Valencia Community College

College Planning Council

BIG MEETING

March 19, 2010

Plenary Session Notes

April 13, 2010 DRAFT for CPC

Participants

26

Ed Ames

Beverlee Andrews

Remy Ansiello

Shauna Anstey

Alys Arceneaux

Julie Balassa

Joe Battista

Andrea Bealler

Mary Beck

Nicholas Bekas

Joel Berman

Joe Bivins

Karen Blondeau

Melody Boeringer

Danielle Boileau

Sonja Boles-Melvin

Mark Bollenback

Karen Borglum

Michael Bosley

Lucy Boudet

Shirley Boyette

Joanna Branham

Roberta Brown

Dave Brunick

Valerie Burks

Tullio Bushrui

Jerry Cochran

Marcelle Cohen

Jacquelyn Cole

Helen Clark

Victor Collazo

Jenelle Conner

Julie Corderman

Ilia Cordero

Jeff Cornett

Karen Cowden

Scott Crosby

Jeff Danser

Daryl Davis

Akos Delneky

Wendi Dew

Carmen Diaz

Suzette Dohany

Lynn Dorn

Linda Downing

John Edwards

Kurt Ewen

Michal Ewing

Kimberly Finley

Shelby Fiorentino

Kimberly Foster

Michelle Foster

Ed Frame

Barbara Frazier

Frances Frierson

Jean Marie Fuhrman

Mary Ann Gagen

Geraldine Gallagher

Claudia Genovese-Martinez

Jill Geraghty

Robert Gessner

Jeffrey Goltz

Liz Gombash

Elisha Gonzalez-Bonnewitz

Randall B. Gordon

Carin Gordon

Tim Grogan

Cristy Hardin

Gaby Hawat

Nasser Hedayat

Jeff Hogan

Deidre Holmes Dubois

Keith Houck

Todd Hunt

Dale Husbands

CoCintheane Hutchinson

Debi Jakubcin

Anthony Jansen

Tyron Johnson

Gerald Jones

Sonya Joseph

Elizabeth Jusino

Celine Kavalec-Miller

Sam Kannamplave

Chris Kingler

Donna Kosloski

Jackie Lasch

Maryke Lee

Helene Loiselle

Kim Long

Joe Lynn Look

Patti Lopez

Tom Lopez

Suzanne Lynch

Lisa Macon

Adrian Manley

Donna Marino

Bruce Marshall

Nemir Matos-Cintron

Michele McArdle

Robert McCaffrey

James McDonald

John McFarland

Marjorie McKillop

Carolyn McMorran

Chris Moore

Jessica Morales

Kevin Mulholland

Brent Nakagama

Sonia Navarro-Milano

John Niss

Allison Noe

Joe Nunes

Ron Oliver

Della Paul

Melissa Pedone

Cathy Penfold Navarro

Christie Pickeral

Louise Pitts

Lana Powell

Ruth Prather

Sunni Prevatt

Melanie Price

Gerald Reed

Jennifer Robertson

Cheryl Robinson

David Rogers

Joyce Romano

Larry Rosen

Joseph Sarrubbo

Bobbie Sartor

Liza Schellpfeffer

Brenda Schumpert

Bob Seal

Regina Sequin

Barbara Shell

Sanford Shugart

Heidi Shugg

Michael Shugg

Renee Simpson

Patti Smith

Erin Smith

Susan Stone

Stan Stone

Katherine Suarez

David Sutton

Leesa Sward

Jill Szentmiklosi

Chanda Torres

Todd Treece

Angela Trujillo

Nicole Valentino

Linda Vance

Myrna Villanueva

Rachel Waite

Kaye Walter

Betty Wanielista

Dennis Weeks

Bill White

Jane Wiese

Falecia Williams

Martha Williams

Sally Witkamp

Lisa Yenke

26

GOALS 1 and 2 – Morning Plenary Session

One comment was offered that applies to the measures and targets generally:

We will know the data are robust when the same process that produces good data for the college can also be used by the learner to measure his or her own progress.

Goal 1

Objective 1.1: Transition to College

Partner with others to increase the college-going rate of students from every high school and the percentage of district high school graduates who apply and enroll at Valencia.

(Note that the team discussed changing the objective to read “the number of those graduates.”)

Participants agreed with the measures and targets as written by the Goal Team.

Participants agreed that current and planned activities will “move the needle.”

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- The message must get to parents regarding the support that students need.

- Develop the Valencia brand so that we are students’ first choice.

- Vet our marketing so we put forth a professional presence.

- Explore social networking; engage!

- The Enrollment plan focus should include a consideration of workforce degrees.

- Do we have capacity to meet needs?

- We did not mention access for veterans, and should consider how best to address that.

Objective 1.2: Persistence

Increase the percentage of students who persist at Valencia through key academic thresholds.

Participants agreed with the measures and targets as written by the Goal Team, and with the need to name the thresholds.

Currently, the team has named these thresholds:

- Retention from Fall to Spring, and Fall to Fall.

- Achievement of 15, 30, and 45 credit hours within one, three, and four years.

- Degree completion within four years.

Participants agreed that current and planned activities will “move the needle.”

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- We should celebrate and offer incentives as students reach thresholds, and use LifeMap tools to connect to meeting thresholds.

- Are LifeMap tools as effective as they can be? For example, might we have pop-up alerts, or live chats synchronous with counselors? Grade awareness, pilot withdrawal program in which student must work with faculty or counselor?

- We need more networking among discipline faculty, to support connecting with students.

Objective 1.3: Goal Achievement

Increase the course and program completion rate of Valencia students by decreasing the withdrawal rate.

Participants agreed with the targets as written by the Goal Team, but would add to the short-term targets the need to discover why students withdraw.

Participants agreed with the measures as written by the Goal Team, but would ask that qualitative measures be added.

Participants agreed that the current and planned activities will “move the needle.”

Objective 1.4: Economic Development

Align plans for the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs, and the resources to support them, with the economic development needs of the region.

Participants agreed with targets and measures as written by the Goal Team.

Participants agreed that the current and planned activities will “move the needle.”

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- Continue environmental scan of emerging industries.

- Establish strong affiliations between industry and Valencia, in both directions. They come to us and we go to them.

- Align economic development needs and our degree programs. Move beyond AS model alone, and look at AA degrees and transfer plans and how they connect to employment.

- Align AA transfer plans and the Baccalaureate programs into which people are transferring.

- Campus branding of AS programs. Some confusion exists among students and staff about where programs are offered and specific program sequences. Better communication and branding about campus-based programs would help.

- Workforce development outcomes. All deans should hear those at the viability meeting. Use as a stepping stone to build those programs to meet workforce needs.

Objective 1.5: Access

Increase access to associate degree and higher programs through university partnerships, scholarships, and financial support, and through the addition of Valencia campuses and locations in growing service district areas that are relatively distant from existing campuses.

The participants agreed with the targets and measures as written by the goal team.

Participants agreed that the current and planned activities will “move the needle” for this goal, but expect that capacity will be constrained to the extent that facilities funds are not made available and by the extent to which funding for new faculty and staff is available.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- Financial literacy is missing and is critical. Build on what we are already doing in that regard.

- The costs of college must be addressed. Can we reduce costs (book costs, for example) in addition to giving students access to financial aid?

- Increase faculty development so that faculty know what they can do to help students obtain scholarships.

- Add online courses (connect to goal 2) and do it in a way that preserves quality.

- Have articulation agreements been maxed out, or can we still add to these? Can we have other Direct Connect-type agreements with other four-year colleges?

- Geographic access is a challenge. Some parts of district are removed from our campuses. Can we offer courses in non-Valencia sites in hard to reach locations?

Several issues were raised related to an expressed desire to expand on-line offerings:

- We should measure by monitoring and tracking online.

- Focus on an enrollment plan, faculty development, and tech support for faculty delivering on line.

- Address comfort level of faculty, certification, and coordination and strategic planning of on-line.

- Can we package an AA on line?

GOAL 2

Objective 2.1: Learning Outcomes

Develop, align, and review program learning outcomes to assure a cohesive curricular and co-curricular experience that enhances student learning.

Participants agreed with the proposed targets and measures as written by the Goal Team, but noted that 2013 is too late to create the list, and would expect that to be finished at an earlier date.

Participants agreed that current and planned activities will “move the needle” for this objective.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

There are several challenges in implementing this objective:

-  Remaining current – this requires continuous update

-  Reaching diverse students, including those with disabilities

-  Involving students

-  Including all faculty (including part-time)

-  Encouraging more cross disciplinary collaboration and conversation.

Objective 2.2: College-level Writing

Increase the percentage of students writing at the college level.

Participants agreed with the proposed targets and measures as written by the Goal Team.

Participants agreed that current and planned activities will “move the needle” for this objective.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- We need to establish levels for writing in various programs, but also have a need for writing across the curriculum, including defining writing levels in college level work.

- Support full-time and adjunct faculty in teaching writing skills.

- Do we need to develop discipline based writing outcomes? There is a possible need for this, in part due to the increase in certificate completers.

Objective 2.3: Completion of Mathematics

Increase the percentage of students who complete the math sequence within two years.

(Completion is defined as successfully completing the highest level math course required for a program of study. The two-year measurement period begins upon entrance to the College.”

The participants agreed with the targets and measures as written by the Goal Team, but noted that a definition is needed for “program of study.” The definition is needed for the long-term target, which is: “All students will complete at least the mathematics courses that satisfy Gordon Rule or the highest program requirement for their program of study within two years of entrance.”

Participants agreed that current and planned activities will “move the needle” for this objective.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

We need to address tactics. How can we help students maintain momentum?

- Need to define and provide appropriate academic support.

- Need related faculty development and advising.

Objective 2.4: Completion of 15 college credits

Increase the percentage of students mandated into developmental courses who complete within three years the first 15 college level hours of their programs of study. (Developmental courses are defined to include MAT1033C.)

Participants agreed with the proposed targets and measures as written by the Goal Team.

Participants agreed that current and planned activities will “move the needle” for this objective. Participants noted, however, that uniform training of advisors is needed to help students schedule courses appropriately. Goal 3 activities should reflect this.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- Tactics are needed for the development and expansion of LINC courses. The Student Success course might be the core class for LINC. A longer-term pairing of the SL staff with faculty should create a bond. How can we expand LINC?

- We need to address how we will use new technology in pursuing this objective.

Objective 2.5: Close achievement gaps

Close achievement gaps among students from diverse backgrounds in completing six key courses, leading to increased persistence and program completion rates. (MAT 0012C, MAT0024C, MAT1033, ENC1101, POS 2041, MAC 1105)

Participants agreed with the proposed targets and measures as written by the Goal Team, noting the importance of using data to understand changes in the gap and examine trends.

Participants responded with a cautious and hopeful yes regarding whether current and planned activities will “move the needle” for this objective.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- Expand the definition of diversity. It is important to be broad in that definition.

- Coordinated, intentional research is needed, to include affective assessment, and to go beyond the anecdotal. We should not let data sit on shelf. Share it and use it to shape strategies, and those in turn will generate more data. We need to use the information generated to evolve our culture.

- How do we best define diversity? What unique challenges does each group have?

- What are our limitations in capturing this information? We should have a plan to use what we capture, or else why capture it?

- Are we being too specific in focusing on lab courses and college level courses with labs? Reading impacts student performance in ALL courses. Should we be a bit broader?

Goal 3

Objective 3.1: Collaboration

Strengthen Valencia’s collaborative culture through learning and leadership development opportunities through the effective use of collaborative approaches, and through regular review and evolution of our shared governance system.

Participants agreed with the proposed targets and measures as written by the Goal Team, but noted that the long-term target is not fully articulated.

Participants also agreed with the goal team that current and planned activities will not “move the needle” for this objective. They agreed that current work on collaboration at the college is not centralized in any one area and therefore has no direct leadership or accountability. They agreed that there is not sufficient focus and direction related to comprehensive internal communication efforts. They agreed that an infrastructure for the ongoing development and maintenance of collaboration at Valencia should be developed as part of the above mentioned work and would “move the needle” on the goal.

Areas of Concern/Interest:

- Collaboration among committees and councils should be addressed. A breakdown of communications occurs within our shared governance system. . An infrastructure for the ongoing development and maintenance of collaboration at Valencia should be developed as part of the above mentioned work and would “move the needle” on the goal.

- We should review communications tools and converse about responsibility to collaborate. Can WeaveOnline help? How can we train collaborative leaders?

- A communications audit should be conducted, with thought to the Valencia web site for external and internal communications needs. Note that Email volume is challenging.

- Part-time staff and employees need to be developed, and mentoring should be considered.

- We have a pressing need for more thoughtful new employee orientation.