o What are we doing right?
o What can we do to prepare students for College
Algebra?
o Are the objectives for each course appropriate?
• Course Management System
o How do students learn math?
o How do we motivate students?
Currently Researching Best
Practices
• Supplemental Instruction
• Hybrid Courses – Mini Math Emporium (Pilot Fall 2010)
• LinC – Learning Communities
The Network for Student Success
• Case management
• Advising
• Building relationships
• Marginalized students
• High-risk students
• Color coding
The Network for Student Success
Incentive Programs
•
Trips
•
Study groups / teamwork
•
Academic culture
•
Workshops
Campus Engagement
The Network for Student Success
Academic Initiatives
• College Seminar for marginalized students
• Developmental education LinC (Learning
Community)
• Academic / trade LinC
• Summer bridge program
• Academic workshops
Questions?