Enrollment Management Project Focus Groups and Student Success

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Enrollment Management Project Focus Groups and
Student Success

• Miami-Dade Community College
• Professional Development Day
• March 6, 2003
• Kendall Campus

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Media Services North Campus Feb 2001
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What is a Focus Group?

• Definition A structured, interactive group
  interview
• Function To solicit in depth responses to a
  
• group of questions
• Composition 8-15 participants, 1-2 facilitators,
• and a scribe
• Duration 1-1/2 to 2 hours

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Background
Rationale To solicit opinions, suggestions,
and information regarding factors affecting
retention, recruitment and student
success Steps Identify target
group Develop questions Recruit
participants Conduct focus groups and analyze
results Review results with appropriate areas
Develop strategies to address issues
identified
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Reactions from Focus Group Participants

• Extremely positive
• Honored to be asked
• Heightened sense of ownership
• Comfortable, secure atmosphere
• Optimistic about change

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Target Groups

• M-DCC Students
• College preparatory students
• EAP(ESL) students
• Honors College students
• Students in HSC0001- Introduction to Health Care
• International students
• Transfer Students FIU
• With AA degree
• Without AA degree
• High School Seniors

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College Preparatory Mathematics students said
Students should
1) Attend class regularly
2) Form study groups 3) Be
focused 4) Change negative
attitude
5) Talk to
instructor about difficulties
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College Preparatory Mathematics students said
Faculty should
1) Answer even basic questions patiently 2)
Give practice tests mirror test format
3) Explain
clearly, step by step
4) Change perceived attitude be
positive, motivate

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College Preparatory Mathematics students said
The College should
1) Have smaller classes 2)
Increase number, quality of tutors/lab personnel

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College Preparatory English students said
Students should

• 1) Be more organized
• 2) Study every day
• 3) Focus and set goals
  
• 4) Prioritize, manage time well

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College Preparatory English students said
Faculty should

• 1) Be more energetic and interesting
• 2) Be more human, sensitive
• (do not label questions as stupid)
• 3) Be available

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College Preparatory Reading students said
Students should

• 1) Spend more time studying
• 2) Do assignments promptly
• 3) Focus and set goals

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College Preparatory Reading students said
Faculty should

• 1) Slow down
• 2) Make sure students understand
• 3) Be positive, make students feel
  comfortable
• 4) Vary teaching strategies

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College Preparatory Reading students said
The College should

• 1) Encourage better customer service
• 2) Lower the cost of books/ higher
  resale

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EAP (ESL) students said
Faculty should

• 1) Teach in English only
• 2) Align classes and labs

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EAP (ESL) students said
The College should

• 1) Improve registration too time
  consuming
• 2) Provide orientation about programs,
  majors, financial aid

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Transfer students said
Students should
1) Take responsibility for themselves 2) Be
self-sufficient 3) Connect with other students,
work together
4) Know requirements, complete
prerequisites
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Transfer students said
The College should
1) Provide better orientation for transferring
students 2) Emphasize value and importance of
completing AA before transferring
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Honors College students said
Reasons for enrolling
1) Scholarship 2) Better transfer
opportunities 3) Challenging, smaller classes

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Honors College students said
The College should
1) Adjust credit load and GPA requirements 2)
Offer Honors College mathematics and
science 3) Improve the Colloquium

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Medical Center Campus students said
Students should

• Be disciplined and not procrastinate
• 2) Try not to work - get loans, financial
  assistance
• 3) Manage stress

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Medical Center Campus students said
Faculty should

• Lecture less
• 2) Have one instructor per class no team
  teaching
• 3) Align text, lecture, tests be consistent

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Medical Center Campus students said
The College should

• 1) Allow financial aid for students in the
• Accelerated Option
• 2) Create better faculty evaluations and
  include written comments
• 3) Provide professional counseling

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HSC0001 students said
Problems hindering success

• Lack of financial support, must work
• Poor skills (reading, writing, math)
• 3) Stress (professional and personal)

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HSC0001 students said
Suggested College solutions

• Increase financial aid, extend payment
  deadlines
• Offer more individual tutoring, offer speed
  reading
• 3) Provide professional counseling

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International students said
Reasons for selecting M-DCC

• 1) Cost
• 2) Friends already attending
• 3) Visited M-DCC on vacation

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International students said
What the College can do to help international
students

• Create an SLS course tailored for them
• Allow students to take fewer than 12 credits
• many need to work
• Designate an area as an international student
  lounge
• 4) Provide loans

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High school students said
Miami-Dade means

• Attend for two years and then transfer
• Really the 13th grade
• 3) Many students drop out

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High school students said
Students would not consider M-DCC because

• Think parents are against community colleges
• More like a technical school
• Lack information about M-DCC

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High school students also said
M-DCC can improve its reputation by

• Sending information to students homes, providing
  a return portion for specific information
• Arranging classroom visitations for high school
  students to see the College, classes and faculty

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Actions Based on the ResultsMath Departments

• Participated in Roundtable Discussions
• Held Retreat
• Revising CP mathematics curricula
• Consolidation of skills taught core skills
  taught with more depth
• Modifying instructional delivery

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Actions Based on the ResultsMath Departments
(cont)

• Establishing resource center for faculty
• Increased training for adjunct faculty
• Increased support outside class align lab
  class
• Offer math anxiety workshops

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Actions Based on the ResultsTransfer Practices

• Plan and conduct orientation for students
  preparing to transfer
• Collaborate with FIU to address problems students
  face
• Advertise benefits of completing degree before
  transferring
• Identify factors which contribute to success once
  students transfer

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Actions Based on the ResultsHonors College

• Honors courses to be offered in math and science
• Students will participate in planning colloquium

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Future Focus Group Projects

• Transfer students (UM, UF, FSU)
• Vocational students
• High school seniors college ready
• Web site focus groups

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