Researching Program Effectiveness

1
Researching Program Effectiveness

• Dr. Marsha Fralick
• Cuyamaca College
• El Cajon, CA

2
Outline of Presentation

• Resources for Sharing
• College Success Program Description
• Rationale for Research
• Outcomes to Measure
• Positive Results from Program Review

3
Resources for Sharing

• The College Success Website
• Research Articles
• Program Review
• Instructor Manual
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Resources for Online Teaching

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
Personal Development Cuyamaca College El Cajon,
California
8
PDC 124, Lifelong Success

• 8000 students enrolled in college
• 1200 take PDC 124 each year
• 32 sections a year
• 8 sections online
• 3 sections at high schools
• One of the top 15 revenue producing programs for
  the college

9
Transferability

• Transfers as general education for CSUC, Area E,
  Lifelong Understanding
• Transfers to University of California

10
College Success

• Motivation
• Time and Money
• Memory and Reading
• Test Taking
• Taking Notes, Writing and Speaking

11
Research Community College Review

• Successful students have a definite goal or major
• Successful students earned a B average in high
  school or better

12
Career Success

• Personality and Major
• Do What You Are
• Learning Style and Intelligence
• PEPS Learning Style Inventory
• Interests and Values
• Choices Planner
• Career and Educational Planning

13
Lifelong Success

• Communication and Relationships
• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
• Appreciating Diversity
• Positive Thinking
• Life Stages

14
(No Transcript)
15
What is the rationale for doing research on your
college success programs?
16
Rationale for Research

• Program Effectiveness
• Showcase Results
• Build Reputation
• Resources for Student Success
• Financial Benefits

17
Outcomes to Measure

• Persistence
• Success
• Student Satisfaction
• Cost Effectiveness

18
The most significant finding is increased
persistence.
19
Persistence

• Students who return the next semester
• Approximately half of community college students
  are new each semester

20
Fall to Spring Persistence First Time Students
21
College Persistence Semester to Semester5 Year
Average

• All successful PDC students 89
• All students 63
• A 26 difference

22
Success

• Students who complete the course with an A, B, C,
  or CR
• All students 65
• PDC students 73

23
Student Satisfaction
24
(No Transcript)
25
Choosing a Major

• The course helped 52 of students choose a major

26
(No Transcript)
27
Grade Improvement

• 72 of student agreed or strongly agreed that the
  course helped to improve grades

28
(No Transcript)
29
Student Confidence

• The course helped 62 of students feel more
  confident about their academic skills

30
Ethnicity and Successful Course Completion Fall
1997-Spring 2004
31
(No Transcript)
32
Overall Student Evaluation

• 88 of students rated the course as good or very
  good

33
(No Transcript)
34
Textbook Evaluation

• 88 of students rated the textbook as very good
  or good

35
Finances
36
For Every Dollar Spent4.25 is returned to the
district
37
Financial Analysis
38
Finances

• Over the past 5 years, for every dollar spent on
  the PDC program, the program returned 4.25 to
  the district. This figure was calculated by
  dividing the total revenue of 1,581,973 by the
  total cost of 373,044.
• Further revenue is generated through increased
  persistence rates of students.

39
Researching Program Effectiveness

• Questions?
• Evaluation forms