Date of Award
2001
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Frederick C. Kintzer
Committee Member
Anita Barrett
Committee Member
Daniel Austin
Keywords
academic services, accountability, accessibility, accrediting agency mandates, administrators, advisement, array, challenges, change, college leadership, committee, community college, community demands, competition, comprehensive student service plan, congruency, continuity, creativity, demographics, development, district-wide plan, education, employees, enhancement, faculty, formation, funding, grants, implementation, institutional effectiveness plan, institutional priorities, innovation, inventory, learning, literature review, marketing plan, methodologies, mission, needs assessment, partnerships, personal needs, practices, priorities, programs, quality education, recruitment, recommendations, research questions, retention, satisfaction, service satisfaction, services, staff, student learning, student needs, student satisfaction inventory, student success, student services, students, support services, surveys, Tarrant County, Tarrant County College, technology plan, Texas, two-year colleges
Abstract
Tarrant County College (TCC) is a comprehensive community college dedicated to the mission of providing quality education in response to the expectations of the people of Tarrant County. The institution holds student success and learning as top priorities and is dedicated to providing meaningful educational experiences in support of these priorities (Tarrant County College, 2000a).
In recent years TCC has faced many challenges, including state accrediting agency mandates, changing demographics, technological advances, community demands and increased competition, that have necessitated institutional change. The changes are affecting who is being taught as well as the services that are being required.
Similar to schools around the nation, TCC is faced with educating a diverse population of students and is challenged to provide a quality learning experience to all who enters its "open doors". In response, the college leadership is implementing a district-wide recruitment, advisement and retention plan, a district-wide technology plan and a district-wide marketing plan. The mission statement of the district has been revised, and an institutional effectiveness plan is being implemented that includes the enhancement of services it provides students.
The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive district-wide student service plan to enhance student success at Tarrant County College.
The following seven research questions guided the focus of this study:
1. What student services are in operation at community colleges and what can be gleaned from those services to develop a district-wide plan for TCC?
2. What student services are currently available at TCC to assist students with academic and personal needs?
3. How accessible are the current services to students?
4. Do the current services meet the expressed needs of the current student population?
5. Are the institution's priorities congruent with the expressed needs of students?
6. What elements must be included in a comprehensive district-wide student service plan to enhance student success at Tarrant County College?
7. How should a comprehensive district-wide student service plan to enhance student success be implemented and evaluated?
The development problem solving and research methodologies were used to conduct the study and ascertain responses to the above cited research questions.
The study provides a review of the current practices at TCC, suggests recommendations for providing continuity and strengthening services throughout the district, and presents information that can be incorporated in Tarrant County College District's Institutional Effectiveness Plan.
The procedures included the formation of a district-wide committee that reviewed the plan as it was developed. A review of the related literature and of current practices at TCC was conducted. Programs and models at 25 Texas and 15 out-of-state institutions were reviewed to inventory the range of student services offered at those institutions. Surveys were conducted of 50 faculty, staff, administrators, and 200 students to measure congruency in needs perception and service satisfaction.
The review of literature revealed that schools around the country are facing many challenges and are implementing an array of students services and programs to accommodate student needs. These institutions have also recognized the need to integrate academic and student services. The literature further revealed that the services offered are as varied as the students they serve and that changes as well as challenges will continue to promote creativity and accountability of services provided.
The results of the study indicated that TCC will benefit from the development of the student service plan. The Student Satisfaction Inventory indicated that students were somewhat satisfied with most services but were neutral regarding their satisfaction with support services. The Institutional Priority Survey revealed that TCC employees agreed that support services merited improvement; however, they also indicated the need to improve academic services.
It was concluded from the study that change is constant in community colleges and that these institutions are challenged to develop innovative services to facilitate student needs. Implications are that traditional funding will not support all of the programs needed; therefore, grants and partnerships are avenues being utilized by two-year colleges.
The study resulted in a 33 page document that is a comprehensive student services plan to enhance student success at Tarrant County College (Appendix A).