MORE GUIDANCE, BETTER RESULTS?

This line of reasoning suggests that activities and supports that promote students’ integrationinto the life of the community college can influence whether students stay or drop out.Student services may have the capacity to offer those kinds of activities and supports. Thus,Tinto’s analysis points to a possible pathway by which student services influence outcomes:these interventions may help students feel part of a community, which, in turn, helps thempersist academically. 12In describing components of one college’s student advising program, Steingass andSykes explain a potential theory of change underlying enhanced student advising:[A]dvisers can help students feel more connected with the university by increasingthe number of advising interactions with each individual student. Byfeeling more connected with the university, students make more informededucational decisions, interact more with faculty, collaborate with other studentsoutside of class, and report higher levels of satisfaction with their undergraduateexperience. Consequently, students will experience higher levelsof academic success and persist at higher rates. 13In other words, the logic behind the enhanced student services strategy of school improvementinvolves several steps. First, schools encourage or require students to interact morewith student services. These increased interactions lead students to feel more integrated, havinga greater sense of belonging in the college. This integration may be accompanied by increasedparticipation and engagement in college life, improving students’ overall college experience.Finally, the more integrated, engaged, and generally satisfied student will be more likely tosucceed in school.Integration, engagement, and eventually, improved satisfaction together make up onemechanism through which student services may increase student success. In addition, enhancedservices may result in improved student success by providing students with information theyotherwise might not obtain, enabling them to make better-informed decisions. This informationcould be about what courses are available to a student; what path a student must take in order toenter a certain career; who can help out with financial aid; and what academic, psychological,social, and family supports the college offers. Providing useful and accurate information tostudents is a primary goal of many student services, a goal that, if met, may lead to greaterstudent success.12 Tinto (1993), as cited in Purnell and Blank (2004).13 Steingass and Sykes (2008), 19.6