Minnesota West's Vercauteren continues efforts with ICAN project

Minnesota West Community & Technical College is recognizing English instructor Abby Vercauteren, who recently presented at the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Conference, sharing the results of an innovative project focused on strengthening student engagement and belonging in online dual-enrollment courses.

As part of the Increasing College Access Network (ICAN) project, launched in 2022 through Jobs for the Future, Vercauteren collaborated with educational partners to explore how social-emotional learning can be intentionally integrated into online dual-enrollment courses. The project focused on helping students build meaningful connections with peers and instructors while developing the confidence, skills and academic habits needed to navigate college-level coursework.

“I was honored to present findings from grant-funded research that demonstrated how integrating social-emotional learning into online dual-enrollment courses can support student success and foster a stronger sense of belonging," Vercauteren said. "The conference also provided valuable insights and strategies for supporting PSEO students at Minnesota West, helping them feel connected, confident, and better prepared for the expectations of college-level coursework.”

Over three academic years, the project partnered with two community colleges and 58 rural high schools, engaging more than 520 students. Strategies tested through the initiative included team-building activities, emotional check-ins, self-assessments, weekly challenges, calendar-planning exercises and individualized student support.

At the conference, Vercauteren shared lessons learned from the project, including effective approaches for supporting instructors, strengthening partnerships between colleges and high schools, and creating engaging online learning environments that promote persistence and achievement.