Barrier

CCCApply is a long and arduous application.

Solution(s)

• Provide support staff: Clearly identify staff who are responsible for reaching out to students who have not yet enrolled. Provide the student with their phone, email, and text contact information.

Barrier

The enrollment process has many steps and is complex.

Solution(s)

• Provide support staff: Clearly identify one success coach or staff member who acts as enrollment ambassadors helping them through the process and engaging them before the first class. Clearly communicate: Notify students about the Welcome and Connect Center and other services that can be used to assist them in the enrollment process.

Barrier

Institutional constructs require students to identify a major at the point of entry, but they are understandably undecided.

Solution(s)

• Guided Pathways: Create broad academic and career interest areas to assist students in dealing with the overwhelming choices of majors and programs available, and to begin exploring the various disciplines and careers available. The college should launch new Guided Pathways web pages which are more intuitive and inform students of where to begin and find resources. It also includes launching the program mapper, which details more information on courses and majors.
• Universal major and career exploration: The college lacks a universal system for major and career exploration for undecided/unsure students. Create an intentional and effective system where all undecided/unsure students explore majors and careers. This should include a pre-college offering to guide students through an initial selection of a career interest area, and a more in-depth exploration during the first year.
• Mentors: Create a coordinated academic and career mentor program at the peer and/or professional levels.
• Planned pathways: Develop Dual Enrollment systems that intentionally develop and map pathways between high schools and the college.
• Coordinated and best practices in communication: Utilize best practices in communicating to students, such as those utilized by Sierra College, which standardize methods and presentation of information.

Barrier

The institution has not made clear to students how to connect with college services for onboarding and next steps.

Solution(s)

• First year experience: Create a coordinated and strategic approach to allowing students to pick a first-year experience that will most optimally orient them to success and create multiple options for a first-year experience such that all students can have the experience that is right for them. FYEs often include organizing the enrollment/onboarding experience and training students to use the technology tools of the institution; building a “home room” community; and addressing the hidden curriculum. Customize the format for ESL, noncredit, and older students.
• All-site, multi-modal, and diversely timed services: Continually study student needs for services to determine the place/time/modes various student groups need them. Consider innovative models such as evening generalists or consolidated service centers to meet nonstandard business hour needs.
• Coordinated and best practices in communication: Utilize best practices in communicating to students, such as those utilized by Sierra College, which standardize methods and presentation of information.

Barrier

Lack of a universally welcoming and inclusive culture, with characteristics of resistance to change and accountability around IDEAA practices, which prevents institutional transformation.

Solution(s)

• Create shared beliefs and practices: Build a campus culture that deliberately and systematically welcomes, guides, and engages students, particularly first-generation students and those disproportionately impacted. Update policies and practices to respond directly to the needs and identities of our students and communities.
• Caring Campus: Continue to implement the Caring Campus initiative and practices that create care and belonging for students, adding to it behaviors and attitudes that also address IDEAA concerns.
• Normalize embedded and culturally affirming support: Intentionally foster a culture, both inside the classroom and without, where the responsibility for delivering help and support is on the institution and not the student.
• Strive for best practices: Create a college culture that cherishes and promotes retention and practices enacting welcoming, guiding, and engaging students, including warm handoffs and just-in-time interventions.

Barrier

The institution cannot give students clear and equitable pathways through English and math that are connected to their academic and career goals.

Solution(s)

• Clear and equitable pathways through English and math: Continue to evolve and refine approaches and curriculum to create clearer and more equitable pathways, with a focus on closing equity gaps and supporting disproportionately impacted students.
• Align pathways with goals: Assure that students understand which math/English options support their academic and career goals, including the role of statistics vs. calculus and alignment to meta-majors.
• Co-requisite and support models: Continue to develop co-requisite and other support models, including labs and embedded tutoring, to assist students in completing transfer-level math and English within their first year.

Barrier

Students struggle to navigate the course sequences and requirements for their programs and often take unintended units.

Solution(s)

• Program mapping: Continue development of program maps and make them widely accessible so students can take the right courses in the right order.
• Education planning: Increase and improve education planning so students have a clear plan early and update it regularly, including clear next-step guidance.