The Impact of an
Online Navigator PositionKim Maier, Director
Heather Ringberg, Online Navigator Innovative and Alternative Learning Department
The Environment
The Role • Check Log in activity at the beginning of each semester• Grade checks at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks• Outreach to the struggling students, with resources, tips, and contacts • Connect to resources• Webinars• Customer service
REACTIVE PROACTIVE
The Results
33
5 6 5 5
5035
3022
26
18
15
5
3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Beginning 4 weeks 7 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks
# of
Stu
dent
s
Cumalative # of students struggling at each checkpoint
Online Navigator Intervention ResultsFall 2018/2019
1st Check 2nd Check 3rd Check 4th Check 5th Check 6th Check
The Results
108
59
3526
39 31
18
9
6
64
17
6
99
56
31
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Beginning 4 weeks 7 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks 15 weeks
# of
Stu
dent
s
Cumalative # of students struggling at each checkpoint
Online Navigator Intervention ResultsSpring 2017/2018
1st Check 2nd Check 3rd Check 4th Check 5th Check 6th week
Note: Spring Break was at 9 weeks.
The Results
634
293
497
50
675
199
579
33
671
114
558
51
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
# of Online Students # of Students Who Struggled # Passed the Semester # Dropped Rate
Comparisons of results for three consecutive semesters (internal records)
Fall 2017/2018 Spring 2017/2018 Fall 2018/2019
The Results
46%
78%
8%
29%
86%
5%
17%
83%
8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
% of Students Who Struggled % Passed the Semester % Dropped Rate
Comparisons of results by percentages for three consecutive semesters (internal records)
Fall 2017/2018 Spring 2017/2018 Fall 2018/2019
• Directions in the registration confirmation email• Emails to all online students with academic resources• Online orientation revised to include more how to information• Face-to-face orientations• Added more to “Student Resources Folder”• Sent academic planners to the new online students
REACTIVE PROACTIVE
The ResultsSWTC Program Course Completion, Retrieved from Tableau (Jan. 3, 2019)
WTCS Program Course Completion Retrieved from Tableau (Jan. 3, 2019)
How to ImplementCulture
LeadershipGrant
PeoplePositions
Characteristics of an Online Navigator• Not just someone who checks grades• Exemplary customer service• Advocate for online students • Know resources and when it’s appropriate to refer• Case management skills (data collection, case notes, problem solving)• Build partnerships with other departments on campus• Reliable
TimelineJuly 2017 Aug 2017 Dec 2017 Jan 2018 Jan. –May
2018May 2018
Summer 2018
Aug2018
Dec 2018 Jan 2019 March 2019
Hired Online Navigator
Created systems tomake lists of students to be monitored
Learned the LMS and how to use analytics and grades
Began checkingstudent’s progress
Gatheredthe data and created a way to track progress
Email to all online students about resources
-Monthly Webinarsfocused on a different topic relevant to online learners
Coordinated efforts with instructors, Student Academic Alert Team,
Gathered more data
Revised orientation course
Anothersemester of checks begins
Proactive outreach to new students
Comparedsemesters
RevisedResources Folder to include more resources
Made orientation course automatically available for all new students
Sharewith others
Our Take AwayIf we could do it over what would we do differently?
Your Take AwayQuestions?
For More Information
Kim Maier, Director of Innovative and Alternative [email protected]
Heather Ringberg, Online [email protected]