Coalition for College and Career Readiness (C3R)

Students enroll in Lansing Community College under a policy of open admissions. Of the 1,973 students entering LCC who had graduated from high school in 2013, 1,223 (62%) took at least one non-credit bearing class designed to prepare the student to be successful in college level courses:

1. 1,969 took reading placement tests, and 407 (20.67%) required developmental reading courses.
2. 1,962 took writing placement tests, and 648 (33.03%) required developmental writing courses.
3. 1,751 took math placement tests, and 959 (54.77%) required developmental math courses.

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  The Significance

  The College recognizes its special responsibility to those requiring developmental academic skills and offers developmental courses in reading and writing in The Center for Transitional Learning (CTL) and math in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department. In addition to developmental courses, the College offers formal programs such as The Early College for high school students entering their junior year, and the High School Diploma Completion Program (HSDCI) to help students prepare for college and careers. While federal grant programs and other funding sources have provided dollars for formal programs (at LCC, local schools?), the resources providing financial aid and physical space for developmental classes at LCC are limited. Strengthening college skills before students enroll at LCC means they arrive at LCC better prepared to pursue their college education and career. Acquiring these academic, intellectual, and career skills prior to attending college or a technical training program are essential for their initial and continued success in post-secondary college and training programs.

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  The Solution

  Using a community impact framework which includes a broad range of stakeholders and common goals, the Coalition for College and Career Readiness (C3R) will seek to:

  1. Ascertain the gap between high school and first-year college and career readiness skills.
  2. Increase relevant academic success and achievements for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Post-Secondary education.
  3. Improve college and career readiness and reduce the number of high school graduate students in the tri-county area requiring developmental coursework.
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  The Structure

  The Coalition's current operating structure includes: an Advisory Council, Action Teams and Joint Professional Development. The C3R Action Teams are: Math, Data, and Student Transition. C3R Action Teams are made up of representatives of college and public school districts in the tri-county area, post-secondary institutions, parents and students, faith-based organizations, business, industry, workforce development agencies and other interested parties. Action Teams will examine aspects of P-20 education, the college going experience and workforce development. They will identify areas where improvements can be made and create related activities and projects that promote college and career readiness.

  These teams focus on curriculum alignment in their areas, Common Core state standards, summer bridge programming, and data sharing. Community outreach, parent engagement, and professional development will be a large part of this initiative. An example of an activity or project might be to develop a high school senior level math course that identifies and aligns high school to college knowledge gaps and increases successful college placement for high school graduates. The Coalition will build on existing resources that include Capital Area College Access Network, The Early College, High School Diploma Completion Initiative, and the Promise Programs: Hope Scholars, Holt Scholars, Lansing Promise, Mason Scholars, Leslie Aspire and Edgewood Scholars, and many other tri-county resources.

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  The Model

  The Coalition is modeled after a college readiness project created by Elgin Community College (ECC) in Elgin, Illinois. ECC established their Alliance for College Readiness in 2006. The Alliance works collaboratively in teams with faculty, businesses, and community members to ensure that high school graduates are ready for college level courses. They utilize an Advisory Council that connects five Action Teams and also include a summer bridge program, joint professional development for teachers and professors, and parent outreach. Elgin Community College was recognized with the 2012 Bellwether Award. The Bellwether College Consortium promotes effective post-secondary programs for replication at higher education institutions across the nation, and actively positions colleges to pursue various funding opportunities.

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  Our Team

  This project is an initiative of the Lansing Community College Board of Trustees and was created when Larry Meyer served as the Board’s Chairperson. It is overseen by Leah Melichar, Director of K-12 Operations.

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  Our Progress

  In spring semester 2014 Professor Humphries of the English, Humanities and Social Sciences Department was engaged to forward four aspects of the work of the C3R. She developed the coalition concept in this paper and a PowerPoint presentation, assisted in the recruitment of college staff and faculty to serve on work teams, and developed a plan for a Summer Bridge Program. During the summer semester 2014 session efforts focused on building awareness among external stakeholders and the Bridge Program Pilot. The focus during fall semester 2014 was to form action teams, identify action team leaders, and establish an Advisory Council.

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  Lessons Learned

  Since the inception of C3R the Coalition has experienced several changes. While the program continues to utilize collaborative partnerships with stakeholders in the tri-county area, the structure of the Coalition has evolved. We erudite that we were ambitious in our attempt to establish 7 action teams in 2014 and in 2017 with the help of the C3R Advisory Council we have reorganized our teams down to three action teams. This change allows C3R to facilitate efficiency, adaptability and opportunities for growth.

  To further assist C3R with continued process improvement, a SWOT Analysis was conducted in three (3) phases during the 2016/17 summit year. The first phase in April 2016 analyzed the strengths of the Coalition. The second phase in October 2016 examined the weaknesses, and during the January 2017 summit we examined the opportunities and threats of the Coalition. A report entitled "The State of C3R" will be shared during January 2018 summit. This report will provide our stakeholders with a report that examines the feasibility and sustainability of C3R.

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  FAQ

  1. What is C3R?
     C3R stands for The Coalition for College and Career Readiness (C3R). C3R is a coalition of concerned individuals and organizations in the tri-county area, Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton counties working together to increase the college and career readiness of high school graduates.
  2. What is the objective of C3R?
     To create best practices that can be adapted with fidelity and used across the tri-county area resulting in college and career readiness.
  3. Why has the C3R been formed?
     C3R has been formed to address the situation in which many new college students - most are high school graduates - find themselves. In a nutshell, required placement assessments show many students are not college and career ready. To address this situation, most colleges and universities, including LCC, offer courses in - and charge college tuition for - reading, writing and mathematics courses that do not lead to a college degree. In 2013, 62% of students entering Lansing Community College who had graduated from high school took at least one college-preparatory class in reading, writing or math.
  4. What will C3R do?
     The Coalition will be organized into action teams. These teams will examine aspects of P-20 education, the college going experience and workforce development. They will identify areas where enhancements can be made and create activities and projects that promote college and career readiness.
  5. What are the themes of the Action Teams?
     • Student Transition
     • Math
     • Data
     • English Language Arts
  6. Will LCC ‘fix’ the schools?
     No. LCC is one among many C3R partners. Any ‘fix’ will come from collective thinking and action. LCC will contribute ideas like any other C3R partner and provide an opportunity for partners to convene, and serve as the anchor organization.
  7. Who can get involved? Everyone. It is urgent that the tri-county area community keen on student success get involved. Faculty and staff of the public schools in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton Counties, P-20 staff and faculty, business, industry, community coalitions, workforce and economic development, non-profit organizations and faith-based organizations must all see C3R as a part of their work.
  8. What is a C3R Summit? The C3R “Partnering for Success” Summit is an event that includes dinner where C3R partners and stakeholders are updated on the work Action Teams have accomplished. Summits allow time for crucial conversations that lend to professional development. Summits usually include keynote speakers and presentations sharing best practices and presenting relevant information that contribute to the fulfillment of C3R goals.
  9. Who can make a “contribution” to C3R?
     The foundation of the success of C3R is contributions by a wide range of individuals involved with the range of groups representing the tri-county area. Community growth depends on people who can problem solve, and create and/or recognize solutions. By articulating what their organizations, school districts, colleges, communities and businesses need, C3R Action Teams can play a crucial role in creating a comprehensive set of solutions to the challenge of underprepared students. C3R is a channel by which the community of people with know-how can equip students who need to know.
  10. How often will the C3R Summits convene?
      C3R Summits will be held two (2) times per year.
  11. How will C3R achieve its goals?
      Through business and community partnerships under a common agenda with concerned individuals and organizations in the tri-county area-Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton counties. The Coalition will work to increase academic success for P-20 education, improve college and career readiness, and reduce the number of high school students in the tri-county area requiring developmental course work.
  12. If I have other questions, who do I contact?
      Call Leah Melichar, Director of K-12 Operations, at 517-483-1413 or send an e-mail to melichal@lcc.edu.
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  Important Information about C3R Structure

  The State of C3R