Executive Summary: Planning and Program Review

Ventura College 2005-2008

During the 2005-2006 academic year, the college developed and adopted a vision and mission statement and identified planning priorities.

During the 2006-2007 academic year, all academic and student service programs underwent a program review process that resulted in evaluation ratings and recommendations for faculty positions, equipment and facilities improvements. Recommendations for classified positions were not part of the Program Review process in 2006-2007.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, all academic and students services underwent a second program review process, as did all departments reporting to business services. This time, recommendations for classified positions were included, along with the recommendations for faculty, equipment and facilities improvements.

Taking the feedback from the Program Review Committee into consideration, the Faculty Staffing Priorities Committee, Campus Resource Council and Facilities Oversight Group (FOG) drafted recommendations that were submitted to the President. Final lists of actions that will be taken on faculty positions, equipment and facilities improvements are incorporated into tables as part of this summary document, along with a consolidated list of classified staffing needs. The full text of the Program Review documents and the narrative comments of the evaluators and the administrators are available in the Office of the Executive Vice President.

Table of Contents

Page
VenturaCollege Planning Cycle / 2
Vision Statement for VenturaCollege / 3
Mission Statement for VenturaCollege / 3
Organizational Values for VenturaCollege / 4
Board of Trustee Planning Goals for 2007-2009 / 5
VenturaCollege Planning Goals for 2006-2008 / 11
Program Review for 2007-2008 / 14
Faculty Positions / 17
Classified Positions / 18
Equipment and Technology Requests / 19
Facilities Improvements / 21

Vision Statement for Ventura College

We believe in the power of education to change the lives and economic futures of our students and their communities.

We succeed when our students can apply what they have learned to create new knowledge, to engage in meaningful employment, and to actively participate as informed members of society.

We celebrate the power and diversity of ideas, cultures, races, lifestyles and learning styles.

We expand educational opportunities and enrich the learning environment through traditional classroom instruction, distance education technologies, experiential learning, and meaningful co-curricular activities.

We have a passion for excellence, and hold ourselves and our students to the highest standards of conduct and performance.

(Adopted December 2005)

Mission Statement for VenturaCollege

The mission of Ventura College is: to offer academic and vocational programs leading to the completion of associate degrees or certificates; to prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities; to provide remediation to those who need to improve their basic skills; to support the state and region’s economic viability through workforce development; and to provide continuing education opportunities that enhance personal growth and life enrichment.

The college serves high school graduates and others who are able to benefit from the academic and vocational opportunities it offers. Courses are provided using both traditional and distance learning delivery systems.

The faculty and staff of VenturaCollege are committed to student success and strive to create an environment of continuous improvement through the establishment of measurable and/or observable student learning outcomes that can be used to assess student performance, improve instructional and service delivery, and guide institutional decision-making.

(Adopted December 2005)

Organizational Values for VenturaCollege

The VenturaCollege community is committed to following a set of enduring core values that guide it through changing times and give rise to its vision, mission and goals.

Respect

We believe in the personal dignity and full potential of every individual and in fostering positive human values in the classroom and in all our interactions.

Integrity

We are committed to maintaining an open, honest and ethical environment.

Quality

We are dedicated to achieving excellence in the broad range of academic programs and services we provide to our students and the community.

Collegiality

We are committed to creating a professional and supportive environment where students, faculty, and staff can achieve personal growth and fulfillment.

Access

We believe it is essential to provide and nurture learning opportunities for all individuals.

Innovation

We recognize that change is constant and that it is imperative that we continually evaluate our performance and seek new and improved approaches to providing educational programs and services.

Diversity

We are dedicated to embracing and responding to our increasingly diverse student body.

Service

VenturaCollege values its importance to the community and is dedicated to enhancing the community’s quality of life and to meeting its needs.

Collaboration

We believe that better results are achieved by working together, whether as colleagues on college issues and decisions or by actively seeking to form partnerships with other organizations to address mutual goals.

(Adopted April 2003)

Board of Trustee’s Planning Goals for 2007-2009

The following objectives have been established by the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees. Listed beneath each objective are the activities that VenturaCollege is implementing in support of these objectives.

Objective 1: Strengthen district-wide student access, enrollment and success.

  1. Continue the implementation of the Title V grant, which is designed to strengthen student success through the improvement of basic skills instruction.
  1. Responsible Party: Title V Grant Director
  2. Due Date: Ongoing through 2010
  3. Funding Source: Categorical Funds
  1. Expand the funding base to support the Ventura College Promise program.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Director, Foundation
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: Foundation
  1. Expand the offering of online and hybrid classes.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Assistant Dean, Distance Education
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Establish an on-site MiddleCollege at VenturaCollege.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Vice President, Business Services; Dean, Student Development; Principal, El Camino High School
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund and Ventura Unified
  1. Identify program models that will attract and retain underserved student populations, including re-entry adults and first-generation college students. Apply for grant funds to support the implementation of pilot programs.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Student Development; Coordinator, Resource Development
  2. Due Date: Spring 2009
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 2: Strengthen District/College administrative operations and services in support of students and programs.

  1. Implement CurricuNet, an online curriculum development system.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Deans; Chair, Curriculum Committee
  2. Due Date: Summer 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Continue to enhance functionality of VenturaCollege website.
  1. Responsible Party: District Director, Technology (Luminus implementation); Deans and Assistant Deans (OmniUpdate implementation); Public Information Officer
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Continue the implementation of the College Technology Plan.
  1. Responsible Party: Vice President, Business Services
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: General Fund; VTEA

Objective 3: Develop and implement a comprehensive District-wide integrated Economic Development and Career Preparation program for VenturaCounty.

  1. Pilot a modular, fast-track CareerAcademy program at VenturaCollege’s East Campus.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Dean, Economic Development & Off-Campus Programs; Dean, Career & Technical Education
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Expand community awareness of the SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Economic Development & Off-Campus Programs; Director, Small BusinessDevelopmentCenter
  2. Due Date: Spring 2008
  3. Funding Source: Categorical Funds
  1. Increase the profile of career and technical education programs through high profile publications (including Career Focus and brochure highlighting VenturaCollege career and contract education programs).
  1. Responsible Party: Public Information Officer (Career Focus); Dean, Career & Technical Education and Executive Director, Foundation (brochure)
  2. Due Date: Spring 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund (Career Focus); Foundation Grant and Categorical Funds (brochure)
  1. Establish a WorkKeys testing and training center, both on the main VenturaCollege campus and at East Campus.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Economic Development & Off-Campus Programs; Dean, Communication & Learning Resources; Dean, Student Development
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: Fee-based (for testing); General Fund and/or fee-based (for training)
  1. Provide representation to community economic development organizations, including the Workforce Investment Board.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Economic Development & Off-Campus Programs
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 4: Implement a District-wide classified staff development program tied to strengthening professional practices and excellent customer service.

  1. Develop and schedule follow-up training activities that will reinforce customer service skills that will be taught in the District-wide classified staff development program.
  1. Responsible Party: Chair, Staff Development Committee; President, Classified Senate; Assistant Dean, Student Services
  2. Due Date: Immediately following implementation of District training program
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 5: Create reasonable progressive increases in instructional productivity for Moorpark, Oxnard, and VenturaColleges.

  1. Continue to adjust instructional schedule to increase productivity, consolidating multiple sections of low-enrolled classes, shifting some minimally enrolled sections into the more heavily-enrolled online instructional mode, and where necessary, scheduling some courses over a multiple-semester rotation.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Academic Deans; Department Chairs
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 6: Complete data driven updated Educational Master Plans for Moorpark, Oxnard, and VenturaColleges.

  1. Work with consultant to update the Ventura College Educational Master Plan.

a)Responsible Party: President; Executive Vice President; Vice President; Deans; Department Chairs; Faculty, Classified and Student Government Representatives

b)Due Date: Fall 2008

c)Funding Source: General Fund

  1. Begin the implementation of the preliminary East Campus Education Plan.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Economic Development & Off-Campus Programs; Dean, Career & Technical Education; Coordinator, East Campus; Learning Resource Coordinator
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 7: Implement CalPASS agreement countywide with district public schools. Strengthen College curricular cooperation and program alignment with high schools.

  1. Continue to host discipline-specific program alignment meetings with high school faculty.
  1. Responsible Party: Deans, Communication & Learning Resources, Math & Science, Social Science & Humanities, Career & Technical Education
  2. Due Date: Each fall semester
  3. Funding Source: General Fund and Foundation
  1. Continue to host regional career and technical education meetings with area colleges and high schools.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Dean, Career & Technical Education; Department Chairs
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Continue to meet with area high school superintendents and principals.
  1. Responsible Party: President; Executive Vice President
  2. Due Date: Monthly
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Assist the District Office in implementing the CalPASS agreement, utilizing resultant data to assist in making institutional decisions.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Institutional Researcher
  2. Due Date: Dependent on schedule established by District Office
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 8: ImplementCollege participation in Service Learning Programs to strengthen College partnerships with their respective communities.

  1. Continue participation in the regional Civic Engagement Consortium.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Institutional Researcher
  2. Due Date: Dependent on schedule established by California State University Channel Islands
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Offer the newly-approved half-unit service learning course as an incentive for students who want to have service learning documented on their transcripts.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Dean, Social Science & Humanities
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. Support Ventura City Corps with an educational component to focus on leadership and service learning.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Social Science & Humanities; Dean Economic Development & Off-Campus Programs
  2. Due Date: Spring 2009
  3. Funding Source: General Fund

Objective 9: Strengthen College Science, Mathematics and Technical Education Programs to address the national shortage of scientists, engineers, and highly-skilled workers.

  1. Continue the implementation of the Title V grant, designed to strengthen basic skills education in math, reading and English.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Dean, Science & Math; Dean, Career & Technical Education; Title V Director
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: Categorical
  1. Expand student participation in the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) program.
  1. Responsible Party: Dean, Math & Science; Director, MESA
  2. Due Date: Ongoing
  3. Funding Source: General Fund and Categorical
  1. Hire an additional contract math instructor to meet student demand for course offerings in this subject discipline.
  1. Responsible Party: President, contingent on Board approval of recommended candidate
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund
  1. As appropriate opportunities become available, seek additional grant funds to build and improve science, mathematics and technical education programs.
  1. Responsible Party: Executive Vice President; Resource Development Coordinator; Dean, Career & Technical Education; Dean, Math & Science
  2. Due Date: Ongoing, as grant opportunities become available
  3. Funding Source: Categorical

Objective 10: Begin planning for the development of the District’s Camarillo property.

  1. Continue to work in partnership with the Sheriff’s Department to develop a building that will serve the needs of the Sheriff’s Academy.
  1. Responsible Party: Vice President, Business Services; Dean, Career & Technical Education; Assistant Dean, Career & Technical Education
  2. Due Date: Ongoing; construction not yet scheduled
  3. Funding Source: Measure S

Objective 11: Assist local public schools in the maintenance of fine and performing arts programming.

  1. Continue the expansion of the Ventura College Arts & Lectures series, to include some programming that would appeal to a wide variety of age groups
  1. Responsible Party: Chair, Arts & Lectures Committee; Executive Director, Foundation
  2. Due Date: Fall 2008
  3. Funding Source: Foundation and event ticket sales
  1. Identify grant funding for and offer campus/community cultural programs that will appeal to a wide variety of age groups
  1. Responsible Party: Grants Officer; Chair, Arts & Lectures Committee
  2. Due Date: Spring 2008
  3. Funding Source: General Fund (to identify and apply for grants); Categorical Funds (to implement programs supported by grants)

VenturaCollege Planning Goals for 2006-2008

Board Imperative: Serve traditional and non-traditional learners

To assure that there will be no financial barriers to education for lower and middle-income students, VenturaCollege will:

  • Work with the Ventura College Foundation to develop a program to underwrite the first-year enrollment fees for all qualifying graduating high school seniors in our service area
  • Develop systems that will provide increased awareness of financial aid processes and greater assistance in completing financial aid forms and requirements
  • Work with the Ventura College Foundation to expand public awareness of scholarship opportunities at both the community college and transfer levels

To reach non-traditional and underserved populations, the college will:

  • Continue to support the development and expansion of East Campus opportunities for students in the Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Piru areas
  • Expand the offering of online and hybrid classes
  • Identify meaningful incentives to encourage more faculty to develop online classes
  • Expand outreach efforts to increase concurrent enrollment of qualified high school students
  • Provide opportunities for the faculty to become more aware of the multiple intelligences / learning styles
  • Expand efforts to make those with a limited ability to speak English feel welcome on the campus
  • Examine the structure of course offerings to ensure that the college can accommodate working adults
  • Offer fast-track, low-unit classes that will appeal to retired adults
  • Work with the Ventura College Foundation to expand the Dare to Dream scholarship program to encourage non-high school graduates to consider attendance at VenturaCollege
  • Expand support services for a wide variety of unique student populations, including foreign students, re-entry students, out-of-state students, etc.

Board Imperative: Maintain short-term training, school-to-work programs, internships, service learning, and student life programs

To improve the ability to respond more rapidly to the changing occupational needs of the community, VenturaCollege will:

  • Examine both campus and district curriculum systems to identify bottlenecks in the approval process
  • Examine the number of units required for certificates and the course scheduling patterns for occupational programs to assure that the pathway to a career can be completed in a reasonable amount of time
  • Reactivate occupational advisory committees for vocational programs

To increase the visibility and viability of the college’s occupational programs, VenturaCollege will:

  • Revise the organizational structure in order to provide better support for career education
  • Develop and pilot one or more modular, fast-track occupational programs that will lead to employment within six months
  • Participate in the development of a district-wide occupational brochure (with companion program-specific brochures) for recruitment and outreach purposes
  • Market occupational programs in appropriate arenas; i.e., Chambers of Commerce, local newspapers
  • Host on-campus meetings with employers, faculty, and counselors to discuss career trends
  • Host meetings with counselors and faculty to increase understanding of vocational programs and requirements
  • Increase faculty and administrative participation in local business organizations; i.e., Chamber of Commerce, Ventura County Economic Development Association
  • Provide information on employment trends at flex day activities
  • Increase services of the CareerCenter
  • Encourage newspaper articles on successful students and programs

To expand the opportunities for students to connect with others outside of the classroom, VenturaCollege will: