Research Framework

Literature Review

A literature review and discussions with key practitioners and researchers indicates student support activities must be (1) integrated into students’ daily experience and (2) included in the overall curriculum. This research also demonstrates that students are more likely to succeed when they are directed, focused, nurtured, engaged, connected and valued. We define these "six success factors” as:

• Directed: helping students clarify their aspirations, develop an educational focus they perceive as meaningful and develop a plan that moves them from enrollment to achievement of their goal
• Focused: fostering students’ motivation and helping them develop the skills needed to achieve their goals
• Nurtured: conveying a sense of caring where students’ success is important and expected
• Engaged: actively involving students in meaningful and authentic educational experiences and activities inside and outside the classroom
• Connected: creating connections between students and the institution and cultivating relationships that underscore how students’ involvement with the college community can contribute to their academic and personal success
• Valued: providing students with opportunities to contribute to and enrich the college culture and community

We will update this literature review throughout the life of the project to ensure the study continues incorporating new research on this subject into its design and analysis and addresses additional questions that arise as our examination unfolds.

Read the latest edition of the literature review brief.

Download six success factors graphic with definitions.

Research Activities

Phase 1 – Student Perspectives (Summer 2011 - Fall 2012; complete):

• Conducted phone surveys with 785 students at 12 California community colleges that (1) demonstrate higher rates of transfer for or enroll high concentrations of Latino and/or African-American students and (2) represent the geographic and size diversity of the state’s system
• Further explored key survey findings through focus groups at four colleges involving 102 students
• Determined what factors students find particularly supportive of their success

Read the study research questions.

Review the student perspectives survey instrument.

Review student focus group instruments including consent form, questions and the six success factors rating sheet.

Phase 2 – Practitioner Perspectives (Fall 2012 – Fall 2013; in progress):

• Convening stakeholders to discuss key student perspectives findings
• Engaging practitioners in assessing their own colleges’ approach to support based on what students say they need to succeed and identifying opportunities for related institutional change
• Profiling examples of colleges that have pursued coherent institutional change to improve student support 

Phase 3 – Stakeholder Discussions (Fall 2013 – Spring 2014):

• Convene stakeholders to discuss practitioner findings
• Facilitate dialog with college practitioners and state-level leaders about how to take action on these findings at both the college and system levels

Read a full updated description of the project’s methodology.