Innovative Middle College Pathways Program at OCTech in South Carolina

PBI BEST PRACTICES: MIDDLE COLLEGE PATHWAYS ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN TECHNICAL COLLEGE ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA Donna Elmore Vice President for Academic Affairs Leah Jones Grants Coordinator and SACSCOC Institutional Liaison 1

COLLEGE MISSION AND SERVICE AREA OCtech Mission: to provide relevant training and education in a flexible environment that promotes success and self-reliance for students, and fosters economic development for the region. Founded in 1968, OCtech is a two-year public institution serving 3,100 credit students and 5,000 continuing education students annually. The College is located in the Lower Savannah region of South Carolina, an area which is 72% rural and 61% African-American. Located strategically in the Global Logistics Triangle of I-26, I-95, and Highway 301, OCtech provides high-demand training in Advanced Manufacturing, Transportation, and Logistics. 2

OCTECHS MIDDLE COLLEGE PROGRAM Established in 2008 Serves 5 area high schools and career centers Students are able to take courses on campus, at off-campus sites, as well as through distance and correspondence education, and can earn up to 24 credit hours while in high school Seventeen career cluster pathways that feed into OCtech degree, diploma, and certificate programs or can transfer to a 4-year institution Middle College enrollment makes up 19% of the College s overall enrollment Has created a pipeline to meet the needs of local business and industry 3

OCTECHS PBI PROJECT: ADVANCING ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS, PHASE II (FORMULA GRANT) Funded in October 2011 as a follow-up to a successful PBI Phase I project awarded in October of 2010 Project Goal: to improve student achievement for selected low- and middle-income Black American student cohorts in Associate Degree Nursing, Teacher Education Transfer, and Engineering Technology programs through successful recruitment, preparation, retention and completion/transition strategies. 4

OCTECHS PBI PROJECT Project Objectives Increase the diversity of students in Engineering, Nursing, and Teacher Education by expanding Middle College enrollment Increase the number of low- and middle-income Black American students prepared to compete for admission into OCtech s professional Engineering, Nursing, and Teacher Education pathways by providing college readiness and academic support services to Middle College dual credit students and pre-entry adults Increase the number of low- and middle-income Black American students who graduate from OCtech s Engineering, Nursing, Health Sciences, and Teacher Education pathways by establishing a PLC to provide support Increase the number of low- and middle-income Black American students who enter the workforce or transition to a four-year college or university by providing licensure and credentialing assistance 5

OCTECHS PBI PROJECT Project Performance Overview (Based on Year 4 APR) Our goal was to increase the total number of Black American students enrolled in Middle College Pathways by 4% per year (20% total). This year, our goal was 79 students (16% increase); we enrolled 171 students Actual performance has far exceeded the total number of students projected. There has been a 216% increase in the entire pipeline, including entry-level students who may not choose to enter senior-level courses Our goal was to increase the total number of Black American students (Middle College and Pre- Entry Adults) prepared to compete for admission into OCtech s professional Engineering, Nursing, and Teacher Education pathways by 30 students each year (150 students total). This year, our goal was 120 students; we successfully prepared 121 students Our goal was to increase the number of Black American students who graduate from OCtech s Engineering, Nursing, Health Sciences, and Teacher Education programs This year, our goal was 38 students; we graduated 34 Our goal was to increase the number of Black American students achieving license/credential success (NCLEX, PRAXIS, NACES, CRC) This year, our goal was 28 students; we credentialed 84 students 6

OCTECHS PBI PROJECT Best Practices Pathway-specific Recruitment and Retention Specialists for Advanced Manufacturing and Nursing/Health Sciences Middle College Counselor All students provided with E-Advising Plan Retention Alert System Centralization of all tutoring, career services, and academic support services in the College s Student Success Center Provision of PBI Emergency Stipends for when life gets in the way 7

NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCE PATHWAYS Newly established FLEX programs allow students to work and go to the school Simulation Laboratory that allows students to remediate as needed and be better prepared for clinical Lecture capture for remediation on-demand 100% NCLEX pass-rate; provision of testing fees for students in need Minority graduates in Nursing and Health Sciences have increased from 26 students in 2012 to 39 students in 2015. Health Coach Strategy that prepares students to serve as professionals in the community 8

ENGINEERING PATHWAYS Only college in SC offering an Electronics Engineering Technology (specializations in Instrumentation and Computer Electronics) EET program enrollment has increased from 20 students in Fall 2008 to 90 students in Spring 2016 Mechatronics program enrollment has increased from 15 students in Fall 2014 to 54 students in Spring 2016 Home to the country s first FESTO Training Center for Automation and Mechatronics Seven new apprenticeships established in the last two years 9

DR. WALT TOBIN PRESIDENT TOBINW@OCTECH.EDU 803-535-1201 LEAH JONES GRANTS COORDINATOR AND SACSCOC INSTITUTIONAL LIAISON JONESL@OCTECH.EDU 803-535-1280 10