Title: PRESENTER: Jennifer I' Sarabok jennifer'sarabokbc3'edu INSTITUTION: Butler County Community College
1PRESENTER Jennifer I. Sarabok (jennifer.sarabok_at_b
c3.edu) INSTITUTION Butler County Community
CollegeTITLE Up the Down Staircase A mandatory
Intervention program for Students on
ProbationUSER ID 2302008 NACADA Annual
Conference
2Up The Down Staircase
- A Mandatory Intervention Program for Students on
Probation
Presented by Jennifer Sarabok Academic
Counselor Retention Specialist
3- Embarrassment, disappointment, and desolation
can be felt by a student who has failed to meet
the academic requirements of his or her
institution. Imagine experiencing all of these
emotions and not knowing how to get back on
track. - Christie A. Cruise, University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Cruise, C. A. (2002). Advising Students on
Academic Probation. The Mentor. Retrieved
September 24, 2008, from http//www.psu.edu/dus/me
ntor/021028cc.htm
4About BC3
- 2 year public college
- a main campus with three smaller off-sites
- open enrollment
- 3,800 students
- about 2/3 need some developmental courses
- 48 are first generation
- 76 fall to spring retention
5BC3s Advising By Choice Model Students will
be highly encouraged to seek direction and
guidance from their faculty advisors or the
academic counselors however, many students will
be permitted to register without the advisors
signature. Source BC3 Advising Manual
- Academic Center for Enrichment composed of
- The Dean for Student Services
- 3 full time college-funded Academic Counselors
- 1 full-time Perkins Career and Academic Counselor
- 1 full time Act 101 Counselor
- The Career Services Specialist
- The Tutorial Coordinator
- 1 full-time 1 part-time secretary
6Before the New Probation Initiative What We Used
to Do
- Three academic standings
- Probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Probation based on a confusing matrix of
cumulative GPA and credits attempted - 12-23.5 credits?1.0-1.49 ?limited to 12 credits
- 24-35.5 credits?1.5-1.79 ?limited to 7 credits
- 36 credits?1.8-2.00 ?limited to 7 credits
7Before the New Probation Initiative What We Used
to Do
- Students received letters informing them of their
standings and the credit limits (see letter A) - For pre-registered students, credit limits and
advising were not enforced. - Many pre-registered students on probation did
not - repeat failing classes
- understand financial aid progress
- follow correct pre-requisites
- seek academic counseling
8- Probation students had a 40 fall to fall
retention rate
9The Probation Initiative What We Changed
- The Retention Committee chose this population for
targeted intervention based on low retention
rates. - A Probation Committee was formed to examine new
ways to address this population. - Involved IT to look at the previous outcomes for
this population - Held faculty focus groups and presented to
Presidents Cabinet - Based on data, focus groups, and cabinet input
the policy was officially changed!
10The Probation Initiative What We Changed
- Added an Academic Alert category
- Academic Alert students who have a cumulative
GPA below a 2.0, but semester GPA is above 1.5 - Students on Academic Alert receive letters with
information about contacting their Academic
Advisors and accessing other resources (see
letter B)
11The Probation Initiative What We Changed
- Got rid of the confusing grade and credit limit
matrix for Probation Standing - Probation students who have cumulative GPAs
below 2.0 and semester GPAs below 1.5 - All students on academic probation are limited to
13 credits
12The Probation Initiative What We Changed
- Enforced Follow-up Requirements
- Students on Probation receive letters informing
them of their probationary standings - Letters state the day, time , and location of
each students MANDATORY session (see letter C) - Students who do not attend their sessions and do
not call to request alternate sessions or
individual appointments have their classes purged
13How it works
- A list of pre-registered students who fall into
the probation category is generated by IT and
forwarded to the Retention Specialist the day
after grades are due - Students are randomly assigned to 2-hour
Probation Sessions which are listed in the
colleges database as pass/fail non-credit
courses (PROB 101) - Letters are generated, which merge the session
data with the students information (letter C)
14How it works
- Fall Sessions are held after the winter shut-down
week but before classes begin - Spring sessions are held in the end of May
- Students may call the office to change times or
locations - For special circumstances, students can be seen
individually
Fall 2006 5 sessions (split among three
counselors) Number of students ranged from 6 to
10 per session
15How it works
- Students who do not attend sessions are contacted
by the counselors facilitating their sessions - If students do not follow-up, they are recorded
as failing the non-credit class - Student who have Fs for this class have their
schedules purged by the registrar two days
before classes start - Purged students can re-do their schedules but
must see counselors
The program has been in place for 4 semesters and
only 3 students have been purged (all
re-scheduled)
16What we do in the sessions
- 0-15 minutes
- intro explanation of academic standing
- 15-30 minutes
- Study skills checklist
- 30-45 minutes
- Tips for success and campus resources
- 45-60 minutes
- motivation/goal setting
- 60-75 minutes
- Financial aid progress (with financial aid staff)
- 75-120 minutes
- Schedule adjustment w/ counselors
17Folder given to students includes
Each students semester schedule and transcripts
are included in his or her individual folder
- Academic Standing Policy from the College Catalog
- Study Skills Checklist
- Contract for Success
- Goal Setting Sheet
- Drop/add form
- Student Services Directory
18Follow Up
- Students progress is monitored by the counselors
who facilitated their sessions - Counselors check students progress after the
Early Alert Report (4 weeks) and after Midterm
Grades - Students MUST see a counselor or an advisor to
change schedules and to register for the
subsequent semester
19Drawbacks of the Program
- Labor Intensive
- More work for counselors at a busy time
- Increases administrative/clerical workload with
more phone calls, mailings, creation of folders,
management of sessions, etc. - Difficulties with communication of policy and
enforcement - Selling the purge to administration
20Outcome!!!Fall 2005 Probation Group (n 41)
BEFORE PROBATION SESSIONS
- Fall 2005 GPA 1.139
- Spring 2006 GPA 1.397
- Fall 2006 GPA 1.345 (n17, 41)
- Spring 2007 GPA 1.681 (n14, 34)
- Cumulative (after Sum 2008) 1.676
21Outcome!!! Fall 2006 Probation Group (n37)
AFTER PROBATION SESSIONS
- Fall 2006 1.164
- Spring 2007 1.496
- Fall 2007 2.325 (n23, 62)
- Spring 2007 2.290 (n24, 65)
- Cumulative (after Sum 2008) 1.717
22Conclusions
- The first semester after the intervention was NOT
significantly better. - HOWEVER
- There seems to be a delayed or residual effect
that appears to have significantly improved GPAs
in subsequent semesters.
23Future Considerations
- Look at graduation and transfer rates
- Examine why overall GPA does not seem to be
higher - Require a 1-credit study skills class
- Examine rates of resource use (e.g. Tutoring,
advising, etc. ) after intervention - Involve peer mentors or tutors in the
intervention process