Title III: Strengthening Institutions Program
Title III: Soar to Success
The Title III – Part A Strengthening Institutions (SIP) grant is made possible by the U.S. Department of Education. The Title III – Part A program “helps institutions of higher education to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.” Through these funds, East Central College has implemented its Soar to Success project.
Project-Wide Strategies
Through a comprehensive review of its academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability, East Central College has identified three overarching strategies for the Soar to Success project:
- Enhance advising processes and functions.
- Provide training and resource to promote effective advising and instruction.
- Improve academic support.
Goals & Strategies for Achievement
East Central College has identified goals in the areas of advising and coaching capabilities, faculty/staff training and resources, student support, and fiscal stability, with specific strategies contributing to each.
- Improve student supports.
- Implement embedded tutoring programming in development math and English courses.
- Implement a Supplemental Instruction (SI) program.
- Establish the Retention Initiative for Student Engagement (RISE) program, ensuring that students utilize academic supports, success coaching, and career services on an ongoing basis within a learning community/cohort capacity.
- Establish a robust laptop and hotspot internet access program for students.
- Enhance advising and coaching capabilities and functions.
- Establish a holistic student support and advising model, including a focus on collaboration between Success Coaches and Academic Advisors.
- Hire additional staff to support a full range of student success needs, including academic preparation and advising, early alerts, retention, and course success.
- Provide training and resources to faculty and staff.
- Implement professional development for technology.
- Ensure adequate technology and training to expand HyFlex offerings from the pilot program.
- Enhance online course design and train faculty on high-impact practices for improving learning outcomes.
- Improve fiscal stability.
- Establish an endowment fund that will contribute to future student support activities.
- Meet retention targets through the proposed strategies and solutions so that retention may effectively serve as a boost to enrollment.
Compliance
The Title III program at East Central College is committed to strict compliance with the legislation, regulations, and guidance as listed by the Department of Education.
- Legislation
- Title III, Part A, Sec. 311-315 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended
- 20 U.S.C. 1057-1059b
- Regulations
- Title 34 Part 607 (Code of Federal Regulations / CFR)
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
Project Leadership
Jean Woodson
Title III Program Coordinator
636-584-6921 | jean.woodson@eastcentral.edu
Dr. Robyn Walter
Vice President, Academic Affairs & Title III Project Director
636-584-6601 | robyn.walter@eastcentral.edu
Title III Steering Committee
Though the office of Title III Programs is housed in Academic Affairs, the work of the Soar to Success project is owned by the institution. The institution has developed a Title III Steering Committee to monitor project implementation. This committee is comprised of employees from every division of the College and operates under a tri-chair model. The steering committee also consists of four subcommittees corresponding with the four primary initiatives included in the project. Those subcommittees operate under a co-chair model and include faculty, staff, and administration.
Steering Committee Roster
| Member Name | Member Title |
|---|---|
| Dr. Robyn Walter | Vice President, Academic Affairs / Title III Project Director |
| Jean Woodson | Title III Program Coordinator |
| Sarah Leassner | Vice President, Student Development |
| Dr. Jon Bauer | President |
| Ashley Straatmann | Director, Financial Services / Comptroller |
| Dr. Michelle Smith | Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness |
| Bethany Lohden | Director, Institutional Research |
| Erin Anglin | Executive Director, Academic Support & Learning Center |
| Lindsay Riegel | Retention Coordinator |
| Dora Bell | Retention Specialist |
| Ann Boehmer | Dean, Arts & Sciences |
| Dr. Rachel Howard | Assistant Professor, Psychology/Sociology |
| Olivia Kerwin | Instructor, Mathematics |
| Cassidy Litle | Supplemental Instruction Coordinator |
| Stacy Bogier | Director, Financial Aid |
| Stephanie Hebert | Director, Student Development Strategy |
| Jenni Crosby | Assistant Director, ECC Rolla |
