CVTC News

The costs incurred when up to half of all two-year college students leave prior to graduation is staggering but can be significantly reduced, says Margo Keys, vice president of Student Services at Chippewa Valley Technical College.

 

Addressing the challenge with a comprehensive program has potential for great savings, Keys says.

 

Keys and others at CVTC have developed a program they believe will be “proactive and provide timely assessment, more targeted preparation--and critically--an early alert system for students showing academic or other stress.” The considerable effort, Key predicts, will save students from floundering for lack of direction or preparation.

 

Adjusting and thriving in college is difficult for many.   “If students are aware of the academic abilities and nonacademic challenges, they can address those issues before they become overwhelming,” Keys says. She points out that students often lack confidence in their career choice. “Or they might have had a negative experience in school. Addressing those issues beforehand just makes good sense,” she says.

 

A “Success Plan,” the work of a student and a CVTC “Success Team” member, is written for the individual based on their college entrance assessment. The plan can address career planning, personal issues or an academic gap. Single parenting issues, family support and financial resources can often be impacted with effective counseling, the CVTC vice president says.

 

Keys  expects the processes now in place will save hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. The cost of an education at most colleges is greatly subsidized by federal and state governments. “If we can guide students’ decisions and actions to prevent dropping out, we stand to save students, parents and taxpayers significant monies. Think of it as a ‘roadmap to success.’ Students learn where they are starting from, which paths to take to reach their destination with guides along the route and have someone to help celebrate their achievement when they arrive,” Keys says.

 

“Steps to Success,” the name of the initiative, includes early assessment, individualized success planning, college transition seminars and, critically, an early alert triggered by instructors.

 

Keys and a CVTC team have been working with national firms interested in securing rights to the process. She says the process might be marketed nationally.

 

“It’s the right thing to do for students and it’s the right thing to do for taxpayers,” the CVTC vice president said.