FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STUDENT SUCCESS IS MAJOR FOCUS FOR NEW DCC CENTER, DIRECTOR

Dr. Janet Laughlin is shown with an architect's rendering of DCC's proposed new student center.

DANVILLE, VA, April 12, 2007 – Danville Community College wants to make every effort to ensure that

 students succeed. To do so, the college has established a new Student Success Center and Dr. Janet Laughlin of Danville has been appointed its new director.

“Think of this office as a bridge between the academic or instructional areas of the college and the Student Development Office,” says Laughlin, explaining her new position. “The Student Success Center provides interventions to help students overcome barriers to success that they may have and graduate with a credential such as a certificate, diploma, or two-year degree.”

The need for the Student Success Center became apparent as DCC prepared for its reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a process that occurs every 10 years. Laughlin says through this self-study and based on an analysis of problematic areas for students, the institutional strengths and achievement gaps, a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) was developed. The QEP established goals and strategies for enhanced student success.   

In addition, she says DCC’s participation in Achieving the Dream:  Community Colleges Count, a national initiative to improve the success rates of students of color and low-income students, offered an even closer look at achievement gaps and barriers to success. DCC is among 57 community colleges nationwide participating in the Achieving the Dream initiative, funded by the Lumina Foundation and its partners.

Laughlin says one intervention has been the College Success Skills course (SDV 100), which is required for program-placed students. The course assists students in transitioning to college and includes topics, such as college/career success planning; human relations skills; the college’s expectations of students and students’ expectations of the college; academic skills, including studying, note taking, test taking, learning styles, time management, information literacy and library research; ethics, values and academic integrity; wellness; finances; basic personal computer operation; and student obstacles, pitfalls and distractions.

“We are also striving to proactively connect students to all of the free services DCC offers to support students academically and personally. Results after one year are very encouraging as students have increased their awareness of college resources,” Laughlin says. “All faculty are asked to reinforce the content of the college success skills course in their classes whenever the opportunity arises.”

Another college intervention has been the establishment of learning communities which are comprised of students in an area or program who are often in the same class and/or have the same major. The learning communities are designed to identify problems students may have and adapt strategies early on to ensure that students succeed, especially in English and math classes. Learning communities also help students bond with each other and the instructor since students take at least two classes together.

“In a national report, nearly every college participating in the Achieving the Dream initiative is looking at developmental math,” Laughlin explains. “One of the greatest stumbling blocks and one of the top eight subjects to prevent students from graduating is math.  Therefore, it’s only natural that developmental math is almost always one of the linked courses in our learning communities.”

Other interventions for student success include free tutoring services through the college’s nationally-certified Tutoring Center; a mentoring program; enhanced assessments to evaluate students’ strengths and weaknesses, and satisfaction with college services; strengthened academic and student support services, such as the creation of study groups, workshops, seminars, and guest lecturers; and faculty and staff professional development opportunities.

“The Student Success Center was created in response to a commitment to improving students’ successes as they strive to raise their goals and aspirations and become competitive for employment in a global environment,” Laughlin says.

With the enhanced services, DCC’s goal is to increase the number of students obtaining a credential, such as a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. In 2006, DCC was recognized as having the best three-year average for graduation rates in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) – 30.6 percent, significantly higher than the system-wide average of 19.3 percent.

Likewise, DCC’s transfer rate of 58.8 percent for students transferring in 2004-2005, is slightly higher than the system wide rate of 52.1 percent.  The college also placed in the top four among the VCCS colleges as having the best retention rates (greater than 60 percent) for full-time students. However, DCC is not satisfied with these figures or the low college-going rates for the service region, and the low number (9 percent average) of adults over 25 years of age with a baccalaureate degree.

“We want students to be aware of the benefits of higher education. Just acquiring credits does not reap economic and social benefits,” Laughlin says. “We also want students to be aware of their options for transferring to four-year colleges and universities and earning their bachelor’s degree.”

Laughlin adds that many students are unaware of the transfer articulation agreements that DCC has with other institutions. There are more than 20 partnerships with other colleges, including the Virginia Community College-sponsored agreements. Last September, DCC formalized these relationships by initiating a Baccalaureate Transfer Initiative which Laughlin is directing and helping to implement.

Dr. Chris Ezell, Vice President of Academic and Student Services, says Laughlin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. She came to DCC in 1992 as an Assistant Professor of Administrative Support Technology. Four years ago, she was tapped to lead the college through its re-affirmation of accreditation and later to direct the Achieving the Dream initiative.

“Dr. Laughlin clearly was the top candidate for this position,” says Ezell. “She is committed to student success, has enthusiasm and the ideas to engage faculty, staff, administration and students.”

Laughlin earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Business Education at Palm Beach Atlantic College; received her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Averett College; and earned her Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Community College Leadership from Old Dominion University.

In the community, Laughlin is a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Danville, the Southside Community Advocates for Learning Excellence—United for Progress (SCALE-UP),  the Kiwanis Club of Danville, the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee for Danville Public Schools, Leadership Southside Alumni Association and The Wednesday Club. She is also a member of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) – College Student Educators International, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Editorial Board of the College Student Affairs Journal, and the Virginia Community College Association. In addition, Laughlin co-chairs the Central Regional Center for Teaching Excellence in the VCCS and serves on the VCCS Professional Development Committee.

Serving almost 4,000 students each semester, the challenges will be many for Laughlin, but she is looking forward to her new role.

“Enhancing student learning and success is a priority for the college and for me,” Laughlin adds. “The mission of the community college now flows through my veins.  Education changed my life, and it is very gratifying to be part of transformational work on behalf of those who may have been precluded from higher education were it not for the community college.”

For more information about the Student Success Center, contact Dr. Janet Laughlin at 434.797.8524; toll free at 800.560.4291, ext. 8524; or click here.