Staff from the member institutions of The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities take part in a face-to-face work session on transfer student success at FIU on September 13, 2021.
(September 23, 2021) – Collaboration is more important now than ever, especially in times of crisis. That was the collective mindset of professionals from Florida International University (FIU), the University of Central Florida (UCF), and the University of South Florida (USF) officially kicked off the planning of our funding partner, Helios Education Foundation, transfer success project at FIU on September 13, 2021.
According to Cohen, Brawer, and Kiser (2014), “It is one thing to make high-level pronouncements on the importance of articulation but quite another to negotiate the details” (p. 282). A spirit the Florida Consortium had in mind as it hosted the first in-person work session since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfer Services staff at FIU, UCF, and USF joined our partners from Helios, the Florida College System, Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED), and Quottly to develop workflow and timelines for the $1,250,00 Helios granted the Florida Consortium this summer.
The day began with a unifying message from FIU President Dr. Mark Rosenberg. “The key to success is a mastery of routine,” Rosenberg told the 25 people gathered in-person and ten online via Zoom at the Graham Center (FIU’s student union). Following President Rosenberg’s visit, Braulio Colón, Helios Vice President of Florida Student Success Initiatives, led the group in a visioning exercise and a thoughtful takeaway towards the end of the day when he asked the group to look outside the Consortium to “identify pockets of opportunities that lead to collaboration.”
FIU President, Dr. Mark Rosenberg (center left), addresses the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research University Transfer Success Grant work session at FIU on September 13, 2021.
CFEED Analytics team members Michael Holt and Magda Fernández Civil were responsible for the bulk of the morning work session with a presentation and robust discussion on transfer shock. CFEED uses a database to identify and analyze impediments for transfer students as they transition to four-year institutions. The Florida Consortium and Helios Education Foundation transfer success project will focus on three areas:
- Reduce transfer shock by creating an academy for coaching and advising focused on Major readiness for students through aligned training for state college and university professionals.
- Design a universal and public course equivalency and sequencing database designed to help students avoid double course credits, maximize prior coursework, and allow students to explore their Major readiness.
- Promote retention through completion grants and other targeted student supports identified by the network.
The Consortium will use CFEED analytics informatively to help amplify all three transfer success initiatives.
Director of the Florida Student Success Center, Abbey Ivey, and Mike Sfiropoulos, Director of Academic Affairs at the Florida College System, led a discussion on their work with the 28 state colleges and how the partnership will help transfer students graduate.
The team from Quottly provided a fascinating vision for a user-friendly universal course sequencing database. Quottly is an educational technology company specializing in course and programing sharing platforms (“Idaho Improves Statewide Higher Education Access with Quottly’s Course and Program Sharing Solutions”, 2021). Sean Collins (Director of Strategic Partnerships), Alicia Policinski (Chief Executive Officer), Dr. Jeff Jones (Vice President of Institutional Partnerships and Vice Provost, Emeritus at UCF) showed how California uses Quottly technology for its transfer population.
Quottly Inc. representatives showcase a course sequencing database during the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities Transfer Success Grant Kick-Off Work Session on September 13, 2021.
Dr. Fai Howard, USF’s Assistant Dean of Upper-Level Initiatives, said she was eager to “leverage this partnership to help our students, special populations, or those apart from our metrics.” The work session and the Colada (Cuban espresso) created similar energy as the group turned to the next steps of the project including the development of a communication plan with state college partners and visiting our member institutions to create project timelines for the core functions of the Helios Education Foundation grant initiative.
References:
Cohen, A. M., Brawer, F. B., & Kisker, C. B. (2014). The American Community College. Jossey-Bass.
Idaho Improves Statewide Higher Education Access with Quottly’s Course and Program Sharing Solutions (2021, July 8). HigherEdDive.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.highereddive.com/press-release/20210707-idaho-improves-statewide-higher-education-access-with-quottlys-course-and/