MORE GUIDANCE, BETTER RESULTS?

An alternative interpretation of the study’s results is that, given that the programboosted registration during the second semester in which the program services were provided,and, to some extent, during the semester after the program ended, it was successful. While thepositive impacts were not sustained, the two-semester program could be considered successfulas a first step toward longer-term academic success. The question then becomes: What, ifanything, can be done in order to sustain or even increase the temporary positive programimpacts? Here, speculation is the only option — speculation that presents interesting areas forfuture research on enhanced student services.One explanation for the program’s short-term success and lack of long-term success isthat the one-year duration of the program was simply too short. Many who advocate forenhanced student services view them as an ongoing need, not a temporary, one- or two-semesterneed. It is plausible that in order for enhanced student services to lead to sustained impacts,program efforts must be sustained. Since the registration drop-off rate is so dramatic during thefirst year (as depicted in Figure 5.1), it was reasonable to wonder whether a strong one-yearprogram might “nip in the bud” the persistence problem; however, such was not the case in thisstudy. Given this finding, it seems reasonable to wonder whether a similar intervention that isimplemented for a longer duration would lead to the desired long-term impacts.While increasing the program’s duration is one possible way to boost the program’slong-term impacts, it may also be worth exploring more comprehensive approaches to enhancedstudent services. The program studied in Ohio was robust and implemented with goodfidelity to the design; however, in order to see larger and more enduring impacts, morecomprehensive student services strategies may be required. Although some additional serviceswere provided, the studied program focused mainly on enhanced academic counseling, whichis one of several key student services. While academic counseling may attempt to addresssome of the barriers to students’ persistence, it alone may not be enough. A more comprehensiveapproach to enhanced student services could also include enhanced academic supports,like tutoring, remedial assistance, and time management and study skills training. A morecomprehensive approach might also offer enhanced supplemental services, like on-campuschild care and transportation assistance.Still, it is important to consider that it is unlikely that enhanced student services alonecan address all of the barriers to student academic success. Student services are unlikely to havea large impact on several areas that may be critical to students’ academic success, such asfinancial assistance or the activities that go on within the college classroom. It is possible that inorder for enhanced student services to have a substantial effect on community college students,they need to be offered in conjunction with other reforms that significantly reduce the financialburden of attending community college (that is, more considerable reforms than the modest65