Access to Success: Areas of Focus

• Improving Results
• Maximizing Aid
• Community College Transfers

Improving Undergraduate Results

• American Diploma Project Network
A coalition of 30 states, is dedicated to aligning K-12 curriculum, standards, assessments and accountability policies with the expectations of post-secondary institutions and potential employers. Chancellor Carter serves on the Advisory Board of the Network, and the Connecticut State Board of Education recently decided to participate in this initiative.
More at www.achieve.org


• Teacher Workforce Recruitment Retention & Collaboration
With a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), the four universities of CSUS established university-school district partnerships and developed innovative programs to better recruit, prepare and retain new teachers in state-defined shortage areas and in priority districts, including Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury and Danbury. Follow-on initiatives are being developed, including one targeting paraprofessionals interested in pursuing teaching degrees.
Teacher Shortage Initiatives (pdf)


• Building a Bridge to Achieve Student Success
Developed at Western Connecticut State University and on-going since 2003, the innovative program pairs Western math and English faculty members with high school teachers in Danbury and Bethel to improve student preparation for college-level work and has resulted in greater curriculum alignment and improved student preparation. Western has seen dramatic reductions in the number of remedial courses needed by participating students, as well as improvements in overall student retention between freshmen and sophomore years. The program is now being broadened to include science, and plans are underway to establish similar university-high school partnerships between the other CSUS universities and their local school districts.
More about the Bridge Program


• Plan to Increase Graduation Rates
Each of the CSUS universities has designed and is moving forward to implement a graduation rate plan, with a strong commitment from the highest levels of university leadership and close collaboration between academic affairs and student affairs functions. Efforts include a special focus on the first year experiences of students, systematic use of assessments and analysis of data to set goals, guide initiatives and validate results, and a long term commitment to sustain the plan.


• Connecticut PK-20 Education Council
CSUS is participating in coordinated state efforts to integrate early learning, kindergarten through grade 12, and postsecondary education systems, with common goals of: (1) reducing remediation and improving student achievement at all educational levels; (2) aligning high school educational expectations with college admission standards; (3) improving college access across racial groups and income levels; and (4) improving teacher quality.
Connecticut PK-20 Council Presentation (powerpoint)


• Connecticut Secondary School Reform
The State Board of Education has developed a plan to improve the high school experience for students and raise standards of performance. A process of public participation has begun that includes collaboration with stakeholders, including CSUS, to refine and shape the final proposal. The proposal aims to increase the rigor of high school programs through the addition of graduation requirements, a core curriculum of required courses, and end-of-course assessments. Once adopted, CSUS universities will work with the State Department of Education to design teacher training programs that will best prepare beginning teachers to meet these new standards and respond to newly revised certification requirements, and will continue their work with area high schools in preparing students for college level work.


• KnowHow2GoConnecticut
Studies from the U.S. Department of Education show that 8 out of 10 students expect to earn a college degree or higher, but students often do not fully understand what they need to do to be prepared for college. In response, a coalition of Connecticut organizations, led by the Departments of Education and Higher Education and including the Connecticut State University System, have joined forces in KnowHow2Go, a national multimedia public awareness initiative, aimed at middle school and high school students, that provides information on four basic steps students can follow to actively guide their preparation for a postsecondary education.
www.knowhow2goct.org


• Proficiency for College Level Courses
CSUS Board of Trustees Policy requires that all students demonstrate proficiency and complete proficiency courses within their first 24 academic credits. To accomplish this, each university determines what mathematics and English proficiencies are necessary for the completion of each bachelor degree it offers, establishes a proficiency curriculum, and defines proficiency scores on standardized pre-admission tests. Faculty is currently reviewing the proficiency determination process across the System.

Maximizing Aid for Low Income Student College Transfers

• Project Compass
Funded by a Nellie Mae Education Foundation grant, the Project aims to increase the number of young people from under-represented populations who graduate with four-year degrees.

Eastern Connecticut State University is one of only four institutions in New England to receive a grant this year. The new grand award, $200,000, follows a $100,000 planning grant received previously. As a result of the planning activities, Eastern has opened a centralized Academic Services Center designed to help increase retention and graduation rates of underrepresented student populations, and includes a Writing Center, Mathematics Achievement Center, expanded tutoring program, and improved first-year advising program.
More online at www.nerche.org/compass/compass.html

Community College Transfers

• Transfer Agreements with Community Colleges
A memorandum of understanding between the Connecticut State University System and the Connecticut Community College system was signed in 2007, with the goal of streamlining the process by which students from any of Connecticut's twelve community colleges interested in continuing their educations beyond the associate degree level may transfer to the institutions within the Connecticut State University System.

That agreement has led to the introduction of a new Dual Admission Program, beginning in Fall 2009, which is designed for students who:
• Plan to earn an associate's degree from one of the 12 Connecticut Community Colleges (in 5 years or less).
• Plan to pursue a bachelor's degree at one of the 4 Connecticut State University System institutions, beginning within two years of completing associate's degree.
• Have earned 15 or fewer transferable college credits at the community college at the time of application.
• Common Course Numbering Plan
To facilitate student transfers into and between CSUS universities, courses will be examined and evaluated for comparability and/or equivalency by committees comprised of faculty from similar disciplines and departments. Faculty will examine such aspects as course titles, descriptions, prerequisites, objectives, expected outcomes, and standards. Initial focus will be on courses primarily at the freshman/sophomore level, which are generally targeted to meeting general education requirements and are often taught at both two and four-year institutions. The plan will be implemented over a period of five years, to ensure the integrity of students' educational programs and the maintenance of a quality academic program.