Student Equity Plan
2012
SIGNATURE PAGE
Student Equity Plan
District: College of the Sequoias Community College District
College: College of the Sequoias
President, Board of Trustees:
Greg Sherman
Date:
Interim College President:
Brent Calvin
Academic Senate President:
Michele Hester-Reyes, Language Arts Professor
Chair, EEO – Advisory Committee:
William L. Garcia, Associate Dean, Student Services
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
College of the Sequoias (COS) is student-centered and committed to the success of all students. In addition, the college’s philosophy is “based upon a belief that all individuals are innately valuable and entitled to develop their full potential” and that “a healthy and vigorous society benefits from an informed appreciation of the cultural, racial, and socio-economic variations among its members.” In order to ensure that all students, especially underrepresented students, regardless of their backgrounds and skill levels, have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals, the college is committed to coordinating and actively initiating efforts to achieve educational equity among students in all of the following success indicator areas: Access, Course Completion, ESL and Basic Skills Completion, Degree and Certificate Completion, and Transfer.
For many years, COS has been addressing the success, retention, and persistence of students particularly in basic skills and transfer. Hispanic Serving Institutions Grants (Title V), EOPS, TRIO, Puente, First Year Experience, PASEO and MESA are but a few of the district programs focusing on promoting under-represented student achievement. Additionally, COS has restructured its program review process in order to address these very issues, so that all departments and programs will be required to address student access, success, and learning outcomes. Consequently, there has been much discussion and debate regarding these efforts in the development of this Student Equity Plan.
Since the initial development this plan in 1994 and subsequent analysis of its progress, the district has been involved in implementing intervention strategies to achieve its goals, ultimately resulting in increased target group success. These planning efforts have not been exclusively limited to achievement of student equity goals but to improvement of campus climate, achievement of the Strategic Plan, as well as the Institutional Master Plan.
TARGET GROUPS
A comparative analysis of the following groups will be completed in the indicator areas: American Indians/Alaskan natives, Asian/Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, men, women, and students with disabilities. It is expected that target group success, retention and program completion will reflect district population ratios.
GOALS
Access:
Ø Monitor access of target groups to COS’ educational programs.
Ø Make access a priority for under-served groups by devising more ways for students to complete Matriculation requirements.
Ø Expand marketing and outreach services.
Ø Create a more user-friendly environment in Student Services
Course Completion:
Ø Continue to monitor completion rates for courses in all areas and for all target groups.
Ø Provide intervention strategies to increase success rates in vocational, degree-applicable, transfer-level, and basic skills courses.
ESL and Basic Skills Completion:
Ø Monitor completion rates for ESL and basic skills courses.
Ø Provide intervention strategies to increase success rates ESL and basic skills courses.
Ø Gain data access to facilitate tracking of ESL and basic skills students.
Degree and Certificate Completion:
Ø Monitor the number of degrees and certificates awarded to target groups.
Ø Increase the number of degrees and certificates awarded to target groups.
Transfer:
Ø Monitor the numbers of students who transfer by target groups.
Ø Provide services to target groups to encourage and assist them to transfer to 4-year institutions.
Campus Climate:
Ø Increase diversity of full-time and adjunct faculty.
Ø Expand staff development opportunities.
Ø Develop intervention strategies to assist economically disadvantaged students.
ACTIVITES
1. Access
2. Course Completion
3. ESL and Basic Skills Completion
4. Degree and Certificate Completion
5. Transfer
6. Campus Climate
RESOURCES
Existing college resources will be used to implement the Student Equity Plan. Additionally, every effort will be made to seek out outside funding sources to achieve plan goals. Categorical programs such as Matriculation, ASB, EOP&S/CARE, Puente, Hispanic Serving Institutions Grants (Title V), CalWORKs, DSPS, and Financial Aid all contribute to achieving student equity.
CONTACT PERSON
Contact persons for further information:
Alicia Crumpler, Administration of Justice Instructor, Committee Co-Chair,
Frances A. Gusman, Vice President of Student Services, Committee Co-Chair,
PLAN DEVELOPMENT
This Plan was developed by the Student Equity Committee in during the 2011-2012 Academic Year.
Committee consisted of the following members:
Alicia Crumpler, Administration of Justice Instructor, Committee Co-Chair
Amy Dwelle, Sociology Professor
Brett Kennedy, EOP&S Counselor
Duncan Graham, Vice President of Academic Services
Efrain Magallan, Student Representative
Frances A. Gusman, Vice President of Student Services, Committee Co-Chair
Glena Crumal, Consumer Family Studies Professor
Heather Moore, Ph.D., Biology Professor
Juan Arzola, Political Science Professor
Kevin Picciuto, Business Professor
Lamel Harris, Athletic Director
Larissa Clem, Student Representative
Linda Reis, Human Resource Specialist
Mary Gonzales, Administrative Assistant, Library
Robert Urtecho, Ph.D., Dean of Science, Math, Engineering, and Social Science
Steve Renton, Public Information Officer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mission Statement 7
Goals & Activities
Goal 1: Student Success Indicator for Access 8
Goal 2: Student Success Indicator for Course Completion 11
Goal 3: Student Success Indicator for ESL and Basic Skills Completion 14
Goal 4: Student Success Indicator for Degree and Certificate Completion 15
Goal 5: Student Success Indicator for Transfer 17
Goal 6: Campus Climate and Campus-Wide Goals 18
Budget 22
Evaluation Schedule and Process 24
Appendix 25
MISSION
Student Equity Mission Statement
“The mission of the Student Equity Committee is to promote a positive, campus-wide environment of cultural awareness, understanding and acceptance that honors all forms of diversity. The Student Equity Committee undertakes and accepts responsibility for the development of the Student Equity Plan and provides creative expertise, student support and valuable resources to assist all students in maximizing educational opportunities. The Student Equity Committee develops and initiates proactive, yet mindful, measures to help students overcome economic, social, cultural and institutional barriers in order to achieve their educational goals.”
Adopted by Student Equity Committee - March 15, 2011
7
GOALS & ACTIVITIES
1. STUDENT SUCCESS INDICATOR FOR ACCESS
Compare the percentage of each population group that is enrolled to the percentage of each group in the adult population within the community served
Monitor Access of Target Groups to COS’ Educational Programs
Activity 1.1 Monitor and compare the percentage of each group enrolled at COS to that group’s representation in the adult population of Kings and Tulare Counties.
Target date: Annually during the spring semester of each academic year
Responsible person: Office of Research and Planning
Expected outcome: Data will be shared with the Board of Trustees as part of the Institutional Performance Indicators Report, campus wide via the Planning Compendium, and with the Student Equity Committee. It will also be reviewed and analyzed by each program in program review.
Activity 1.2 Each entity conducting a Program Review will report its enrollment by gender and ethnicity, explaining any achievement gaps and strategies to address between the entity and the college, and provide a plan for eliminating those differences.
Target date: During scheduled Program Review
Responsible person: Each Program conducting a five (5) year Program Review
Expected outcome: Changing Program Review to provide explanation on what will be done in order to achieve equity for under-represented and disabled groups.
Activity 1.4 Disseminate a quarterly newsletter, via email and in mail boxes, giving statistics and narratives on various
Activities to address diversity, starting with the first issue addressing the overall diversity gap and the goals of the Community
College Network/California Tomorrow project. End each by describing how the reader can get involved to make a difference.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Office of Research and Planning
Make Access a Priority for all Groups by Devising More Ways for Students to Complete Matriculation Requirements
Activity 1.5 Continue to identify and translate materials into Spanish and other languages to enhance intake, application, assessment, and program/course placement activities.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President of Student Services
Expected outcome: Spanish-speaking students with limited English will be able to successfully matriculate and their satisfaction with such materials will be evaluated in the ESL courses with a student survey.
Activity 1.6 Provide and evaluate assessment services and/or special accommodations for students with disabilities.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President of Student Services; Dean of Student Services; Director of the Disability Resource Center
Expected outcome: Evaluate annually the accessibility of assessment services and/or special accommodations for students with disabilities via student surveys who test in the Disability Resource Center and students who are assessed by the Learning Disabilities Eligibility Model (LDEM).
(Appendix A)
Activity 1.7 Provide a study system to track counseling/advising contacts with students in order to provide 1) continuity
of advice, 2) sharing of information between several programs that an individual student might access, and 3) information
about overlap of services provided between programs.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President of Student Services
Expected outcome: Improved counseling for students.
Expand Marketing and Outreach Services
Activity 1.8 Continue to identify the educational needs of the community through advisory boards.
Target date: In progress
Responsible person: Vice President of Student Services; Vice President of Academic Services
Expected outcome: Advisory board membership, minutes and recommendations will be reported semi-annually to appropriate dean and vice president and will be included in the full Program Reviews every five years or annual Program Review updates. Recommendations will be incorporated into area plans (e.g., EOP&S, Matriculation, Student Equity, etc.).
Activity 1.9 Strengthen existing partnerships (area K-12s, local governments, business, community organizations, etc.) to help the college achieve its future growth goals by coordinating and creating an inventory of such partnerships.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible Person: Superintendent/President
Expected outcome: Create and sustain partnerships with community groups and organizations which can advance the COS Initiative. The President’s Office prepares annual reports on community partnerships. The Equity Committee will review the report and provide comments and advice, if deemed necessary. The Superintendent/President reports out to the Board of Trustees through a weekly board report. (Appendix B)
Activity 1.10 Expand outreach, both on and off campus, to people with disabilities.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President of Student Services; Director of Disability Resource Center; Coordinator of Career, Transfer and Outreach
Expected outcome: The number of students served by the DRC will be comparable to the percent of persons with disabilities within the district, or comparable to the percentage of students who receive DSPS services statewide. An annual report will be provided to the Student Equity Committee. (Appendix C)
2. STUDENT SUCCESS INDICATOR FOR COURSE COMPLETION
Ratio of the number of credit courses that students by population group actually complete by the end of the term compared to the number of courses in which students in that group are enrolled on the census day of the term
Continue to Monitor Completion Rates for Courses in all Areas and Student Groups
Activity 2.1 Each entity conducting a Program Review will, for all groups of students, monitor and compare the percentage of course completions for basic skills, vocational, degree-applicable, transfer-level, and all courses compared with statewide averages for the CCC system.
Target date: Annually in the spring semester of each academic year
Responsible person: Vice President of Academic Services; Office of Research and Planning
Expected outcome: Data will be shared annually via the Planning Compendium and with the Board of Trustees as part of the Institutional Performance Indicators report. Academic divisions undergoing Program Review will develop planning agenda items to address any decreases in successful course completions. The Student Equity Committee will evaluate outcomes and revise activities as needed.
Activity 2.2 Student Equity Committee will review Program Review information for each department to evaluate.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President of Academic Services; Vice President of Student Services
Expected outcome: Program Review Steering Committee, the Superintendent/President, and the Board of Trustees will monitor data and progress toward achieving planning agenda items.
Provide Intervention Strategies to Increase the Number of Students in Targeted Groups Who Successfully Complete Targeted Courses ~ basic skills, vocational, degree-applicable, and transfer-level courses
Activity 2.3 Develop and implement a First Year Experience Plan that includes elements, such as; extended orientation, student success classes and early enrollment in basic skills; including targeted cohorts such as; EOPS, Puente, Transfer students and athletes.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President of Student Services; Dean of Student Services, Vice President of Academic Services
Expected outcome: Grades, retention and persistence of participants will determine level of success and possible expansion and level of engagement of this service.
Activity 2.4 Identify students who have special learning needs, refer to learning assistance programs, such as; Writing Center, Math Lab and Tutorial Services, all through an early alert system. Furthermore, referred programs will provide feedback to instructor for utilization of services.
Target date: Spring 2005
Responsible person: Vice President of Academic Services; Vice President of Student Services; Director of Disability Resource Center.
Expected outcome: A new model for student learning services (including, but not limited to Tutorial Services) will be developed during this year. The number of students using support services provided by the DRC, EOP&S, and Financial Aid will increase by 5% over previous year. An evaluation of the last two years will show if the Early Alert system needs any changes to make it more viable.
(Appendix D)
Activity 2.5 As Student Learning Outcomes are added to Program Review, an analysis will be included regarding the impact on disadvantage students and minority groups.
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Vice President, Academic Services
Expected outcome: Methodologies will be developed by each division/discipline to assess student learning outcomes implementation and subsequent student success as result of this implementation.
Activity 2.6 Begin campus-wide discussions, implementation and evaluation of alternative teaching methodologies to accommodate the diversity of student learning styles (e.g., learning communities concept).
Target date: Ongoing
Responsible person: Faculty Enrichment Committee; PACE Committee
Expected outcome: An increased number of faculty will adopt alternative teaching methodologies and they will evaluate their students’ success comparing the various methodologies used.
3. STUDENT SUCCESS INDICATOR FOR ESL AND BASIC SKILLS COMPLETION