The mission of the Temple College Center for Teaching and Learning is to encourage student success by promoting collaboration among learning communities and providing evidence-based resources that empower faculty and staff to test and refine innovative practices.

We work with faculty and staff in a variety of methods to achieve this mission. Our current work focuses on best practices in equity, using peer review, book clubs, and intentional design for our most vulnerable students. The CTL works on the premise of a growth mindset for our faculty and staff, building learning communities in which we learn from each other. Our just-in-time new faculty mentoring and in our roundtable and learning group professional development demonstrates this new reliance on faculty and staff teaching each other.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Temple College, Provost/Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs and Student Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Kimberly George at kimberly.george@templejc.edu or 254-298-8382

The Circle of Access and Retention in Education (CARE) will examine structures, processes, and culture for a comprehensive approach to change success for our students, particularly adult learners of color, by changing our processes and by providing additional support to increase persistence and completion rates. The CARE project expands the college's work in becoming a student-ready college through the creation of holistic student support redesign by focusing on key priority areas: a redesign of Student Enrollment Services, the reimagining of the student orientation experience, small-scale pilots of holistic student support including embedded tutors and peer mentors, and professional development for staff and faculty to support these efforts. The targeted population will be adult learners, specifically students of color.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Susan Guzman-Trevino at susan.guzmantrevino@templejc.edu or 254-298-8340

The Circle of Support is a partnership between Temple College and the Temple community to ensure no student drops out of college because of life barriers, including emergency expenses, child care, transportation, housing, and food. Students in need of assistance with non-academic issues can access the Circle of Support Resource Center in person, by phone, by email, or may opt to complete an online intake form. Once a request is received, a student can expect an initial response from the director within 24 hours. The reply will include referrals to community organizations that assist with the student's specific barrier, including mental health services, vaccinations, women's services, and help with utilities.
In addition to connecting students to external resources, the Circle of Support offers in-house resources. Students needing emergency aid for expenses such as car repairs, unexpected medical expenses, and basic needs can receive help in two ways. First, supported by a faculty recommendation, a student can receive a one-time award of up to $300 to help offset emergency expenses through the Student Success Fund. Second, the student can apply for a no-interest Leopard Loan.
Temple College recognizes that food insecurity is a serious concern that can interfere with academic performance and student success. Therefore, the Circle of Support Resource Center features an on-campus food pantry open to students and employees experiencing food insecurity. Aside from traditional canned and dry food products, shoppers may choose from various fresh proteins, dairy, and produce. Additionally, the pantry offers hygiene and cleaning products.
Providing the students access to resources that address life barriers such as mental health needs, housing, childcare, emergency funds, and food insecurity speaks to Temple College's focus on student success and the importance of a holistic approach to serving students.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: President's Office

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Clarissa Martinez at clarissa.martinez@templejc.edu or 2542988767

HSI L.E.A.D.S. Program is designed to provide support and encouragement for Hispanic and low-income students at Temple College (Temple) to pursue high-paying, high-demand, STEM careers in the central Texas region. The Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI)- Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and Articulation Programs, proposed to increase the number of Hispanic and other low-income students attaining STEM degrees and credentials using a two-pronged approach to create a culture of STEM that:

1. Starts students in Grades K-12 with STEM coursework and providing supports until degree completion at Temple and/or transfer to another degree-granting institution.

2. Creates a STEM workplace culture through enhanced hands-on STEM activities, increased professional development for Temple faculty, and STEM employer engagement.

Click on the “Learn More for Details” button on our webpage to visit our Google Site for additional information.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Academic Affairs

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Eva Margarita Mungui­a at eva.munguia@templejc.edu or 254-298-8591

Under the direction of the Director of Student Retention, the goal of the Student Success Coaches is to build rapport with students through communication and trust. The Success Coaches use an early alert program called CRM Advise to identify students that are at risk, as they enter the College. The markers used are socioeconomic factors, test scores, EFC numbers, and FTIC status. Success Coaches are responsible for communicating with these students, to ensure that they are aware of services, on campus activities, and social clubs. Using the CRM Advise program, faculty members are also able to send alerts to the Success Coaches when there is a student that is exhibiting at risk behavior(s) in the classroom. The factors that are used would be missing class, assignments, not prepared, and poor performance on assignments. When a professor creates an at-risk alert in Advise, the Success Coach will contact the students through text, email, and phone calls. The Coaches will attempt to build a rapport with the student in an effort to figure out where they can help. In many cases, the student will be referred to on-campus resources, offered time management tips, study strategies, and test taking strategies. The Success Coaches also act as academic advisors to all students and a Financial Aid advisor to students. Finally, the Success Coaches are responsible for all New Student Orientations (NSO). These orientations are offered as a face-to-face option and an online option. The NSO is the first step to improving the first-year experience for the students. The Success Coaches give the students an understanding of what it will take to be successful, while also providing the new students with a clear picture of what is expected of them.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Student Retention, Divionsion of Student and Enrollment Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Adrian Sora at adrian.sora@templejc.edu or 2546819668