When students enroll in college, most are thinking about the end goal: the degree, the future career, the money they’re going to make. It’s true that those with college degrees, from an A.A.S. to a Ph.D., earn more money than those with a high school diploma. What’s also true is that students with extra supports while they’re in college, whether it’s tutoring or being a member of an athletic team, do better in college and are more likely to succeed.
At St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC), this has been the case for several of our student cohorts.
- Cyclones athletes need to maintain a certain GPA and credit load to participate in sports, and they get focused advising and mentoring from their coaches.
- Students who visit the on-campus tutoring center have a higher retention rate and do better in classes.
- Students who participate in program-based student clubs such as SkillsUSA, Collegiate DECA, and the Practical Nursing Club are more likely to return to SCTCC and finish their degrees compared to their peers not involved in their respective clubs.
With a smaller number of students-to-advisor ratio, more support is available, and many students in these cohorts bond with each other over their shared interests, creating a sense of belonging and lifelong friendships.
That isn’t to say that students who are not in these programs don’t have access to advisors, tutors, mental health support, career advising, and more. All SCTCC students have access to college support services designed to assist them in reaching their goals, not to mention several on-campus opportunities to get involved. The programs above have a more intrusive model that addresses academic difficulties before it’s too late.
The good news is that SCTCC is working to do more for more students with this model. We know the model works; it’s just a matter of time and capacity with staffing and space. When we presented the idea of a cohort model for first-generation students to the J.A. Wedum Foundation, they responded with a $2 million match gift.
You may be wondering, why first-generation students? Nearly 60 percent of our students have parents who have not earned a bachelor’s degree, and almost 25 percent have parents with no post-secondary degree. That means that the majority of SCTCC students are first-generation, according to the federal definition.
The success of these students is critical to the future of Central Minnesota and beyond. When they come to college, they may encounter obstacles that no one in their family has handled before, as well as challenges like full-time work and financial constraints. By providing additional supports, SCTCC is ensuring their level of familiarity with the system is on par with other students.
Armed with this information, our proven models, and a generous gift from the J.A. Wedum Foundation, the College got to work.
The first hire SCTCC made was Becky Krystyniak, the Dean of Academic Innovation & Success. In addition to overseeing the First-Gen Cyclones Success program, Krystyniak provides direction for the Center for Teaching and Learning as well as Library Services. Soon after, the College welcomed two Cyclone Success Coordinators, Tomy Cassalom and Nena Vasovic. With staffing in place, the objectives of the Wedum Center for Student Success started to come together, and this fall semester the Coordinators will begin reaching out to first-generation students with focused support and resources.
With staffing operational, SCTCC is about to tackle the second hurdle: space. Since opening the Heartland Building in 2016, the top floor of the building has been empty. Now, after a groundbreaking in October, the College is ready to start its renovation. In addition to the funding from the J.A. Wedum Foundation, SCTCC was a recipient of HEAPR—Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement—funding this year, which was needed to replace the roof to meet updated building code.
In October, we will welcome legislators, community members, students, and SCTCC supporters to “Raze the Roof.” The expected grand opening of the new space, which will include a new additional entrance, is Fall 2026. Once completed, the Wedum Center for Student Success house the First-Gen Cyclones Success program as well as the on-campus tutoring center, the Mary Stangler Center for Academic Success. With the Library on the main floor and Campus Life and Cyclones Athletics in the lower level, the renovated Heartland Building will be a dynamic student space.
The matching gift of $2 million was to get us started, and the long-term success of the program relies on the success of SCTCC students. Given our knowledge of how support affects completion, we anticipate the first-year retention increase will be 7.5%. With that projection, it’s anticipated that the program will sustain itself by winter of 2029.
The circular fashion of the program—success begets success—is apropos for SCTCC, with our signature feature a circular sculpture named “Interconnected.” The people who work here, whether faculty, administration, or staff, take this to heart and provide a space for all students to reach their goals. When students succeed, it’s not just for them and their families; it means success for our community, for our industry partners, for our state, and for our society. Combined with opportunities already available at SCTCC, the new Wedum Center for Student Success will provide even more opportunities for us all to do better.
For further information on the topics in this article, the following article are good resources.
The College Payoff – Dept. Of Education
Involvement in College Matters – Ohio State University