Completion toolkit
Math Pathways
Math Pathway Recommendations by Program of Study or Major
Beyond Financial Aid
Beyond Financial Aid is a toolkit designed to help two- and four-year institutions close attainment gaps for low-income students.
Advising
Many students need help to identify an appropriate degree program and remain on track to complete their post-secondary credential. Proactive advising provide meaningful, credible, timely support to students on selecting a program that will meet a student’s academic and career goals and provide support when they become off track in their program. The role of advising with relation to student success cannot be underemphasized.
As a primary point of contact for students on campuses, academic advisors are responsible for developing lasting relationships with students to help them navigate college and graduate. Professional advisors, faculty, and even other students serve as advisors at USG institutions, working to provide accurate, appropriate, and timely information to students as they progress through programs of study. In recent years, changing needs among students and new technology have influenced the role of advisors and highlighted a need for additional skills within the profession.
Shortening Time to Degree
Among the goals of Complete College Georgia is shortening the time to degree through programs that allow students to earn college credit while still in high school and by awarding credit for prior learning that is verified by appropriate assessment.
15-to-Finish
15 to Finish is a Complete College Georgia initiative that emphasizes the fact that students need to take 15 (or more) credits per semester to finish degrees “on time.” “On time” means associate degrees are completed in two years and bachelor’s degrees are completed in four years.
Degree completion is important because students with bachelor’s degrees can expect to earn 84% more over a lifetime than students without bachelor’s degrees. Students with “some college, no degree” do not enjoy this advantage and may have incurred substantial educational debt with little or no increased earning power.
Associate Degree You Deserve
Within the USG, it is common for students to transfer out of associate degree institutions prior to completing the requirements for the degree. In some cases, students will be successful in earning bachelor's degrees.
Go Back, Move Ahead
"Go Back. Move Ahead" is a part of Governor Nathan Deal's Complete College Georgia initiative, which launched in 2011.
Guided Pathways to Success
Guided Pathways to Success is an initiative of Complete College America to ensure that students receive guidance to complete degree programs efficiently, without taking excessive courses that will not count toward degrees.
Transforming Remediation
Nationally, and in Georgia, relatively few students who begin college requiring remediation ever complete their degrees.
As part of Complete College Georgia, Georgia aims to change these statistics so that more students who enter in Learning Support are able to complete degrees. Across the nation and within the state of Georgia, dozens of pilot projects show that by transforming the way that we do remediation, we can dramatically increase success rates in collegiate gateway courses and beyond, without compromising the integrity of the content.
Associate Degree Benefits
Having An Associate Degree . . .
Shows the world that you can FINISH what you started.
Completing an associate degree, even on the way to your bachelor’s, makes a strong statement about your ability to meet expectations and stay focused on your goals. By satisfying the course requirements for an associate degree, you send a signal to everyone—including yourself—that you are moving on and up with your educational goals
Looks GREAT on your resume.
Whether you are just entering the workforce or have a storied career behind you, having an associate degree on your resume can make a difference to employers. An associate degree provides you with a verified credential that assures firms looking for workers that you have the kinds of teamwork, reasoning and analytic skills needed in the workplace.
Increases your EARNING POWER if you are working while earning your bachelor’s degree.
An associate degree can translate in to real earnings power, even as you work toward a bachelor’s degree. Associate degree holders earn, on average, almost $2,550 more a year than an individual with some college, but no degree. Of equal importance, individuals with an associate’s degree are 25 percent less likely to be unemployed as someone with some college, no degree.
Makes you ELIGIBLE to apply for jobs requiring a minimum of an associate degree.
An associate degree can provide you with an opportunity to realize your employment goals. Job opportunities for associate degree holders are growing, with a recent survey indicating a 30 percent growth in opportunities for associate degree holders in just one year.
Makes you LESS LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED, even in tough economic times.
Individuals with an associate’s degree are 25 percent less likely to be unemployed as someone with some college, no degree. Individuals with associate degrees also experience shorter periods or unemployment than individuals who have some college, but no degree.
Is a requirement for PROMOTION in some jobs.
Moving ahead in the workplace often requires demonstrating new skills and abilities. Employers view an associate degree as an indicator of readiness to take on new responsibilities. An associate degree may be required for advancement in some workplaces as well.
May increase the odds that you will COMPLETE YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE.
Research indicates that individuals who finish their associates degree are more likely to finish their bachelor’s degree than individuals transferring to a 4-year institution and do not earn their degree.
