Las Vias: Creating Pathways to Graduation

Rowan College of South Jersey - Cumberland campus (previously Cumberland County College) implemented the Las Vias - Pathways to Graduation program, with required Touch Points to guide students to credential completion over the past 5 years. Graduation rates have increased 19% for Hispanic students, 9% for African American students and 13% for all students. Vías hacia la Graduación, a Title V grant funded program established Academic Pathways, a team of bilingual Student Development Advisors, and an Early Alert system to raise Flags, report Attendance, and Kudos. Hispanic/ Latino and African American students, First Generation and Pell recipients demonstrated progress toward graduation. The Las Vias program implemented the Take the Lead Summer Bridge and NASPA-Certified Peer Mentor programs providing additional student engagement. Cumberland\u27s completion and transfer rates have been among the highest in the region. Attendees will learn to produce data informed increased student success employing an interactive audience approach

Engaging community college students at the front door: Impact of career cluster New Student Orientations

The purpose of this study was to examine change at a community college and to develop and implement a pilot program of career-aligned New Student Orientations (NSOs). Attention was placed on the early engagement of students as they first met faculty, other students, selected classes and began to shape their future at the institution. The purpose was also to observe the extent to which my leadership created change in shaping new students’ early engagement with the institution. Following a review of the literature, the researcher gained insight into institutional culture and change processes, as well as the ways in which students are engaged during early encounters with the institution. Using a participatory action-research methodology, this study employed mixed-method data collection, applying both qualitative and quantitative methods. Action research cycles included two new-student surveys, which provided insight into student engagement early in the college experience. Faculty and student interviews, as well as coded observations, supported survey data and revealed that students who participated in career-cluster New Student Orientations (NSOs) received career information and were connected with a representative from their career area and the institution to a greater degree than students who participated in general NSOs. Career-cluster NSO participants also demonstrated a greater degree of within-year persistence than general participants. An understanding of barriers experienced by incoming students was also gained. Cycles afforded an opportunity for the researcher to reflect on her role, how she interacted with others, and observed Enrollment, Academic, and Student Services team transform around the New Student Orientations. The researcher became interested in the opportunities and challenges that presented themselves through the process of leading change as a peer and as a colleague. The interplay and connections between organizational culture and change were recognized using Kotter’s (1996) eight phases to lead change. Throughout the cycles, trusting relationships were developed by offering opportunities to take leadership, try new ideas, utilize new space, stabilize enrollment, and develop an inclusive team to carry change forward

Career Pathways For First-Generation Students And Parents - Silver Linings In A Pandemic

This presentation will emphasize projects which insured a successful transition during the pandemic to online services which included laptop and Hot Spot loan programs for low income students. RCSJ Cumberland received a Title V Las Vias grant in 2015, a Title III STEM Pathways grant in 2016 and a NSF Adelante Juntos grant in 2020. These programs enhanced Latinx student success to demonstrate increased Retention and Persistence, and college completion at remarkable rates. Based on the work of these programs, the institution was able to double its Latinx graduation rate within the past 5 years. Their work focuses on developing student persistence, resilience, and leadership for success. These programs collect and share rich data to inform decision making at the institution, and at with sister institutions at conferences. During this pandemic year the college has graduated Latinx students at the highest rates, and students have benefited from the strong, focused and strategic support provided by the Adelante Juntos, Title V Las Vias, and HSI STEM Pathways projects. In this presentation, project leaders will present key innovative interventions which have had the greatest impact on student success including: The Advising Syllabus, Summer Bridge Program, the Peer Mentor program, the Succeeding in College Math series, the use of Social Media to sustain, and enhance student engagement during a pandemic, the World Classroom, the successful transition to online services, online forms, Starfish Success Centers, Instagram Live, Las Vias Advisors Live and other Silver Lining Outcomes