BUILDING THE BRANDCANADORE COLLEGE

SCWI – DUAL CREDIT ORIENTATION

Goals• Ease transitioning (reduce stress)

• Increase student engagement & commitment (attendance)

• Increase student success (retention & pass rates)

WHY HAVE A DUAL CREDIT ORIENTATION?

WHEN DOES ‘IT’ START?

• Grade 7 & 8– Activities:

• College Visits• Technology & SHSM Day

• Grade 10– Career Studies Trip

• Visit to college see DCs in action, meet faculty, speak with students, etc.

• Grades 9-11– Boot camps

• Electrical• Plumbing• Culinary

– Reach Ahead & Promotional Activities• Go-Kart• RC boats

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS?

• Presentations in Career Studies classes– Attending classes to discuss (in general terms)

• Dual Credit Teacher meets with those who’ve selected DC courses– What to expect on the first day– Obtain enrolment– Discuss transportation– Student expectations – attendance, student support

services, etc.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE COLLEGE ORIENTATION?

• Complete College Involvement– VPA & Deans– Faculty & Technologists– Student Services – AccessAbility dept’

• SCWI Committee– Executive, Dual Credit Teachers, SCWI Coordinator

• Secondary Schools– Dual Credit Teachers, Guidance Counsellors, students,

and sometimes, parents

THE ORIENTATION SESSION

• Afternoon– 12:30-2:30pm, returned

to school for bus departure

• All DC programs at the same time

• Tables arranged by program, designated seating

• Agenda:– Welcome (VPA)– Introductions (RPT Executive

members & SCWI Coordinator, Deans, faculty, technologists)

– Student expectations (Dean re: conduct, etc.)

– Student Services (AccessAbility)

– Program materials (Project Mgr: texts, lockers, materials, uniforms, etc.)

– Transportation (SCWI Coord)– Tour (College Liaison dept’)

Efficiencies• More effective coordination of transportation• Increased student preparedness• Effective use of everyone’s time• Opportunity for common Q&As

BENEFITS REALIZED

ARE WE ATTAINING OUR GOALS?

• How orientation occurred in the past– Evening session with students & parents. Faculty may (or

may not) attend. – Specific to program– Attendance was very low – forced the DC committee to

reassess the orientation

• Retention rates– Exact data not yet obtained… but withdrawal info indicates

we will have our highest retention rates to date!

• Conversion rates– ~15 % of the dual credit students return to Canadore in PSE

BEST PRACTICES

• What are other (RPTs) school boards & colleges doing to ease transition to college delivered dual credits?

• Discussions/questions