Housatonic Receives Second Year Achieving the
Dream Grant
HCC is one of three community colleges in Connecticut that has received the second year $100,000 implementation grant to join 58 community colleges nation-wide as they work to implement the priorities determined in the academic year 2005-2006. The initiatives were developed as a direct result student data, of Community Conversations, and Student Focus groups conducted in the winter of 2006.
Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count is funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education, KnowledgeWorks Foundation and The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.
National press has emphasized the issue of success for all college students, including those attending community colleges. This problem is prevalent throughout the country, regardless of background, ethnic or racial demographics. Too many students leave college before they earn a diploma or certificate. Multiple reasons are cited for these drop-out rates and the widening gap for those enrolled students who do not achieve success and graduate. Achieving the Dream hopes to determine what strategies will institute the changes that will enhance student learning and their achievement of success.
For the next four years, HCC has established three priorities.
- More alignment with area high schools in order to close the gap between high school preparation and college expectations. To do this, the College is expanding admission to the Middle College Pilot Program and is continuing the high school Bridges Program. In 2007-08, four area high schools are involved; three in Bridgeport and one in Stratford. The Bridges program provides four workshops developed with input from each high school to help prepare students for college. The workshops include Orientation to College, Financial Aid, Career Planning, and College Placement Test Preparation. The workshops are held either at the high school or at Housatonic. Parents are encouraged to attend. In coming years, the Bridges Program will expand to four additional high schools in our service area.
- Increase success in math courses. To do this, certain math courses have been reconstructed into modules which allow students to proceed and advance as they are ready for next level work. The program allows students to work on the computer at their own pace. An instructor and tutor are in the classroom to help if needed and students can access the program at home to continue work. The Open Entry/Open Exit format includes MAT E 075 Prealgebra and MAT E095, Elementary Algebra. These OE/OE courses have been very successful.
- Improve the retention of students semester to semester and persistence fall to fall. To do this a Mentoring Program has been established. Each first-time student who desires to participate is assigned to a faculty-staff member/mentor who helps the student develop career goals, directs the student to tutoring assistance if needed, and monitors student progress. The Mentoring Program will evolve into peer mentoring.
For further information, contact President Anita Gliniecki, HCC Achieving the Dream coordinator, 332-5224, agliniecki@hcc.commnet.edu.