CCA On the Air

Both math pathways and corequisite supports increase the chances of students making it through gateway math courses, but the current research is limited to demonstrating early benefits. How can using both initiatives together support a better path for long-term student success? CCA talks with Dr. Taylor Darwin of the Dana Center about what pathways and corequisite math look like when they're integrated as part of a holistic approach to student success.

For many students, college completion starts even before application. Building a sense of community and onboarding students in a way that fosters campus engagement from the very beginning is one way that campuses can support a larger culture of completion. Dr. Lindsay Faulstick (Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students) and Chris Hitchcock (Executive Director, Office of Admission) at Hanover College share how they work together to share data, encourage engagement, and create community that extends beyond the first year.

How do we move from insight to implementation in student success reforms? In the latest from CCA on the Air, Melinda Mechur Karp, Ph.D., Founder & Principal at Phase Two Advisory, discusses innovative placement practices and developmental education reform. In this episode, we talk about moving beyond traditional placement tests to more holistic approaches and how institutions can use lessons from adult learners to provide flexible, targeted support to all students. Dr. Karp, a researcher and sociologist by training, also dives into the relationship between research and implementation in driving meaningful change for students.

As institutions ramp up recruiting for adult learners, their increased presence on four-year campuses highlights both the strengths of this population and some unique gaps in existing student success strategies. On this episode of CCA On the Air, Pamela K O'Neal, MA, MPH, EdD, associate director of student engagement in the Office of Online and Adult Learning, and Brett Bruner, EdD, assistant vice president of student success and persistence in the Office of the Provost, share Wichita State University's approach with the Office of Online and Adult Learning influences student support campus-wide.

In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative impact of TRIO programs on higher education.

Join us as we explore how these federally funded initiatives support first-generation students in their pursuit of academic success. Ms. Lacey Brown from Baton Rouge Community College and Mr. Antonio Robinson from Trident Technical College share the vital role TRIO plays in leveling the playing field for young people in higher education.

In this episode of CCA On The Air, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Patrice Glenn-Jones to our podcast. Dr. Glenn-Jones discusses "nurtured advising," its history, and how it was developed at Historically Black Institutions.

She'll also share her insights on how this advising model can impact and transform student success, specifically for historically excluded students.

In this episode of CCA on the Air, CCA communications director Kate Derrick interviews Amy Wolf, senior public affairs officer and storyteller at Vanderbilt University.

Today’s conversation touches on the power of storytelling to create economic opportunity and change lives.

Wolf discusses her career path from news producing to higher education storytelling, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, personal connection, and finding purpose in one's work. She also shares tips on identifying and capturing compelling student stories, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives.

Establishing a new student success approach takes a village.

As a former math faculty member now supporting math success at scale at institutions around the country, Dr. Almy shares tips for facilitating open collaboration, multiple viewpoints, and honest feedback in campus cultures of all types.

It’s been a challenging year for the FAFSA. A much-needed update to the form added complications to the submission process for many students, families, and institutions.

In this episode, financial aid experts and leaders share their strategies and tactics for increasing FAFSA completion rates while navigating this year’s challenges of implementing the updated financial aid application. You’ll hear from:

You can also check out resources shared by our speakers:

In today’s episode, we speak to Dr. Tawnya Lubbes, Associate Professor of Education, ESL Program Advisor, and ESL Program Chair in the College of Education at Eastern Oregon University in Legrand, Oregon.

The Oregon Teacher Pathways program at EOU is supporting the next generation of culturally responsive teachers by implementing accessible pathways from high school to professional careers.

Dr. Lubbes shares how EOU is leveraging partnerships, peer mentoring, and identity-responsive strategies to engage students toward powerful college completion outcomes.