Teri Walker
An initiative of Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count at Brookhaven College has been to increase the number of learning communities offered. During fall 2008, a total of 12 learning communities were offered.
During fall 2008, the following five developmental learning communities, DLC, were offered.
An unduplicated count of 82 students, making up 187 enrollments (duplicated), participated in DLCs. Overall, successful completion rates were 71.66 percent (Number=134) and the withdrawal rate was 3.47 percent (Number=7). The college’s average developmental successful completion rate is 60 percent and the average withdrawal rate is 16 percent. Additionally, we measured the rate at which students returned for the spring semester. Fall to spring retention for the DLC participants was 70 percent.
During the fall 2008 semester, seven college-level learning communities, LC, were offered at the college as follow.
An unduplicated count of 140 students, making up 240 (duplicated) enrollments, participated in LCs. Small numbers make comparisons difficult; therefore, in this report we will not address individual courses completion rates. Overall successful completion rates were 63.75 percent (N=153) and the withdrawal rate was 12.92 percent (N=31). The college’s average successful completion rate is 70 percent and the average withdrawal rate is 14 percent.
Of the 140 students enrolled in fall 2008 learning communities, 110 or 79 percent returned for the spring semester. The overall fall-to-spring-retention rate for the college is 64 percent.
It is too early to detect differences in course-taking-behaviors, fall-to-fall retention, success in next-level course or higher graduation/completion rates with this new model. We will continue to track this group of students for the next three years. Next steps in the evaluation process will include a qualitative component (i.e., focus groups including student participants and faculty).
If you are interested in developing a learning community, please contact Nancy Barlow and your dean for more information. Achieving the Dream funds are available for the development of new learning communities.
