|
Background
Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico ’s capital city embraces the diversity of Native American, Mexican and Hispanic cultures.
For many of its Hispanic and Native American students, English is a second language. Nearly two-thirds of entering students need developmental coursework, and completion of these courses is related directly to persistence. Also, young male students tend to re-enroll from semester-to-semester at lower rates than female students. Young, Hispanic males who attend college part-time have the lowest persistence rates at 26 percent. Overall only 7 percent of students graduate within three years of entering Santa Fe Community College.
Achieving the Dream Goals
Data analysis performed during the planning grant established a clear link between improving retention (especially in remedial courses during the first year of enrollment) and students’ graduation rates. So, college leaders want to
- Raise course completion rates in gateway English and mathematics courses;
- Improve persistence rates;
- Increase graduation rates.
Santa Fe Community College has plans to strengthen students’ first-year academic experiences. One approach will tailor orientation sessions to meet the needs of sub-groups of new students such as young Hispanic males, older returning students, and students for whom English is a second language. A Student Educational Success Management System will help advisors monitor student progress and contact students if they encounter academic or personal difficulties. Other enhancements are planned for advisement services, too. More academic support services will be offered and curriculum changes will be implemented in developmental and gateway courses.
Return to list of colleges
|