California community colleges make higher education accessible for all; however, nearly half its students fail to achieve their goal of degree completion. Based upon the recommendations of the Student Success Task Force, the California legislature passed the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, requiring that all incoming community…

The growing cost of college is one of the most significant barriers to completion. However, research shows that frequent, intensive advising, combined with financial and other support, can make a tremendous difference in helping students complete. For two years, TICAS has worked with a group of rigorously evaluated organizations across the country…

In this article, we report on a multiyear consultation project between a consulting team based in the United States and the Ministry of Education in Trinidad and Tobago. The project was initiated with a request for training in counseling for secondary school students but ended with the training of personnel from the Ministry of Education in…

Discusses the importance of academic support services in ensuring the effectiveness of developmental programs. Describes the Learning Assistance Support System developed in Washington's community college system and Luzerne County Community College's Institute for Developmental Educational Activities. (DMM)

Foothill College's matriculation plan is composed of seven components, each with its own goals, staffing, hardware, planning activities, outcomes, and timelines. Though the college began to implement the plan in 1987, a number of the goals and activities will be only partially fulfilled in 1988-89. The goals of the admissions component are…

The learning disabilities support program at the University of Michigan was evaluated in a multiple case study with 11 students with learning disabilities (10 males and 1 female and aged 19 to 24 years). The program includes a structured format that focuses on individual needs within specific courses. It employs scaffolding and training of…

In fall 1983, Napa Valley College fully implemented its Student Orientation, Assessment, Advisement, and Retention (SOAAR) program, which consisted of assessment of first-time students' math and reading skills, advisement about enrolling in regular or developmental courses based on scores, course advisement, and the provision of information on…

Ferris State University's (FSU's) Collegiate Skills Program assists academically underprepared students in their transition to college. The program was initiatied in fall 1985 in response to increasing numbers of entering freshmen with inadequate reading and writing skills and subsequent high rates of attrition. Focusing initially on students with…

Since 1969, the California community colleges have established a number of programs to provide additional assistance to a diverse community college student population, including the Board Financial Assistance Program, Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education, Disabled Students Programs and Services, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services,…

A synthesis is provided of the information collected between September 1984 and April 1985 by Operational Program Review (OPR) teams regarding 22 California community college Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) programs. Chapter 1 explains the purposes and evaluation methods of OPRs, and outlines the general characteristics of the…

A longitudinal study was conducted at Southwestern College (SWC) in Chula Vista, California, to assess the impact of the matriculation process on SWC students. Three groups of students were compared: students who started "Pre-Matriculation" (in 1985); students who started during the "Phase-In" (in 1987); and students who…

Each year, the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges is required to submit a report to the state legislature on Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS). The 1990 report provides information on the data elements necessary for a statewide database for the periodic evaluation of EOPS programs and services and numbers…

In fall 1986, Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) initiated a 5-year longitudinal study of the effectiveness of its matriculation services, including assessment, orientation, counseling/advisement, and follow-up. Students participating in these services were compared to those degree-seeking students who did not participate. The study sample included…

In fall 1986, Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) initiated a 5-year longitudinal study of the effectiveness of its matriculation services, including assessment, orientation, counseling/advisement, and follow-up. The academic performance and success of students participating in one or more of these services were compared to those of degree- and…

In fall 1986, Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) began a five year longitudinal study of the effectiveness of its matriculation services, which include assessment, orientation, counseling/advisement, and follow-up of students by staff members. The study utilized a computerized tracking system to compare retention, grade point average (GPA),…