What is the Student Success Plan (SSP)?

1. What is the Student Success Plan (SSP)? The SSP is a software system and process for student success, designed to increase the persistence, success, and graduation rates of targeted students. Through holistic counseling, web-based support systems, and intervention techniques, students who are at risk of failing in college are identified, supported and monitored. Data is collected and analyzed to make decisions about future efforts. Russ Little - Sinclair Community College

2. Reasons We Created SSP • Improve at-risk student retention & success • Increase graduation rate of at-risk students • Implement a systematic, comprehensive counseling and intervention process • Implement an integrated Early Alert intervention process • Develop and maintain a comprehensive resource of community and college referral sources for addressing challenges to student success and retention. • Develop a web-based counseling record (case) management system • Remove silos between offices that support students • Create self help tools to connect students to resources that help them overcome challenges to their success

3. SSP Software System SSP Case Management Software • Journal and create Action Plans, review student records • Historical view of all interactions with student • Specific tools; Counseling, Disability, Displaced Worker …etc Early Alert • Faculty & Staff send early alerts from a roster or search tool • SSP software notifies and routes alert to Support Staff • Feed back loop to let Faculty or Staff know the outcome Student Interface • Student intake form to collect student data • Self Help Guides to assist student in finding available resources • Action Plan / Task List – Monitor student progress • Connection to Coach – Student contact point to advocate Student Information System (SIS) Integration • Connects your student data to SSP • Builds rosters for faculty members automatically for Early Alert

4. Example Sinclair SSP Outcomes • Quarter to Quarter SSP Retention (Fall 09 to Winter 10) • Transitioned SSP students (students who have completed the SSP process) had a 23% higher rate of retention compared to students who qualified for the program but did not participate and a 21% higher rate of retention than students not designated “at risk”. • Fall to Fall SSP Retention (Fall 08 to Fall 09) • Transitioned SSP students (students who have completed the SSP process) had a 51% higher rate of retention compared to students who qualified for the program but did not participate and a 30% higher rate of retention than students not designated “at risk”. • Next Quarter Retention Rate of Minorities • Minority Transitioned SSP students had an 18% higher rate of retention compared to minority students not designated “at risk”. • First Term Grade Point Average • Transitioned SSP students had an average grade point average of 3.06 compared to 1.65 for students who qualified for the program but did not participate and 2.42 for students not designated “at risk”. Transitioned SSP = students who have completed their SSP process and have met the transition criteria (Challenge issues resolved such as childcare and transportation, decided on a major, GPA 2.0 or higher, passed 1st quarter Academic Foundation classes )

5. SSP Student Groups at Sinclair • Originally designed to manage “At-Risk” student populations, SSP has been expanded to provide Case Management to many more student groups: • Counseling Services • Disability Services • High School Students • Distance Learning • Specific Campus Locations • Displaced Workers • And many more…..

6. SSP Awards & Adoption • 2004 Educause Excellence in Information Technology Solutions Award • 2005 Macromedia Higher Education Innovation Award • 2005 National Council for Student Development Exemplary Practice Award • 2005 NCSD and League for Innovation Terry O’Banion Shared Journey First Place Award • 2006 MetLife Best Practice College Award • 2007 Bellwether Finalist Award – CC Futures Assembly • 2008 NACADA Program Merit Award • 2008 NASPA Grand Silver and Gold Awards • 2009 NASPA Grand Gold (for Early Alert) • SSP has been adopted by 6 Community Colleges

7. In Sinclair’s Experience Students who are involved with SSP • Are more likely to return next term • Are more likely to complete more courses successfully • Have higher GPAs • Are more likely to be enrolled two years later

8. NGLC Grant • SSP Software to be Open Source! • Expect to have Open Source version available in 6-8 months. • Piloting current version with certain schools now, inquire if interested. • For more information / demo russ.little@sinclair.edu