Darton State College-[node:field-date:custom:Y]--15-to-Finish

High-impact Strategy:

Strategy 2: Fifteen to Finish Campaign

Related Goal

Goal 2:  Increase the number of degrees that are earned “on time” (associate degrees in 2 years, bachelor’s degrees in 4 years) also contributes to Goals 1 & 6.

Summary of Activities

Strategy: As a part of the new student orientation experience, incoming students hear numerous presentations from faculty, staff, and administrators about making the transition to college.  Incoming students spend one-on-one time with advisors in their designated major who assist with course selection, clarification of institutional requirements, and answer specific questions pertaining to programs of study.  The Fifteen to Finish initiative is a focal point of the new student orientation experience, particularly as it relates to the time spent with the academic advisors and during registration.

DSC targeted First-Time, Full-Time freshmen participating in New Student Orientation as an audience for the Fifteen to Finish campaign, and is a strategy that relates specifically to increasing the number of degrees earned “on time”.  A Fifteen-to-Finish presentation has been part of each new student orientation since fall of 2014.  This presentation has captured over 870 new college students and their parents with the benefits of Fifteen to Finish. Also, an additional 122 online students were presented information about the benefits during the online orientations.

Baseline Status

Percent of First Time, Full Time students enrolling in 15 or more credit hours.  The Fifteen-to Finish campaign was launched on the DSC campus for all students attending new student orientation in fall 2014, so fall 2013 cohort serves as baseline (32%)

Percent of First Time, Full Time students completing 15 or more credit hours in first semester, Fall 2013 baseline.

Interim Measures of Progress

Data results for 2010-2015 are presented below indicating trends for First Time, Full Time freshman taking 15 credit hours or more.

Data results for 2010-1015 are presented below indicating the trends for percent of First Time, Full Time freshman earning 15 or more credit hours in first term.

Measures of Success

• Percent of First Time, Full Time students registering for 15 or more credit hours with a target of increasing the percentage each year by 3%.
• Percent of First Time, Full Time students earning 15 or more credit hours in first term with a target of increasing 1% per year.
• Percent of First Time, Full Time students graduating on time with a target of improving by 1% each year.

Lessons Learned

• There is a need to identify additional strategies outside of the new student orientation to deliver the importance of the Fifteen-to-Finish campaign.  This will be particularly important to encourage enrollment in 15 or more credit hours beyond just the first term for First Time, Full Time students.  This will be necessary to ultimately shorten time to degree and facilitate degree completion “on-time”.
• There are a significant number of students that have not participated in the new student orientation programs.  These students, primarily part time or non-traditional students at DSC, need to be delivered the information regarding philosophy and benefits of Fifteen to Finish.
• The college must continue to emphasize to students and parents the academic and financial benefits of on-time college completion through the Fifteen-to-Finish Campaign.