What Works in College Retention Kim Ebbrecht Sr

What Works in College Retention Kim Ebbrecht, Sr. Director of College Advising Bess Bolton, College Advisor

Background on IKIC retention efforts Overview of new efforts IKIC Peer Mentoring

Crystal ball grant me answers… Will more of my students graduate from college?

WHY is this so Important?

Important stats that are the basis of our retention program • Nationally we have a 52% college completion rate. In Ohio, it’s 47% • Ohio ranks 38 th nationally in the attainment of bachelor’s degrees and 35 th nationally in associate degrees • IKIC student enrollment growing at community college • Degree or certificate attainment is not growing for IKIC students

Retention Schools Capital University Central State University CCAD Columbus State Denison University Devry University Mt. Carmel Coll of Nursing Ohio Dominican Univ. Ohio State Univ. Ohio University Ohio Wesleyan University Otterbein University of Cincinnati Wright State University Adding University of Toledo by Spring 2012

Retention Objectives IKIC Mission: Helping Columbus City School students enter and succeed in college Commit and invest in student retention Help students understand importance of financial information Financial aid, billing (financial literacy) Complete IKIC Grant application Work with offices to become part of any early alert methods Help student develop success skills Provide transition assistance programs, including preenrollment orientation and first-year seminar courses Create bonds between student: student and student: IKIC advisor

I KNOW I CAN Advisor Activities Services: IKIC Grant assistance FAFSA Completion Connection to tutoring, academic support and student life Office hours Meetings with campus personnel regarding resources Knowing campus culture Events: Luncheons for staff and students Workshops on various topics Bookstore gift cards-small amounts CSCC Orientation event

Make the Most of My College Experience Project Objective 1: Provide a pre-enrollment program at CSCC for CCS graduates and their parents to ease the difficulties of transition, mitigate the cultural conflict students experience between home and the community college, and to create a welcoming campus environment. Objective 2: Increase the quality of the student support system on CSCC’s campus to address the academic and social support needs of former CCS students. Objective 3: Re-shape student outcomes through the provision of an outreach program to encourage the re-enrollment of former CCS students who enrolled at CSCC and did not persist.

Objective 1: Provide a pre-enrollment program at CSCC for CCS graduates and their parents to ease the difficulties of transition, mitigate the cultural conflict students experience between home and the community college, and to create a welcoming campus environment. Meet with Retention Advisor Register for courses Understand financial aid and financial bill Tutoring and other support services How to navigate cultural influences Educational Plans

Orientation for IKIC Freshmen September 13, 2010 8: 30 -9: 00 Registration Workforce Development Building 9: 00 Welcome and Overview of Day - Ballroom Katina Fullen – Executive Director, I Know I Can Dr. David Harrison, President, Columbus State Community College Dr. Gene Harris, Superintendent, Columbus City Schools Kim Ebbrecht/ Bess Bolton – I Know I Can/CSCC College Advisor 9: 30 Getting Started at CSCC Ben Williams – Admission Office Stacey Rogers and some students – TRi. O overview 10: 30 Financial Aid Overview Regina Harper – Financial Aid Office 11: 30 Tour of campus Admission Office Tour Guides 12: 30 Lunch in Ballroom 1: 30 Tutoring Overview - Workforce Development Building Time with mentors/current students, Goal setting, Panel discussion with parents Daniel Weinstein, Program Coordinator for Tutoring (office located in Nestor Hall Room 498 * 614 -287 -2232) 2: 00 Raffle and Wrap-up Bess Bolton, I Know I Can

Objective 2: Increase the quality of the student support system on CSCC’s campus to address the academic and social support needs of former CCS students. Success Series Workshops Goal planning Increase Advisor Hours Mentors

Success Series Workshops Partnership with TRi. O Topics to address skills for success Mentors helped with topics

Peer Mentoring

Objective 3: Re-shape student outcomes through the provision of an outreach program to encourage the re-enrollment of former CCS students who enrolled at CSCC and did not persist. Contacted CCS graduates who enrolled at CSCC in 2006 -2009 but did not persist. Developed and delivered an outreach campaign (mail, phone, email) Offered free counseling services to discuss higher education re-enrollment options, academic planning and financial aid re-enrollment support. Gather data

Outcomes for re-enrollment phone campaign 50% of calls were completed 35% left messages with a person 23% were re-enrolled elsewhere 17% were currently enrolled at CSCC 6% had graduated from college 4% were interested in learning more about re-enrolling at CSCC 10% were not interested in returning to college Other 50% were sent follow-up mailing 35 -40 contacted us as a result of the mailing to ask about reenrolling

Lessons learned Students have great ideas, create opportunities Keep college and key campus personnel updated Free food and incentives are a must Know campus calendar – create workshops during breaks Create an evaluation process Find a campus partner to help us track academic progress

What we are doing now Expanded mentoring programs ODU, Wright State, Central State, Univ. of Cin. , CSCC Formalized training Seeing larger numbers of students being contacted via phone, email, attending events Incentives

Our mentoring program wouldn’t be possible without the generous support from TG.

Kim Ebbrecht Sr. Director of College Advising I Know I Can 3798 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43213 kebbrecht@iknowican. org 614 -233 -9510 x 113