Page 57 - Harnett Life Winter 2020

In North Carolina, as the economy grows, the vast majority of retention and a 9% increase in credential completion for their stu-
new jobs require education beyond a high school diploma — but dents who had coaches.
fewer than half of North Carolinians ages 25-44 have high-quality ● Black students and male students are especially likely to benefit
credentials or postsecondary degrees. Therefore, in 2019, the my- from success coaching when compared to all students.
FutureNC goal was established, stating a bold vision for the future - Male students assigned a success coach experienced an 8% in-
of education in the state: “ensuring that by 2030, 2 million North crease in fall-to-fall retention and an 8% increase in credential
Carolinians have a high-quality credential or a postsecondary de- completion.
gree.” myFutureNC recently announced this goal has now been - Black students assigned to a coach are 8% more likely to remain
endorsed by the 58 colleges of the North Carolina Community enrolled for a year (fall-fall retention) and 18% more likely to stay
College System. enrolled for two academic years (fall to second spring semester)

With the results of this project, success coaching is now a proven National expert, Jobs For the Future, served as an advisor and ad-
way to close equity gaps with attainment and help meet North vocate for the project. JFF seeks to design and drive the adoption
Carolina’s ambitious goal. of innovative and scalable education and career training models
and systems that leads from college readiness to career advance-
Dr. Brian S. Merritt, Central Carolina Community College’s Vice ment. JFF also develops and advocates for federal and state poli-
President of Student Learning & Chief Academic Officer, led the cies needed to support these solutions.
effort to secure the First in the World grant and provided oversight
for the project. “Success coaching is now a proven strategy that Dr. Derek Price, President of DVP-PRAXIS, served as the inde-
helps us serve students more holistically and to close achievement pendent evaluator for the grant. Dr. Price is the former Director of
gaps. When we launched our success team in 2012, we began to Higher Education Research for the Lumina Foundation for Educa-
see immediate results in student retention and success over those tion and has extensive experience as a higher education research.
next few years. But, we were eager to understand why and how, The Carolina Works project design modeled a research study by
and to prove — with hard evidence — that it does work,” said Bettinger & Baker (2011) titled, “The effects of student coaching
Merritt. “Along with our national partners, expert evaluators at in college: An evaluation of a randomized experiment in student
DVP-PRAXIS, early alert software Aviso Retention, and nine mentoring.” That study found proactive success coaching to in-
amazing partner institutions, we have now learned lessons that crease retention 14 percent for a control group over a 24-month
will inform student success work for decades to come.” period.

The First in the World program was designed by the U.S. De- The nine partner colleges are Caldwell Community College and
partment of Education to support the development, replication, Technical Institute, Carteret Community College, Cleveland
and dissemination of innovative solutions and evidence for what Community College, College of the Albemarle, Isothermal Com-
works in addressing persistent and widespread challenges in post- munity College, Pamlico Community College, Randolph Com-
secondary education for students who are at risk for not persisting munity College, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, and
in and completing college. Southwestern Community College.

With the “Carolina Works” project findings, success coaching, or “I think it’s incredible that 10 relatively small, rural, N.C. com-
essentially relationship-building with a professional on campus, munity colleges were able to come together as a consortium and
is found to be a way forward to close equity gaps and help more not only stand up successful Success Coaching programs but also
students advance to complete their degrees and other courses of implement the Aviso technology all while maintaining the integ-
study. rity of a rigorous randomized controlled trial,” said Sarah Deal,
Ph.D., who served as CCCC First in the World project co-director.
Here are the key findings from the project (see research brief at “I think it speaks to the dedication and commitment our colleges
https://www.dvp-praxis.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Suc- have to the success of students and highlights the amazing, tal-
cess-Coach-FInal-RCT-Results-November-2020.pdf): ented professionals we have working across our system.”
● Longer-term engagement between students and success coaches
(especially face-to-face meetings) brings better results, as it takes Central Carolina Community College offers a wide variety of pro-
time to develop quality relationships with students. grams, as students can earn associate degrees or college transfer
- Students assigned a coach are 4% more likely to stay enrolled for credits, diplomas, or certificates. CCCC also offers instruction in
two academic years (fall to second spring semester). such areas as Short-term Job Training, College & Career Readi-
● Students benefit more from success coaching when their coach- ness, Personal Interests, Business & Industry, and Emergency
es don’t change, as building trusting, personal relationships with Services Training. CCCC has been nationally ranked as No. 25
coaches takes time. in The Best Community Colleges & Trade Schools of 2020 by
- Students who had the same coach for the duration of the study BestColleges and ranked first in the Niche 2020 Best Community
experienced a 12% increase in credential completion. Colleges in North Carolina rankings.
● The most promising results came from colleges that implement-
ed the program with fidelity – demonstrating strong leadership For more information on Central Carolina Community College,
support and successfully folding coaches into their existing staff. visit www.cccc.edu.
- The top performing colleges saw a 9% increase in longer-term
Harnett Life ~ Winter 2020 Page 57