Overview
In March of 2020, Stone Child College (SCC) was one of five TCUs (Tribal Colleges and Universities) to be chosen for the Cultivating Native Student College Success: TCU Strategic Enrollment Management grant funded by the American Indian College Fund (AICF). The remaining four TCUs selected were Oglala Lakota College (SD), United Tribes Technical College (ND), Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College (WI), and Salish Kootenai College (MT).
As part of this 30-month program, SCC was tasked to create a Student Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan in our continued efforts to help increase the institution’s capacity to better recruit, retain, and graduate students while also increasing sustainability as a higher education institution. The program began in April 2020 and will finish with a final reporting timeline of January 2023
Vision
Student enrollment management should not be the responsibility of a single person or department within the institution. Every member of the college community plays a role in our students’ experience at SCC. Some may have more active responsibilities than others, but everyone’s interactions should contribute to the success our students have from initial enrollment through graduation. This collegewide collaborative effort focuses on what is best for the student and how to ensure their success in higher education.
Mission
Stone Child College is a tribally chartered college established to deliver post-secondary educational opportunities through degrees, certificates, and community education. SCC stresses the importance of preserving the Chippewa Cree language, culture, and history. Stone Child College demonstrates its commitment to student learning and achievement by providing quality educational programs and student services that professionally prepare students for the workforce or further education.
About Stone Child College
Stone Child College (SCC) is located on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, Montana, home to the Chippewa Cree Tribe and is a tribally controlled community college. Having been chartered by the Chippewa Cree Tribal Business Committee in 1984, SCC serves the Rocky Boy community and surrounding areas by delivering post-secondary educational programs, workforce training opportunities, public events, and dedication towards cultural preservation.
SCC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is listed in the Accredited Institutions of Higher Education published by the American Council on Education for the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation.
The institution offers a variety of degrees, certificates, and community education and maintains open enrollment.
Project Change Team
Special thanks to the members of the Stone Child College project change team for their contributions towards the creation of the SEM Plan. Utilizing campus observations, conversations with the college community, and data review, the project team was able to develop a comprehensive enrollment management plan. This plan contains goals with measurable objectives and strategies that will demonstrate an increase in enrollment, retention, and completion. It was also designed to be adaptable to change, as necessary.
• Cory Sangrey-Billy | President
• Jessie Demontiney | Personnel Officer
• Marquieta Jilot | Dean of Student Services
• Shane Sangrey | Retention Officer
• Jolin Sunchild | Financial Aid Officer
• Kristie Pullin | Recruitment Consultant
• Kendal Chandler | IR Analyst
• Jada Murie | Admissions Specialist
• Wilma Tyner | Dean of Academics
The project change team would also like to thank Dr. Kelly LaChance, Dr. Tom Green, Lisa Silverstein, Rebecca Garvoille, the American Indian College Fund, for their shared ideas, help, and support.
SEM Background
The concept of strategic enrollment management initially began at four-year universities to help manage student enrollment and serve as a guide to student success, from inquiry to completion. SEM helps colleges look at their current enrollment issues from an institution-wide perspective.
According to enrollment research scholar Don Hossler, enrollment management is defined as "an organizational concept and a systematic set of activities designed to enable educational institutions to exert more influence over their student enrollments. Organized by strategic planning and supported by institutional research, enrollment management activities concern student college choice, transition to college, student attrition and retention, and student outcomes. These processes are studied to guide institutional practices in the areas of new student recruitment and financial aid, student support services, curriculum development, and other academic areas that affect enrollments, student persistence, and student outcomes from college"
Having a clear and organized plan that contains a step-by-step approach to tackling enrollment, retention and graduation issues faced by SCC is likely to ensure success when there is buy-in from faculty, staff, and other members of the college community.
Areas of Focus
• Implementation of Retention and Recruitment Activities
• Marketing
• Admissions and Financial Aid
• Data-Driven Decisions
• Continued professional development for faculty and staff
• Resources
• Student Success
Design Concept
The Medicine Wheel:
Used by generations of Native American tribes to signify health and healing; can also be used as a guide on any journey, including one’s own educational journey. On the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, having a solid educational background serves as a form of personal wellness for many. Through higher education degree attainment, many doors which were previously closed are opened, giving way to new goals and successes. It is our hope that the people of Rocky Boy utilize the resources and opportunities available at Stone Child College to aid in their educational endeavors.
Covers Four Crucial Areas
• Recruitment
o Enrollment Growth
• Student Success
o Engagement and positive outcomes
• Retention
o Implementing Strategies, Persistence
• Completion
o Heightened Graduation
It is important to remember that one underlying teaching behind most Medicine Wheels is to show the interconnectedness and interrelatedness of all things. We realize that these areas of focus are all connected and integral to student success at Stone Child College.
Trends
Following information taken from Stone Child College Benchmarking Summary (Updated January 2021) based off AIMS/AKIS reports
Enrollment Trend (Without Summers)
• Although SCC as seen a slight decrease in enrollment since Spring 2020 due to impacts related to COVID-19, enrollment continues to be is higher than the 5-YR Fall 2015-Fall 2019 baseline average of 240 students.
Persistence Trends (Fall to Spring)
Student Demographics
• Data used from terms Fall 2019 to Spring 2021.
• Both the part-time percentage and non-degree seeking percentage reflect the professional workforce training and skill-building opportunities that SCC provides for many of the tribal entities on the reservation.
ETHNICITY
GENDER
Targets
Enrollment Targets
• Targets indicate an increase in enrollment by 30% over three years (Fall 2021-Fall 2023) based off AIMS/AKIS Benchmark.
o Baseline: 5-YR Average (Fall 2015-Fall 2019) is 240 students
o Year 1 (Fall 2021): 264 students (+10%)
o Year 2 (Fall 2022): 288 students (+20%)
o Year 3 (Fall 2023): 312 students (+30%)
Retention Targets
Fall 2021 Fall 2023
• Targets indicate an increase in first year fall-to-fall retention by 12% over three years (Fall 2021Fall 2021) based of AIMS/AKIS Benchmark.
o Baseline: 5-YR Average (Fall 2014-2019) is 55% retention rate
o Year 1 (Fall 2020-Fall 2021): 59% retention rate (+4%)
o Year 2 (Fall 2021-Fall 2022): 63% retention rate (+8%)
o Year 3 (Fall 2022- Fall 2023): 67% retention rate (+12%)
Persistence Target (Fall to Spring)
• Target indicates an increase in fall-to-spring persistence from the 3-YR Average of 67% to 75% by Spring 2023.
• (3-YR Average is based off Fall 2016-Fall 2019 semesters)
Graduation Targets
• Targets indicate a 30% increase in graduation based off Fall 2016 cohort (AIMS/AKIS GR150 data): 27% graduate rate
o Year 1 (Fall 2017 cohort) 32% (+5%)
o Year 2 (Fall 2018 cohort) 37% (+10%)
o Year 3 (Fall 2019 cohort) 42% (+15%)
o Year 4 (Fall 2020 cohort) 47% (+20%)
o Year 5 (Fall 2021 cohort) 52% (+25%)
o Year 6 (Fall 2022 cohort) 57% (+30%)
• Based on cohort graduating with an associate degree in three or fewer years.
Current Recruitment Practices
• Accessing Choices in Education (ACE)
o Liaisons placed in each local high school (Box Elder HS and Rocky Boy HS)
o Visits with students (6th-12th grade) on a weekly basis August-June
• Annual MPSEOC College/Career Fair
o Travel to other TCUS during their fairs
• High School Visits
o Financial Aid Officer visits graduating seniors 3 times per academic year regarding FAFSA Application Process
o Scholarship Officer visits graduating seniors 3 times per academic year regarding Tribal Higher Education grants and scholarships
• Dual Enrollment MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
o Agreement with local high schools (Box Elder HS and Rocky Boy HS)
o Offering 10+ courses
• Elementary Education Program MOU
o Agreement with local high schools (Box Elder HS, Rocky Boy HS, Big Sandy HS, Havre HS)
o Focused on student teaching, clinical, mentoring, and practicum.
• Providing skill-building opportunities to working professionals in the community
• 2+2 Articulation Agreements (Transfer MOUs)
o University of Montana
Social Work
o Montana State University-Northern
Business
• Outreach
o School Facebook and Instagram accounts
o Local radio ads
o Local newspaper press releases
o Direct mailing sent out each semester
• On-Campus Actions
o Campus Visits and Tours
o Library Events
o Basketball Games
o Orientation where families are present
Current Retention Practices
• Mandatory Orientation
o New students, returning students
o In-person, online
• SCC’s Alert System
o Faculty notify Retention Officer when concerns regarding a student’s attendance, academic performance, or mental health arise
o Retention Officer “triages” issues and refers students to appropriate support
• Tutoring and Peer Mentoring
• Midterm Madness
o Event held each semester with activities to help students release stress during midterms
o Academic advising sessions with advisors and faculty
• Tidbit Tuesday
o Monthly informational luncheons
• Freshman Seminar
• Student cohorts
• Tutoring Center
o Art Raining Bird Learning Center
• Student Life/Clubs
o American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL)
• Mental Health Services
o Talkspace app
• Transportation Services
• Child Care Services
• Library Services
o Extended hours during midterms and finals week
• On-campus exercise and gymnasium facility
• Career Exploration
o Career fairs held on campus
o Career Center Marketing
• Partnered with BANIK (marketing firm out of Great Falls, MT) to rebrand our institution
• Marketing campaign included: Social Media advertising, Radio advertising, Web Banner advertising, local newspaper advertising.
• This establishes and promotes a consistent institutional image/brand that focuses on academic quality, achievement, and cultural ties.
• Hired a Communication Specialist
Implementation and Resources
Internal
Academics
• Faculty involvement with student recruitment strategies
• Continued professional development and implementations of best practices
• Continued work towards adding more articulation agreements and 2+2 programs with other universities.
Admissions
• Creation of a recruitment office.
• Consider “mobile-first” enrollment experience (optimize website experience so potential students can easily access information and fill out application from their cellular device)
• On-line enrollment for returning students
Campus Growth
• New Library
• Extension building
Family Engagement
• Continued efforts by Financial Aid Officer to host “Parent Night”, allows students and guardians the time to work of FAFSA application and to research scholarship opportunities
• Continued efforts by Library to host family events (ribbon skirt workshops, virtual book talks, beading events, monthly and holiday crafting kits, family fun nights)
Organizational Engagement
• Implement initiatives such as “Day of Service”, Native American Week Events, basketball camps
• Help with the development of student-led organizations (Single Parents Unite, LGBTQ+ and Allies Club, intramural sports teams, etc.)
Partnership
• Continued relationships with local public schools to support student teaching opportunities
• Collaboration with both local high schools for dual enrollment
• Internship Opportunities within Tribal departments
Social and Emotional Engagement
• Increase social media presence
• Continue to implement new marketing and branding initiative
• Press releases for campus highlights
External
High School Graduation and Drop-Out Rates
• According to Montana OPI (January 2021), the 2020 statewide graduation rate was 85.89 percent while the dropout rate was just below 2 percent.
o American Indian students graduate at a much lower rate (68.27 percent) and have a dropout rate of 4.79 percent (over double the statewide rate).
o Rocky Boy falls in the 50-59 percent graduation rate classification
o Box Elder falls in the 40-59 percent graduation rate classification
Economy
• According to the Montana Legislative Services Division 2018 Report, Rocky Boy has a poverty rate of 37.9% (almost triple that of the state and nation)
• With the nation’s unpredictable economy, appropriations by federal and state funding sources will continue to fluctuate
Career Outlook
• According to Newsweek, the highest-paying occupations fall into a wide range of categories: science, technology, engineering, computer and information systems, advertising and marketing, business, and finance. The high growth careers within these disciplines are just as wide ranging, which is great news for those seeking employment
Student Success Resources:
• Centrally located on the reservation
• Four-year Elementary Education and Early Childhood degrees
• Cost
• Face-to-face AND virtual orientations
• Open Admissions
• Athletics Program
• Cultural opportunities
• Free Student Support Services: Daycare, Transportation, Tutoring, Learning Center, Gym, etc.
• Small faculty-to-student ratio
• Tuition Assistance programs
• Well-kept campus and landscaping
Opportunities:
• Growing demand for customized professional development and employee training
• Up-to-date technology
• Federal Funding
• Career Placement
• Internship opportunities
• Additional four-year degrees offered
Areas of Concern:
• Students choosing MSUN over SCC
• Stop-outs occur after Pell Grant disbursals
• Perceived value of a college degree
• Students entering workforce right out of high school
Data-Driven
• Data warehouse
• Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP)
• National Clearing House
• Benchmarks
Goals and Objectives
Goal Area 1: Increase Enrollment
Recruitment
Goal: Increase Recruitment Efforts
Increase high school student opportunity for early:
• Enrollment
• Placement Testing
• Financial Aid
Develop one (1) formal recruitment plan
• Providing five (5) dual enrollment classes to Box Elder and Rocky Boy High School Students per semester (winter and spring)
• Continue high school outreach VIA the ACES liaisons.
• Continue high school outreach VIA Financial Aid and Scholarship Officers
• Analyze past recruitment efforts and determine what activities bring in the most interest
• Utilize data to inform recruitment practices
• Utilize networking skills to reach out to surrounding schools for guidance in development of plan
Goal Area 2: Professional Development
Professional Development
Goal: Staff and faculty training related to SEM planning and strategies
Objective
Provide professional development opportunities for faculty and classified professionals that focus on career and academic advising
First Year Learning Experience training for instructors, retention staff, and key personnel
• Staying on track with student education plans
• Providing job and career fairs
• Career exploration
• Establish, expand, and support learning communities and cohorts
• Attending FYE Conferences
Metric for Success
Number of classes offered; completion and success rates in each class; number of dual enrolled students who matriculate after high school
Number of enrolled students at each semester; Incoming student survey on effectiveness of recruitment strategies
Participation rates in professional development trainings; persistence, retention, and graduation rates; job attainment data; number of up-todate education plans; career plans
Retention, persistence, and success rates among cohorts in comparison to overall student population
Goal Area 3: Retention
Retention
Goal: Improve student experience from entrance to exit
Objective
Provide key student supports
Strategies
• Tidbit Tuesdays (informational luncheons updating students on campus events, educational opportunities, visits with advisors, etc.)
• Increase the utilization of the Learning Center by renovating space and making it desirable to students.
Metrics for Success
Participation rates in support services areas; First Year Student surveys; persistence and success rates for students who visit center
Develop one (1) formal retention plan
• Analyze retention efforts and determine which strategies/activities work best
• Celebrate student success through positive communication
Persistence and retention rates; student satisfaction surveys; attendance rates; response data concerning communication efforts (e.g., survey responses)
References
Bell, D., 2021. [online] Edcan.ca. Available at: https://www.edcan.ca/articles/teaching-by-themedicine-wheel /
Dewitt, E., 2021. The 75 highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor's degree. [online] Newsweek. Available at: https://www.newsweek.com/75-highest-paying-jobs-that-require-bachelors-degree1601993
Gems.opi.mt.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: https://gems.opi.mt.gov/
HOSSLER, DON; BEAN, JOHN P.; and ASSOCIATES. 1990. The Strategic Management of College Enrollments. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Leg.mt.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: https://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/20172018/Economic-Affairs/Meetings/Sept-2018/SJR20-final-report-draft8-18-18.pdf
news.mt.gov. 2021. Superintendent Arntzen Announces Historically Low Dropout Rates for Montana [online] Available at: https://news.mt.gov/superintendent-arntzen-announces -historically-lowdropout-rates-for-montana
Wilkinson, R., Taylor, J. and Peterson, A., 2021. [online] Files.eric.ed.gov. Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED499875.pdf