College Fluency Capacity Building: Insights from a Northeastern Community College
The second case study in this series looks at a small northeastern community college that has been developing college fluency programs with both their library and non-library faculty and staff. The college fluency initiatives are still in their early stages, with a primary focus on the library. Other more traditional programs at this college that also contribute to college fluency are primarily non-library related, highlighting just how much of a campus-wide effort it takes to promote greater college fluency.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize that all students, faculty, and staff have different levels of understanding higher education culture and systems, as socio-economic, linguistic, and cultural factors can influence different understanding of college concepts, terminology, and technology. Acknowledging diverse student backgrounds is crucial for college fluency and ensuring equitable access.
- Implement continuously updated and accessible resources, such as regularly updated FAQ pages and LibGuides and extended orientation sessions, to provide students with the tools to navigate enrollment and bureaucratic processes, fostering a greater sense of agency and promoting self-advocacy throughout their higher education journey.
- Implement proactive outreach initiatives, such as sending reminders and offering help before and during the semester, to continuously address student concerns and questions.
- Facilitate students’ peer-to-peer interactions by providing opportunities, for instance through student ambassador programs, to develop networks that help students thrive in their academic and personal lives.
- Encourage staff to be approachable in student spaces to foster informal, supportive interactions.
- Adopt a multifaceted approach to measuring success beyond quantitative metrics. Include qualitative indicators such as student feedback and student definitions of success to assess the impact and effectiveness of programs.
