Institution South Texas College State Texas Academic Level Baccalaureate Issue Area Retention Website http://studentservices.southtexascollege.edu/advising/ Key Personnel Paul Hernandez Overview The Case Management Approach to Academic Advising program is part of STC’s Achieving the Dream initiative to undergo a transformational change in addressing the barriers that adversely affect student success. During the Fall semester of 2005, the Case Management Approach to Academic Advising program began as a pilot program with 21 certified case-managers from the Office of Counseling and Advising serving First-Time-in-College (FTIC) students with personal guidance as they transition from high school to a post-secondary institution. The students are assigned an academic advisor as soon as they complete STC’s Mandatory Orientation Program. Program Description Findings from qualitative and quantitative data analysis inspired the development of STC’s Model to Student Success, which consisted of three core components: (1) Shared Accountability for Student Learning; (2) Student Assessment, Placement, and Matriculation; and (3) Comprehensive Student Advising. Each component is represented by a collective body of staff and faculty members that focus on the development of measurable solutions to student barriers. The recommendations given by the Comprehensive Student Advising committee led to the implementation of the case-management program, which has been instrumental in aiding STC students in attaining their academic goals. Outcome There were increases in the retention rates, course grades, and successful completion rates of the 479 FTIC students that received case-management services. Sixty-five percent of the students that received case-management services successfully completed their courses, opposed to 59% that did not receive such services. Seventy-one percent of students receiving case-management services had at least a C or better in their grades, while only 64% of the students receiving traditional advising services had a C or better course grade average. Students receiving case-management services have a Fall to Spring retention rate of 76%, opposed to 69% for students that did not receive case-management services during the same period. Since the services have been expanded to include all STC students, there is expected to be a significant increase in student success rates. Learn more about Latino College Completion in Texas Return to Growing What Works Database
