Overview

When a friend was having trouble choosing courses at another college, Javan Brown, a 22-year-old Santa Fe College student, told him, “Just use My Academic Plan to figure it out.” But he didn’t realize that Santa Fe’s personalized progress report, which shows students what classes they need, was not available at other colleges. "I didn’t understand at the time how good we had it here,” Brown says.

Clear Paths to Transfer

At many community colleges, students are given the course catalog and   left to struggle to find a path—straight or otherwise—to a degree. At Santa Fe, My Academic Plan configures class schedules for students to select from. If they choose a course off their degree path, a warning alerts them. After two semesters, the system insists that undecided students declare a program of study. Students can readily see if their courses count toward transfer to dozens of four-year colleges, which at other community colleges is often a challenge for students, and even counselors, to figure out. For the 1,000 students destined for the University of Florida each year,the pathway is especially smooth—the school has a dedicated adviser, student center, and even bachelor’s degree programs on the Santa Fe campus. The result: very high rates of four-year transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment.

Success rates at Santa Fe exceed the national average not just for students overall but also for the one-quarter of students who are black or Hispanic. The college actively recruits minority students at local high schools, then provides them dedicated services. For instance, the black males in My Brother’s Keeper receive mentoring, tutoring, and personal and professional development workshops.

High Levels of Student Invovlement

Students play a central role in shaping Santa Fe to improve outcomes.  Along with faculty and staff, they must sign off on college policy changes, and they even have a vote on hiring committees. This unusual level of student involvement “was a little threatening when I came,” says president Jackson Sasser, “but what are we talking about that they can’t hear?”