Innovation in Higher Education Leads to Student Success

By Dr. Barbara R. Dickerson, Citrus College Governing Board Member

In response to the state's tremendous need for workers with college degrees and certificates, as well as evidence that students are failing to complete their programs or completing them at much too slow a pace, colleges throughout the state are implementing new and innovative ways of delivering instruction and student services.

Designed to speed up time-to-degree, improve completion and close the equity gap, strategies such as dual enrollment, multiple measures assessment, guided pathways and promise programs have been shown to be effective. More importantly, colleges that have implemented them are moving the dial on student success.

Recognized as a leader in innovative, effective student success strategies, Citrus College piloted dual enrollment, or "early college," at Duarte High School several years ago. The program allows qualified students to take college courses taught by Citrus College instructors on their high school campus. Students earn both high school and college credit, and they can earn as many as 50 units of college credit before graduating from high school. This spring, 400 students are participating in dual enrollment programs at seven high schools in the Citrus College district.

Multiple measures assessment is another program that is underway at Citrus College. By combining placement tests and other assessment measures, such as high school GPA, students usually place into higher level courses. This accelerates their time-to-degree-completion and reduces the need for remedial courses. This fall, all entering Citrus College students will be assessed using multiple measures.

Citrus College is also gearing up to implement guided pathways, a strategy designed to improve both the student experience and student outcomes. Students begin the program by exploring academic and career options and developing a plan. As they continue, guided pathways simplifies their decision-making and enables the college to provide frequent feedback, keeping them on track to completing their goals.

Perhaps the most exciting student success strategy is the soon-to-be-launched Citrus College Promise. This two-year program is designed to support both student access and college completion. Participants who qualify and maintain eligibility will have their enrollment and other fees covered and have access to a textbook loan program.

Innovative programs and services are meaningless without results, and there is a great deal of evidence that Citrus College's success strategies are working. The number of students completing degrees and certificates is up 9 percent for degrees and up 23 percent for certificates in the last two years. Degree and certificate completion of disproportionately impacted groups has also risen significantly during the same period. African American students have increased their completion by 18 percent and Hispanic students by 38 percent. In addition, the number of students transferring to four-year institutions is the highest in college history.

In this rapidly changing world, powerful forces are shaping higher education and the workplace for which students prepare. Citrus College will continue to keep pace by providing innovative educational programs and services that ensure student success and college completion.