Sinclair 101
Developing and Implementing a Student Success Course at
Sinclair Community College
Sue MerrellJudy KronenbergerInnovations 2007
The Game PlanThe Game Plan
• Foundations activity• History and benchmarking• New course
– Outcomes– Assessments– Assignments
• Findings• Next steps
Foundations ExerciseFoundations Exercise
• Adaptation of the Foundational Dimensions (Two Year College version), Policy Center of the First Year of College
• Used at the first advisory committee meeting to inform priorities
Foundations Exercise (cont)Foundations Exercise (cont)
• 9 Statements -- Framed as “Does My College .... ?
• First line: Rate the statement according to what you feel is the level of importance (least important to most important)
• Second line: Is this an area of weakness (opportunity) or strength for your college?
Foundations ExerciseFoundations Exercise
• Sinclair’s results to follow……
What not to Include?What not to Include?
• Connections to Helping Students Learn and Achieving the Dream
• Centerpiece for college-wide general education and assessment
• Extraordinary support• Other historical attempts• Political snags• Behind-the-scenes consensus building
History of Student Success Course at Sinclair
History of Student Success Course at Sinclair
• In 2003, a committee was formed to look at 20 first year experience courses:– 5 existing courses at Sinclair– 15 courses at other institutions
History of Student Success Course at Sinclair
History of Student Success Course at Sinclair
• Rhoades State Community College
• Ohio State University• Miami University,
Middletown• Valencia Community
College• Paradise Valley
Community College• Maricopa Community
College
• Central Piedmont Community College
• Wright State University• Johnson County
Community College• Miami-Dade
Community College• Moraine Valley
Community College• LaGuardia Community
College
History of Student Success Course at Sinclair
History of Student Success Course at Sinclair
Broad areas to include in “new” Sinclair student success course based on best practice and research:
College Resource SkillsInterpersonal SkillsLearning/ Study SkillsGeneral Education Outcome SkillsLife Management Skills
Current Course: SCC 101 Current Course: SCC 101
• 2 credit hours• No prerequisites• General Education Learning
Outcomes focus • Offered one or two days a week• Professional development required for
all faculty who teach the course• Pilot: Winter 2006
SCC 101 Course Learning Outcomes
SCC 101 Course Learning Outcomes
• Identify and use appropriate college resources and student activities to promote goal attainment
• Examine interpersonal issues related to the diversity of peoples, cultures, and ideas
• Identify and apply individual learning styles and personality type to adapt to various learning situations
SCC 101 Course Learning Outcomes
SCC 101 Course Learning Outcomes
• Identify and define the relationship between general education outcomes and specific academic and career goals
• Plan holistically to achieve academic, personal, and career goals.
SCC 101 Assessment Tools: CSFISCC 101 Assessment Tools: CSFI
• College Success Factors Index– Packaged with textbook– http://www.csfi-wadsworth.com– Students rate 80 items, strongly agree to
strongly disagree– Rates students on characteristics that
have been shown to correlate with college success
SCC 101 Assessment Tools: CSFISCC 101 Assessment Tools: CSFI
• College Success Factors Index– Responsibility vs. Control– Competition– Task Precision– Expectations– Wellness– Time Management– College Involvement– Family Involvement
SCC 101 Assessment Tools: MBTISCC 101 Assessment Tools: MBTI
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator– Personality Inventory– Taken online– Students purchase the card/password
information in the bookstore– Certified administrator meets with class
to discuss results related to learning
SCC 101 Assessment Tools: Discover
SCC 101 Assessment Tools: Discover
• Discover Career Planning Program– http://www.act.org/discover/– 3 categories:
• Interests• Abilities• Values
Based on student ratings in each category, placed into a “world of work” map—6 occupational clusters
SCC 101 Common AssignmentsSCC 101 Common Assignments
• Interview Assignment:– Encourages student engagement with
institution and faculty• Students choose faculty member to interview• Must contact that faculty member, arrange
for interview• During interview, ask questions related to
issues discussed in class
SCC 101 Common AssignmentsSCC 101 Common Assignments
• Know Your College Assignment:– Students research an assigned area of
the college (tutorial center, academic advising, etc.)
– Prepare a brochure– Present information
to the class
SCC 101 Common AssignmentsSCC 101 Common Assignments
• Midterm Self Assessment:– Students asked to rate their current
achievement in these areas for this AND other classes:
• Written Communication• Oral Communication• Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving• Information Literacy• Computer Literacy• Values/ Citizenship/Community
SCC 101 Common AssignmentsSCC 101 Common Assignments
• Final Self Assessment:– Written report (6 to 10 pages)– Students asked to look at their
performance holistically (related to general education outcomes)
– Select 3 outcomes that need the most growth
– For each area discussed, include an “Action Plan”
How are “we” doing? How are “we” doing?
• Preliminary Data regarding “success” looks promising (success based on retention):– Winter 2006 cohort:
• Win 06 to Spring 06 retention 76.7% (college 55.9%)
• Win 06 to Fall 06 retention 70.5% (college 37%)
– Spring 2006 Cohort:• Sp 06 to Fall 06 retention 70%
Foundations Exercise RevisitedFoundations Exercise Revisited
• Scale 1 (least important) to 7 (most important)
• Question #1:– Average of “5” on first scale– Average of “4”
Foundations Exercise RevisitedFoundations Exercise Revisited
• Question #2:– Average of “6” on first scale– Average of “2.7”
• Question #3:– Average of “5.8” on first scale– Average of “2.5”
• Question #4:– Average of “6”– Average of “2.1”
Foundations Exercise RevisitedFoundations Exercise Revisited
• Question #5:– Average of “6.2” on first scale– Average of “3.8”
• Question #6:– Average of “4” on first scale– Average of “2.9”
• Question #7:– Average of “5.8”– Average of “4.3”
Foundations Exercise RevisitedFoundations Exercise Revisited
• Question #8:– Average of “3.8” on first scale– Average of “2.0”
What’s Next?What’s Next?
• Continue collecting student data related to success (retention, possibly GPA)
• Increase instructor pool through professional development
What’s NextWhat’s Next
• Support student success through not only this course, but other student success initiatives as well
• “Just say YES to student success!”
SCC 101SCC 101
Questions?