I was struck by a recent study that highlights the importance of students entering a program of study as soon as possible. Students who do not enter a program within a year of enrollment are far less likely to ever enter a program and therefore less likely to earn a credential. The research paper, Get With the Program: Accelerating Community College Students' Entry into and Completion of Programs of Study, offers suggestions for ways community colleges can rethink their practices at key stages of students' engagement to substantially increase rates of program entry and completion. What is our role in making sure that our students have selected a program of study as they make the transition from adult ed to college? How can we be more deliberate in our practice to support our students' options...
You can read the summary and link to the complete study at: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/Publication.asp?UID=885