A delegation of Michigan community college representatives
attended the 2012 Winter State Policy meeting of the continuing
Achieving the Dream initiative sponsored by Jobs for the Future. Attendees at the conference heard from
national experts and peers from other colleges about promising practices
and policies that states are exploring or implementing to improve
student outcomes. Conference objectives included sharing
accomplishments, strategies, and lessons across the state network;
providing opportunities for cross-state learning; highlighting new
research and state activity on key policy issues facing participating
states—particularly in the areas of data, innovation, developmental
education redesign, program entry, and K-12 alignment.
A few key ideas emerged from this meeting for me:
1. Performance based scholarships show promise
MDRC is studying the impact of performance based scholarships in several states including New York, Ohio, New Mexico, California, Arizona and Florida. The concept is simple. Offer a targeted group of students a scholarship of $500-$1000 per term on top of their other grant aid. Pay out that scholarship directly to the student AFTER he or she meets established performance benchmarks such as attending consistently, maintaining a 2.0 GPA, re-enrolling for the next term, etc. The study has found significant impacts on the scholarship students' ability to meet performance benchmarks when compared to a control group. Read more about this idea here: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/607/overview.html
2. Accelerating college readiness and credit attainment for high school students
Some colleges and school districts in Texas have been heavily engaged in Early College activities targeting all students, rather than just those who are considered advanced. These partners have aligned high school curricula with college expectations and offered early assessment, advising and academic support to ensure that at-risk students graduate from high school with some college credit and continue on to earn certificates and degrees at a higher rate than their counterparts in other districts. Read more about this idea here: http://hidalgo.jff.org/
3. "Get with the Program" has potential to impact completion rates
Davis Jenkins from CCRC presented research indicating that community college students who attempt and pass three or more courses in a degree program are more likely top complete a credential, including a certificate, associate or bachelor's degree within five years than students who do not attempt at least three program-specific courses. The findings have implications for the way in which colleges design programs, advise students and deliver services such as developmental education. Read more about this idea here: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/Publication.asp?UID=885
What do you think about these ideas?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Upcoming Webinar
Michigan Center for Student Success to Host a Webinar about Serving Low-Skilled Adults: As we indicated in previous updates, we plan to communicate more frequently about the activities of the Center and the good work of the individual colleges. To this end we will hold periodic webinars with national experts and college innovators in Michigan. The first webinar will occur on February 24th. Please join us for an overview of the current policy environment for serving low-skilled adults nationally and in Michigan as well as a look at policies, practices and emerging opportunities across the state. Hear highlights from the recent statewide survey conducted by the Michigan Center for Student Success and get a preview of our upcoming publication as well as our plans for aligning initiatives to increase the success of low-skilled adults. The information about registering for the webinar is below. Please direct any questions about the webinar to Jenny Schanker at jschanker@mcca.org.
Serving Low-Skilled Adults: Challenges, Opportunities and Promising Practices in Michigan
Friday, February 24 - 1:00-2:30 pm (EST)
You can register for the webinar at the following link:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/449356674
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