The Task Force is evaluating how these
services could be better co-ordinated and
is assisting the personnel with
responsibility for these areas to provide
improvements. The Task Force is also
identifying student needs that are not
being met and gaps in programming and
services.

This is a Task Force in deed not simply in
name. Rather than formulating a series of
recommendations, the Task Force is taking
action by implementing a series of specific
initiatives for improving the probability of
student success/retention.

What's Being Achieved?

Since February, the Task Force has met
five times and has already developed
several specific initiatives to improve
student success:

The Public Information Office has
produced a success guidebook called
Straight Talk given to all incoming students
starting Fall ’92.

Ways are being explored to expand
orientation services for all new students,
especially in anticipation of telephone
registration next year.

A Student Success course to help inprore /

attrition rates in first year General Nursin
is being offered on a pilot basis this fall.
The course is team-taught by faculty from
Counselling, Reading and Study Skills, and
General Nursing.

Call for Proposals

A database of available data on success
factors, attrition rates, etc. is being
compilied and gaps in data identified.
Under the new student records system,
tracking of students through the institution
will be possible.

The nucleus of material for an Instruct-
ional Centre -- which could provide
resources to assist faculty use innovative
instructional methodologies -- is being
gathered together.

A plan to create a Student Assistance/
Tutorial Centre, especially for assistance
with writing and other skills, is being
discussed.

The Task Force is currently discussing the
need for an overall framework and an
action plan to improve student success
college-wide, and is also examining what
gaps exist in our knowledge of student
expectations, experiences, and outcomes.

Who is Involved?

The Task Force consists of one member
from each department in the College,
along with two representatives from the
student society, and several administrative
staff including the Assistant Registrar, the
Director of Student Services /
Developmental Education, the Public
Information Officer, and the Manager of
Institutional Research.

The Task Force is seeking initatives which could assist the
College to increase student success. Projects would receive
financial support to enact one-time only initatives which should

be achieveable before the end of March 1993.

For more_

information contact Ted James, Chairperson of the Task Force

at local 5321.