| The general elements for a student management model for community colleges were identified through an investigation of the literature on student retention and general systems theory. A two level national study was conducted to refine and validate a model. The first level questionnaire was mailed to a panel of experts on community college administration for identification of the essential elements for student success at open access institutions. These experts also identified eleven open access institutions throughout the country as quality oriented institutions. Fifty-four variables divided among eleven components were identified as being essential to the model.; The second level questionnaire was mailed to both the chief academic and student personnel officers at each of these exceptional institutions. This questionnaire consisted of the fifty-four variables divided up into eleven component areas: recruitment, admission, assessment, advisement, developmental program courses, general education courses, academic alert system, supplemental educational services, advisement information system, standards of academic progress system and exit interview.; A present level ranking and an ideal ranking were requested for each variable. Through return mail and telephone contact, 100 percent of all surveys were completed. None of the variables in the model presented to the practitioners were considered unimportant or non-essential. Responses were analyzed using a Chi Square analysis. Three of the essential components of the model, assessment, developmental program, and supplemental education support, were found to have no variables with a significant difference between the degree presently in place and the degree the chief academic officers stated they should be in place. These three components were considered to be the most important to the exceptional institutions as they were implemented to the recommended level. With the exception of two variables (using high school transcripts as an assessment tool and offering various admission schedules), over 60 percent of all administrators sampled stated that all of the variables studied should be used often or always by quality oriented community colleges. |
