The college showcased its best practices in student services in presentations on December 4, 2009 at a conference sponsored by the Maryland Community College Vice Presidents and Deans of Students affinity group. The conference was held at Frederick Community College.

Advisor Hugh Warner and director of advising and counseling Janenne Corcoran made a presentation titled, "Yes, Degree Audits Work: Advising + Classroom + Degree Audit = Greater Student Success." Warner and Corcoran discussed how they use degree audits in classroom settings to help students explore, plan, and develop options for educational planning.

"Faculty and advisors enjoy a collaboration which allows them to identify classes in various departments to teach students how to do educational planning through degree audits. This results in better persistence, retention, and success. Students can better identify their majors and be more self-directed," said Warner.

"We emphasize self-direction for students because it empowers them to identify their long-term goals," said Corcoran. "Research shows that students who are stakeholders in their educations have more success."

Participants learned how to use the degree audit as a practical student planning tool, and learned strategies to take back to their campuses for implementation of degree audit collaborative approaches with faculty.

Director of student life Kristie Crumley and director of admissions Candace Edwards made a presentation titled, "The First-Year Success Program: Creating Smooth Transitions for Community College Students." Crumley and Edwards discussed how first-time college students can get started on the right path through an enriched first-year experience. Students are connected to mentors in Student Affairs who guide them through their first semester with academic, financial, and career goal-setting, get them involved on campus and in the community, and facilitate development of College Success portfolios.

"This program allows us to reach out to students and teach them these important skills during the critical transition time of their first semester in college, before they get into trouble", said Edwards.

"We have seen higher enrollment and completion rates in the College Success Course, since implementing the First-Year Success Program (FYSP)," said Edwards. "It has allowed us to offer more sections of this course each fall, giving more students the option to take advantage of this course. The FYSP scholarship is a great motivator for students, who definitely benefit from the program."

"Research shows students who are involved on campus tend to stay the course through college," added Crumley.

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