Baltimore City Community College Success Coach - Project & Progress
Meet Ann Scriber Briggs, a TMA AmeriCorps VISTA Serving with Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) on the MAT 107 Student Success Project
Ann Scriber Briggs joined the MAT 107 Student Success Project at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) in July 2024, bringing enthusiasm for student engagement and a passion for leveraging technology to improve learning outcomes. Her work focuses on increasing retention and graduation rates for students enrolled in MAT 107, a key math requirement for multiple degree and certificate programs. Through targeted outreach, academic interventions, and resource coordination, Ann aims to help students overcome barriers to success.
PROJECT:
TMA BCCC MAT 107 Student Success VISTA – Project Summary
MAT 107 is a foundational math course at BCCC, serving as a required component for several degree and certificate programs. Unfortunately, pass rates for the course have remained a challenge, often hovering below 50%. The MAT 107 Student Success Project was developed to address this issue by providing structured academic support, tutoring referrals, and proactive student outreach.
The project engages students through one-on-one communication, targeted interventions, and review sessions aimed at improving their understanding of course materials. Additionally, it works to build sustainable support structures that can extend beyond the current VISTA term. Ann plays a critical role in refining data collection methods, tracking student progress, and implementing technology-based solutions to improve overall engagement and success.
PROGRESS:
Strengthening Academic Support
At the heart of this project is the goal of improving student outcomes in MAT 107, a historically challenging course. Before Ann’s arrival, Spring 2024 data showed that fewer than half of students passed the class, with fewer than half of students passing, as the success rate stood at 47.6%. Recognizing the need for earlier interventions, Ann quickly set to work building support systems that could positively impact student performance.
By the Fall 2024 term, Ann helped identify 142 students in need of support. As the semester progressed and some students withdrew, 124 remained engaged in the program.
By the Fall 2024 term, Ann helped identify 142 students in need of support. As the semester progressed and some students withdrew, 124 remained engaged in the program. Understanding that preparation is key, she coordinated free review sessions and sent targeted emails to 41 at-risk students—those struggling to maintain a passing grade—encouraging them to take advantage of available resources. Her efforts ensured that students received timely academic support.
Building Connections & Expanding Resources
From the beginning, Ann prioritized building relationships with students to foster a sense of belonging and support. Shortly after joining the project, she helped organize an orientation event, allowing her to introduce herself and establish a direct line of communication with students. The event also served as a stepping stone for launching ongoing email outreach to ensure students remained aware of academic support options.
To date, five students have been referred to tutors, while two received laptops to support their coursework. Additionally, she played a key role in improving tracking systems for student interactions, ensuring better organization and efficiency in monitoring student needs.
Beyond engagement, Ann has been instrumental in connecting students to tangible resources. To date, five students have been referred to tutors, while two received laptops to support their coursework. Additionally, she played a key role in improving tracking systems for student interactions, ensuring better organization and efficiency in monitoring student needs. These refinements will help sustain the project’s impact beyond her term of service.
Enhancing Outreach & Technology Use
Understanding that awareness is a key factor in student engagement, Ann took a hands-on approach in creating a promotional video for the project launch. This effort not only helped inform students about available resources but also provided Ann with valuable experience in content creation and digital outreach.
She has also worked on refining tracking systems to make student support efforts more efficient, streamlining how interventions are documented. As part of her forward-looking approach, she reviewed and improved modifications for the welcome/orientation emails, ensuring that future MAT 107 students receive clear guidance and encouragement from the start of their coursework.
Looking Ahead
Ann will continue refining outreach strategies, increasing student participation in review sessions, and working to boost overall success rates in MAT 107. Through dedicated student engagement, resource development, and process improvement, Ann’s efforts are laying the groundwork for long-term academic success at BCCC.