Work Team 3: Summer Melt
Summer melt: Students who intend to go to college but do not enroll in the fall after graduating. Intent is measured by a student completing the application process and having been accepted to at least one college.
FOCUS AREAS
Developing and implementing pilot summer programs for Summer 2023 and evaluating success for possible expansion in Summer 2024.
Piloting communication and recruitment strategies to ensure equitable access to summer academic and career preparation opportunities.
Establishing a process and shared plan to ensure postsecondary and community partners contribute to efforts to reduce summer melt.
MEETING NOTES
TEAM MEMBERS
Michelle Arnold | Interim Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, Middle Tennessee State University
Erin Black | College Coach, Nashville State Community College
Wendy Blackmore | Director of Operations, Tennessee College Access and Success Network
Morgan Campey | Senior Director of High School and Post-Secondary Initiatives, Martha O'Bryan Center
Stephanie Coleman | Chief Talent Development Officer, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Ginger de Martinez | College & Career Readiness Coach, John Overton High School
Kevin Edwards | Ready Graduate Analyst, Metro Nashville Public Schools
Janessa Graham | College and Career Coordinator, Martha O'Bryan Center
JP Gray | Project Director - GEAR UP, Metro Nashville Public Schools
Laura Herrell | Project Manager, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Nicole Hubbs | Director of Career Services, Nashville State Community College
Crystal Hunter | Accreditation and Compliance Coordinator, TCAT Nashville
Mitchell Marquez | Dual Enrollment Support Specialist, TCAT Nashville
Kati Stafford-Murphy | Student Success Advisor, Nashville State Community College - North Davidson campus
YEAR 4 ACTION PLAN
Improve and/or expand summer programming to address summer melt so students are more likely to enroll and have a successful transition.
Outcome 3.1: Students have equitable access to academic and career preparation opportunities during the summer.
3.1.1: Develop pilot summer programs and recruitment strategies so that students have equitable access to academic and career preparation activities over the summer.
Pilot programs were developed and implemented in summer 2023.
3.1.2: Recruit students for summer programming beginning in January or February and ensure families understand how they can support academic and career preparation over the summer.
3.1.3: Implement and evaluate success of Summer 2023 programs.
Summer 2023 programs wrapped up in August. Success evaluated at institutional level and discussed as a work team.
Outcome 3.2: Identify collaboration opportunities to reduce summer melt for postsecondary and community partners supporting seamless transitions and persistence for students who intend to enroll in postsecondary at the end of 12th grade.
3.2.1: Establish a process to communicate student postsecondary plans and enrollment status with postsecondary and community partners.
3.2.2: Create a shared plan and process to ensure postsecondary and community partners contribute to efforts to reduce summer melt.
3.2.3: Develop a shared plan for student support and communication for the summer between high school and postsecondary.
Outcome 3.3: Policy changes are advanced that reduce barriers for underrepresented students such as tuition equity for undocumented students, earlier access to dual enrollment and summer funding, and transportation access.
3.3.1: Continue advocacy efforts across partner organizations.
3.3.2: Release transportation study and policy scan reports to identify policy recommendations around transportation access and other barriers to postsecondary success.
NSR transportation study (released June 2023)
NSR policy scan (released August 2023)
