Getting Back on Track

Effects of a Community College Program for Probationary Students

By the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Kresge Foundation

April 1, 2009

Aecf Getting Back Track Effects Community College Program Probationary Students Full Report cover

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202-page PDF

In This Report, You’ll Learn

  • An overview of the Opening Doors demonstration and evaluation.
  • A description of the Chaffey College environment, and its Opening Doors and Enhanced Opening Doors programs.
  • How Chaffey College institutionalized the Enhanced Opening Doors program.
  • The different effects of the two programs.
  • A look at a one-semester College Success course and Success Centers designed for the original Opening Doors program.
  • Academic, social, psychological and health outcomes of students during and after the program.
  • How to identify, recruit and assign students for the programs.

About This Report

Summary

This report examines the findings of an evaluation of two community college programs – Opening Doors and Enhanced Opening Doors – at Chaffey College in Southern California. Analysis indicates that students who were required to take the College Success course as prescribed in the Enhanced Opening Doors program were more likely to be moved off of academic probation.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaway

Required Participation Leads to Academic Success

At Chaffey College, the Enhanced Opening Doors program – which requires participation – was shown to improve students’ academic outcomes. The program increased the number of credits earned, the proportion of students who earned a GPA of 2.0 or higher and the proportion who moved off probation.

Findings & Stats

Statements & Quotations