Executive Summary

iStartSmart is a program at Paradise Valley Community College designed to increase student success.  The specific outcome of iStartSmart is to significantly increase rates of retention and persistence towards the successful accomplishment of each student's academic goals, whatever they may be.

Based on the concept of "informed intrusiveness," the application of systems thinking approaches, and researched results, iStartSmart introduced new organizational practices that contribute to student success.  These new organizational practices include the following:

1. Required placement testing
2. Required orientation
3. Required goal-setting
4. Required advising
5. Required successful completion of a one-credit student success course 

iStartSmart targets two specific student cohorts.  The cohorts include new-to-college, degree-seeking (or certificate-seeking) students who do one of the following:

1. Register for six or more credits and test into one or more developmental courses, OR
2. Enroll full-time, i.e. twelve or more credits.

iStartSmart also includes iGoal, a web-based student goal-setting experience, that encourages students to set goals and then guides them through the goal-setting process.  Based on research indicating that students who have clearly defined goals are much more likely to persist towards the accomplishment of those goals, iGoal provides an exceptional vehicle for assisting students in making substantive connections between their academic program and their goals.

During the Fall 2007 semester nearly 1000 PVCC students, who met the cohort definitions, participated in iStartSmart.  Some initial results are extremely promising. One example is in the persistence of part-time students. It was higher for students in iStartSmart success course than for those not.

iStartSmart is an exceptional example of how shared vision, a sharp focus on learning, the courage to question current practice and an effective goal-oriented "handshake" between academic faculty and student affairs staff, with support provided by college leadership, can effect systemic change in current practice and contribute to student success.

Link for New to College students --> Start Here