Post on 16-Jan-2016
Student Success in College
The U.S. has lost its competitive edge.
Education PaysDegree Median Weekly Earnings
in 2009Median Annual Earnings in 2009
Doctoral degree $1,532 $79,664
Professional degree $1,529 $79,508
Master’s degree $1,257 $65,364
Bachelor’s degree $1,025 $53,300
Associate degree $761 $39,572
Some college, no degree $699 $36,348
High school graduate $626 $32,552
Less than a high school diploma
$454 $23,608
If college degrees enhance income, what problems can arise to make success in college difficult?
• Laziness• Health problem• Death in the family• Job loss (no money)• Car accident• Biting off more than you
can chew
• Addiction• Incarceration• Domestic conflict• Homelessness• Drama• Missing basics: food,
sleep, exercise, love
If college degrees enhance income, why
do some students fail in college?
Cumulatively, SENSE (Survey of Entering Student Engagement) has surveyed well over 100,000 students from 199 different community colleges in 35 states, the
Northern Marianas, and the Marshall Islands.
28%
19%
41%
22%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Skipped class
Came to class unprepared
Did not turn in one or more assignments
Turned in an assignment late
Source: Kay McClenney, Ph. D., Director, Center for Community College Student Engagement
Senior Associate, Achieving the Dream, The University of Texas at Austin
Percentage of students who, at least once during their first three weeks of college:
How can students respond to challenges that pose a threat to success in college?
Accepting Responsibility
Successful Students
Adopt the Creator rolebelieving that their choices create the outcomes and experiences of their lives.
Struggling Students
Accept the Victim rolebelieving that external forces determine the outcomes and experiences of their lives.
Source: On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life, 3rd Ed., by Skip Downing
Adopting the Creator RoleStimulus
ChoiceVictimCreator
Response•Seeking solutions•Taking action•Trying something new
Response•Blaming •Complaining•Excusing•Repeating behavior
Results•Often achieves goals Results
•Seldom achieves goals
Personal Responsibility
Successful Students
Make wise decisions by consciously designing the future they want
Struggling Students
Make careless decisions by letting the future happen by chance rather than by choice.
Accepting Responsibility
Successful Students often
Focus on learningCan we review my errors so I can understand all the concepts?
Struggling Students often
Focus on gradesCan you accept some of my wrong answers as correct so that I can earn more points?
Success comes by working hard long after our initial enthusiasm
passes.