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.