PRESS Update 9.6.13
In preparation for the decennial review of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Valencia College has been working for the past 18months identifying a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) – a carefully designed course of action that addresses a well-defined and focused topic or issue related to enhancing student learning and/or the environment supporting student learning and accomplishing the mission of the institution. The concepts of broad-based institutional participation and consensus among key constituent groups were at the heart of the process to determine Valencia’s QEP topic.
Valencia College’s long tradition of collaboration in both governance and project implementation gave a natural framework for QEP development. Over the past ten years, Valencia has been continually engaged in national, grant-related projects focused on improving student learning / success. These projects have included Achieving the Dream (AtD), Foundations of Excellence, and the Developmental Education Initiative. Most recently, the Wal-Mart PRESS for Completion Grant (PRESS) received funding for faculty and staff stipends to redesign and rebrand the College’s Student Success course. The intent of the grant is to advance the work of earlier AtD strategies by requiring Student Life Skills (SLS 122) of all students. After 18 months of college-wide collaboration, the discussions surrounding the development the QEP and the work of PRESS merged andthe creation of a Vision Statement(included below) for a proposed New Student Experience (NSE) was approved as the focus of Valencia’s QEP.
Valencia College provides a coordinated experience for all new students. The New Student Experience includes a required credit-earning course and provides an extended orientation to college, integrated student success skills, and career and academic advising, which includes the development of an individualized education plan. We envision that the new student experience will result in curricular and co-curricular student engagement, leading to the successful completion of the first 15 college-level credits at Valencia.
Valencia’s QEP will focus on the curricular and co-curricular aspects of the NSE. With the support of funds from PRESS, the curricular piece will include a revised (redesigned and rebranded) student success course – the New Student Experience (NSE) Course - that will be required of all students within their first 15 college-level credits at Valencia and that is aligned with a limited range of front-door, general education course options for new students.
In order to meet the needs of Valencia’s students, and the diversity of educational paths they follow, the NSE course will be experienced by students in one of three ways:
- The standard SLS1122 course that has been redesigned and rebranded as a result of the input received from the QEP design process;
- A variation of the redesigned SLS1122 designed to integrate the student learning outcomes of the course with the students’ emerging career interests as indicated by the selection of meta-major designated by the State of Florida. (The template for potential meta-major variations is being developed for the Business Meta-Major under the auspice of the Pathways (Title III) grant on West Campus); or
- SLS1122 student learning outcomes will be embedded within pre-existing curricular and co-curricular experiences associated with credit hour limited programs of study in a meaningful and measurable ways. (The template for this experience is being developed by Lisa Macon and Andy Ray for Building Construction Technology, an AS Degree Program on West Campus).
The PRESS Leadership Team, made up of faculty leaders from each campus, administrative leaders, and the Campus Deans of Learning Support, began work on the NSE course redesign process during the late Summer and Fall of 2013 in preparation for a pilot implementation of the NSE course on all Campuses in Spring 2014.
During this time, the leadership team –
1)articulated the Design Principles,(included below)
2)articulated the Student Learning Outcomes,
3)identified the faculty NSE Redesign Taskforce,
4)designed a “Destinations” style experience for all members of the NSE taskforce to ensure consistency with deliverables and prepare participants for the curricular redesign work.
Through a collaborative design approach during the fall semester, 35 faculty (selected from faculty volunteers and nominations from deans and campus presidents) will participate in a “Destinations” style experience to create engaging activities and lesson plans that support the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) (included below) developed during the summer for the NSE course.Each member of this NSE curricular taskforce will develop one lesson plan or strategy which is connected to one or more learning outcome(s). Faculty participants will be compensated with a $500.00 stipend for one completed lesson plan and/or strategy.
The Faculty Development series will begin on Friday, September 20, 2013 and end on Friday, October 18, 2013 with a showcase of all newly developed curriculum - faculty, Campus Presidents, and Deans will be invited. Similar strategies and lessons will be paired for further development. The PRESS Leadership Team will review feedback, aligns lessons with course SLOs, coordinate the course, and build consensus regarding required course activities.
Timeline for November – December
November
November 1, 2013- PRESS Faculty Leadership Meeting
Continue to develop the course based on submitted lesson plans and activities
Assessment- discuss program level and course assessment and discuss pilot details
Begin discussions to rename course
PRESS Faculty Leadership Team identifies the areas of need for faculty development and selects faculty from the college to create new Faculty Development courses for spring term
November 8, 2013- PRESS Faculty Leadership Meeting
Continue assessment, course naming, and course development conversations
November 22, 2013- PRESS Faculty Leadership Meeting
All deliverables for the new course are due
December
December 6, 2013- PRESS Faculty Leadership Meeting
Host Showcase and provide training for new course to faculty who will be a part of the spring pilot
Identify and continue to create faculty development courses associated with new course
The New Student Experience at Valencia College – Vision Statement
Valencia College provides a coordinated experience for all new students. The New Student Experience includes a required credit-earning course and provides an extended orientation to college, integrated student success skills, career and academic advising, which includes the development of an individualized education plan. We envision that the new student experience will result in curricular and co-curricular student engagement, leading to the successful completion of the first 15 college-level credits at Valencia. Wherever possible, the curricular aspects of the new student experience will be offered in partnership with faculty in academic and career programs.
Typical New Student Pathway
A student who …
… is new to college (fewer than 15 college level credits)
… is new to Valencia
… must learn how to navigate college
… needs help in clarifying his / her career and educational goals. This pathway leads to clearly articulated goals that are clearly connected to a plan.
The typical student pathway intended for First time in College (FTIC) / First Time at Valencia (FTAV) degree seeking students – 70% +/- require remediation in at least one area – reading, writing, or mathematics
Atypical New Student Pathway
A student who …
… is new to Valencia
… demonstrates successful navigation of college (completed a college degree)
… enters Valencia with a clear and deliberate educational plan
The atypical student pathway -For students that come to Valencia with clarity about their plan for college, the new student experience may be less prescriptive but is still focused on engagement with Valencia and the development of an educational plan. A true atypical student enters Valencia College with minimal new student obstacles.
Outcomes of the New Student Experience
Students will …
… successfully complete a college-credit bearing course designed to facilitate a comprehensive introduction to Valencia and the skills associated with success in college.
… develop an educational plan and course schedule to ensure timely success
… complete college-prep classes and be prepared for college-level work
… successfully complete the first 15 college-level credits at Valencia
… develop academic behaviors associated with success in college
… discover a plan for college as part of a purpose in life
… engage Valencia as a place for learning and community
Valencia College
New Student Experience Course
Design Principles
Create a dynamic course that…
… is responsive to internal and external influences.
… incorporates best-practices and literature focused on college student success.
... is integrated into a constellation of new student experiences.
… is forward thinking, with the future in mind.
… is aligned with Valencia’s Big Ideas as expressed in the 6 Ps (Place, Purpose, Pathway, Personal Connection, Preparation, Plan).
… is focused on developing students’ self-efficacy to learn at the front door.
New Student Experience Course Outcomes
Purpose: Students willcreate a personal purpose statement that outlines and articulates their values, goals, interests, and strengths in relation to their educational and career aspirations.
•Gen Ed Outcomes - Critical Thinking; Ethical Responsibility
Pathway: Students will choose an academic program aligned with their educational/career goals, interests, strengths, and values.
(This is a student outcome; it no longer has a direct tie to a Gen Ed outcome)
Plan: Students will design an education plan that include goals for learning and a financial plan.
•Gen Ed Outcomes - Critical Thinking; Ethical Responsibility
Preparation: Students will apply college success skills.
•Gen Ed Outcomes - Information Literacy; Ethical Responsibility
Personal Connection:Students will demonstrate effective communication skills with diverse groups.
•Gen Ed Outcomes - Interpersonal Communication
Place: Students will demonstrate awareness of college support systems.
(This is a student outcome; it no longer has a direct tie to a Gen Ed outcome)