The Survey of Entering Student EngagementTexas Association of Institutional Researchers

Galveston, TX – February 5, 2008Courtney Adkins and Angela Oriano-Darnall

Survey of Entering Student EngagementSurvey of Entering Student Engagement

Courtney Adkins, Ph.D.CCSSE/SENSE Survey Operations CoordinatorCommunity College Survey of Student EngagementThe University of Texas at Austin

Angela Oriano-Darnall, Ph.D.SENSE Project CoordinatorCommunity College Survey of Student EngagementThe University of Texas at Austin

High-Risk Students

• First generation

• Low-income

• Minority

• One or more developmental education needs

• Exhibit higher levels of engagement on CCSSE

Why? What’s going on?

• Compensatory Effect

– High-risk students start the race behind the starting line.

– They have to run further and faster just to stay in the race, much less to finish or win it.

• Timing of CCSSE Survey Administration

– Preponderance of students start in the fall term.

– Administered during the spring term, CCSSE essentially surveys “survivors.”

Why focus on entering students?

• The Entering Student Hemorrhage

Achieving the Dream Round One college data (fall 2002 cohort):

Of 41, 008 students, 14% did not complete ANY college credits during their first academic term.

Why focus on entering students?

• The Entering Student Hemorrhage

Achieving the Dream Round One college data (fall 2002 cohort):

• Part-time students – 17.5%• Male students – 15.9%• Native American students – 15.3%• Black, non-Hispanic students – 13.9%• Hispanic students – 19.0%

Why focus on entering students?• There is hope.

• Emerging evidence suggests…

If students can be helped to earn the equivalent of one academic term (12-15 hours), their chances of achieving their educational goals are greatly increased.

Students who successfully complete a developmental course (C or better) in their first term are from that point forward MORE likely to persist and succeed than other student groups.

How can we help?

• We need a systematic way to understand the earliest student experiences.

• SENSE, the Survey of Entering Student Engagement

• Starting Right, a MetLife Foundation Initiative

SENSE Overview

Instrument Overview

• ~90 Items (30% fewer than CCSSE)

• 7th Grade Reading Level

• Eight Topical Areas

Instrument Overview• Topical Areas:

–Demographic/Student Characteristics–Classroom/Learning–Admissions, Orientation & Registration–Academic Advising & Planning–Financial Aid–Relationships–Academic Assessment & Placement–High School Experience/Preparedness

Sampling

• Sample Created from Fall Course Schedule File (CSF)

• Course Parameters:

–All levels of developmental reading, writing, and math courses (excluding ESL courses)–First college-level English courses–First college-level math courses

SENSE Survey Pilot / Fall 2007

Alvin Community College

Brazosport College

College of the Mainland

El Paso Community College

Houston Community College

Lee College

Lone Star College District (formerly NHMCCD)

Northwest Vista College

Palo Alto College

Richland College

San Antonio College

St. Philip’s College

Wharton County Junior College

• 22 Colleges

• Including 13 Texas Colleges

SENSE Happenings

• SENSE First Look Report / Spring 2008

• Entering Student Success Institute / Spring 2008

• National Field Test with 94 colleges / Fall 2008

• First National Administration / Fall 2009 Registration opens November 2008

Administration & Timelines

• Surveys arrive at colleges first day of fall academic term.

• College’s survey administrator prepares for administration during weeks 1-3.

• SENSE is administered during weeks 4-5.

• Surveys are returned to SENSE/CCSSE offices by mid-October.

• SENSE reports are available early February.

Institutional Reports

• All reports will be provided online.

• Pilot results will be provided via the members-only section of the SENSE website: www.enteringstudent.org

• Field test and all subsequent national administration results will be posted in the public section of the SENSE website.

CCSSE/SENSE Compare & Contrast• CCSSE administered during spring academic term.

SENSE administered during weeks 4-5 of fall academic term.

• CCSSE samples drawn from all credit courses.SENSE samples drawn from courses in which first-time students are most likely to enroll.

• CCSSE assesses overall quality and institution-wide use of effective educational practice, predominantly through the eyes of “experienced” students.SENSE assesses effective practice in areas strongly affecting entering student success.

Survey of Entering Student EngagementSurvey of Entering Student Engagement

Fonda VeraDean, Research and PlanningRichland CollegeDallas Community College District

Georgia SinclairStatistical Research AssociateOffice of Institutional ResearchEl Paso Community College

Survey of Entering Student EngagementSurvey of Entering Student Engagement

“They need to remember that they hold this person's future in their hands — and with one wrong action or one wrong word, you can totally turn them off and they'll turn around, walk out the door and never come back.”

Female studentSENSE focus group

Q & ADiscussion