Background

Eastern Gateway Community College, formerly Jefferson Community College, in Steubenville, Ohio, serves residents of Jefferson, Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties. The Eastern Ohio counties are on the fringe of the Appalachian Mountains and the buckle of the Rust Belt, the former steel-producing region of the Midwest. In Ohio, the Rust Belt runs between the Ohio River—which forms the eastern boundary of Jefferson County—to Lake Erie, 100 miles to the north. The service district's population decreased and its per capita income dropped with the downsizing of steel mills and related industries.

Most of Eastern Gateway's students are white; fewer than 10 percent are minorities. Seventy-six percent of the college’s students receive financial aid. Sixty-nine percent of Eastern Gateway's full-time students have taken at least one remedial course.

Achieving the Dream Interventions

First-Year Experience

Eastern Gateway now mandates CSS106 (Orientation to College) for all first-time, full-time students. Professional development for faculty and the use of second-year students for tutoring and mentoring have improved the effectiveness of the course. Eastern Gateway is expanding the course offerings, including first-time, part-time students, and customizing the course content to specific majors.

Results

Course completion rates and retention both improved for first-year students with the introduction of the orientation course.

Percentage of First-Year Students Completing 30 hours by the end of their first year

	2004-2005	2005-2006
Male first-years	3%	8%
Female first-years	6%	10%
Low-income first-years	3%	7%

Percentage of New Full-Time Students Retained

Fall 04 to Fall 05	48%
Fall 05 to Fall 06	48%
Fall 06 to Fall 07	50%
Fall 07 to Fall 08	56%

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