Passport to Our Future

“Passport to Our Future”

Student Access

 Shorten and reduce the online application – Make it easier for students to navigate  Have more audio and online texts available for all students – not just disabled/special needs students. It will help those who learn in different ways.  Hire more full-time faculty because they provide “Full Service Accessibility” to students. Part time faculty are not as accessible, available, and “at the ready” to help students.  Review basic training for web for all departments.  Mini workshop to help students look for classes online.  Expand services available in Room 156. Update waiting lists more frequently (more than once a day).  Hire English teachers  Hire ESL teachers  24-hour computer lab  Keep website current with updated information for each semester  Have refurbished computers that students can buy cheap. (Faculty can help donate)  Make certain that direction sheets to register have the correct steps. (Spring 2010 sheet for high school students registering have incorrect items)  Expand writing center services with English faculty load considered – like Allan Hancock for example.  Computer Support 24 hours a day – Someone to call  More accessible Counselors  Send emails to students on a semester basis to give updates to “access” information.  Scholarships for students to use COS childcare and/or subsidize the cost  We need to realize many of our students need basic technology access (a computer to work on class assignments). More computer labs with staff support.  Increase transfer and career services – job placement.  Create online “worksheets” to measure college readiness for incoming frosh.  Provide an articulation (2+2) officer to assist students and channel them into correct courses (minimum number of classes)  Meet the Carnegie and ASCCC recommended counselor – Student ratio of 1:300.  Remove Pharos Printing  Offer enough sections of English and Math for all students per placement test results.  Adequately fund services to students with disabilities. Federally mandated.  Extend Bookstore, library, and other services for evening and weekend classes.  Full time staff person for Rm 156 to walk students through COS application, registration, and financial aid.  Work with Blackboard or Microsoft to fund internet access at community centers at sites distant from campus.  Improve website search function to 90% satisfaction.  Provide online tutoring through existing tutoring centers for satellite campuses.  Lighten up on Administrative policies that deny students access like “course repetition” policy. Students are forced to attend other colleges after 3 tries. (Even if Title V Rules: Exceptions should be made)  Given the demographics of the student body, online instructions/directions should be bilingual.  Students need wireless everywhere on campus.  Providing email communication with students regarding transfer deadlines, etc.  100% activation of COS email and Blackboard.  50% more computer labs – 10% longer hours.  “Social Networking” make it library and lab friendly via COS. Allow students/teachers access for classes for better communication and research.  Campus Staff could be more welcoming.  Improve Phone Directory.  Make the add process simpler so that students don’t have to drop from waitlists before they can use an add code Number.  Supportive services like copy and mail are convenient for instructors so as to support student services.  Require orientation class that provides information on setting up email, blackboard, and banner accounts  Upload application every hour so students can test, register, and see counselor quickly  Have a “Saturday Session” at the mall to inform shoppers of what’s available at COS.  Don’t block classes  Locate all student services at front of campus.  Provide a means to know when an online student discontinues participation before drop date. Students say they will get back online, but does not reappear.  Laptop loan or rental program funded through business partnerships. (Office Depot, Barnes and Nobles, etc.)  Faculty advising.  Increase counseling available at centers in evening hours and summers.  Books for loan.  Have depositories for students and faculty to donate books they have finished using after the semester is over.  Move to more group and on-line counseling.  Make everything available in 1 document. Tutoring services, health care, where to go for AS/AA paperwork. Times, Phone Number, etc.  Increase use of work keys assessments.  Develop a radio station.  Place work keys results on certificates and degrees.  100% of students will sign a student code of conduct. Core values including polite behavior.  Make a provision for students to access books, computers and clear communication of it.

Convocation Comments Page 2  Work within local high schools with goals of accountability as well as vocational opportunities.  Develop a class that teaches students the campus policy, how to register for classes, look up classes, add/drop, etc. (Teach this class in high school) (“The in’s and out’s of college life”)  Provide laptops for division chairs.  Improve ASL classroom with computer technology.  Iphones.  Health center services at all times if all are charged fee i.e. 5-10 p.m. class – none available after 7 p.m.  Child care scholarships for some selected students.  Students emails aren’t working – facilitate students forwarding to personal email (i.e. ensure all students emails work, contest, raffle)  Have counseling staff full time at all campuses – Farm, Hanford, etc.  Require info literacy class for graduation.  Expand TRIO to work with more high schools and students.  Students fill out a profile when registering for measuring need of classes/majors/career planning.  Make application process shorter, easier to access. Computer a challenge for many. Encourage easier access to technology.  Library open later and on Friday afternoon and weekends. This is only source of computers for many students.  Expectations transparent to students. Nothing hidden.  Continue collaboration with counselor/instructors to make outcomes universally achievable for student. Success classes.  Hire several full-time counselors and instructors SOON.  Hire ASL Full time teacher.  Improve ways for students to get required class materials.

Convocation Comments Page 3 Students as a Citizen of a Global Community

 Have classes emphasizing international areas such as international business, international government, etc.  COS Facebook – Keep connected  Organized Cultural Events that utilize entire college’s resources toward a common theme  Highlight local cultural events in COS newspaper and website  Communication 1: One speech on another culture other than their own.  Make a 1 unit mandatory cultural diversity class.  Have a sister college abroad for communication and exchange students  Expand language offerings to include Arabic and Chinese – Students need to function in a Global business community.  Expand Students media literacy using alternate modes of learning. i.e. Expand Tech (computer) classes and online offerings.  Track and document Community Service and hours – document on Web.  Interview someone who has immigrated to the U.S. And present findings to a class.  Have a faculty member present a cultural tradition/success story in class  Provide campus wide activities to promote tolerance.  Require participation in one culturally diverse activity in every class.  Block scheduling to allow students 2 to 2.5 hours off for extra curricular or group activities.  Have multi-cultural fair each semester – maybe focus or feature one-two cultures each semester and rotate  More speakers – A speaker chair/forum for this throughout year  Social Networking in classes connected to global communities in other countries with department, division present to communicate connections made.  Require verifiable community service (some quota, clear standards about service recipients/entities)  Collaborate existing community organizations to establish short-term classes abroad (i.e. Student’s International)  Invite guest and group lecturers representing different cultures and points of view.  Have students’ clubs/class groups give presentations at “open” lunch hours, perhaps along with guest lecturer.  Use the campus newspaper to highlight cross-cultural achievements. Purpose: Awareness (cultural) Time Frame: Monthly  Utilize other instructors for additional presentation  More positive advertisement  Require 1 semester foreign language for graduation AS/AA  Have students present a cultural tradition in class  Have students (ASL) present deaf history as well as deaf culture.  Monthly column in campus newspaper on cultural traditions or interviews of exchange students  Encourage students to study abroad

Convocation Comments Page 4  Bring a Humanics Program to COS to give students the opportunity to participate in Service Learning.  Graduation requirement 1 or 2 units of community service  Encourage students to become involved in large group activities (i.e. Fine Arts and Athletics)  Visit our art gallery and participate in existing cultural activities to promote ‘teaching across the curriculum.’  We do great in this area, but we need all faculty to “Buy In” and Support these events. Also, Money to provide special events.  Students outreach to local ethnic group to encourage education. At least one outreach/semester.  Require Statistics  Encourage students to participate in clubs outside their majors. Make them think out of the box. Promote community involvement.  Develop international internship for students.  Build an international exchange program for staff.  Invite guest lecturers and formal presentation in the class room. AS well as video presentation monthly “culture nights” with food/entertainment from local businesses – involve the Linguistics students, who do a great job already with their International Fair.  Make diversity class GE requirement.  Teach a linked set of courses that culminate in a travel opportunity with 100% participation.  5% of student body participate intern a broad.  Rate of increase in out of state placements  Have cultural sensitivity and awareness workshops with classroom ideas for teachers.  Offer class resulting in “Mission” opportunity abroad or inner city (i.e. Nursing Program students)  Our Students become leaders in our community and admit they are COS graduates and return to mentor and advise fellow and future generations.  Give students assignments involving their cultures and share with classes.  Mandatory ethic course for all divisions.  Integrate students with disabilities along with ethnic groups, etc. (Diversity = Just Culture)  Have students bring 2 copies of paper to workshop. Hand in to instructor. Instructor to distribute randomly to other students. Workshop activity. Purpose: Work in pairs with someone you don’t sit by/don’t know.  Develop a campus wide calendar that feature pictures of students and activities – could be purchased to many programs and events have no advanced advertisements.  Develop additional cultural clubs that honor, learn, and teach about specific cultures.  Provide free bus trips for any COS student to cultural sites (i.e. San Francisco, Museums, Theatre, Opera, Yosemite, Beach trips, Getty). Most COS students haven’t been to ocean, beach, SF, etc.

Convocation Comments Page 5 Convocation Comments Page 6 Students Mastery of Basic Skills

 Create “required” tutorial services via the writing center and math lab for basic skills courses. (Make part of Instructor load like some other colleges i.e. Allan Hancock)  Hire full time ESL instructors  Hire full time English instructors  ESL teachers encourage ESL students taking ASL classes – classes help ESL students with English instructors and spelling.  Each class should have a component of time management and critical thinking to reinforce concepts.  Math and English components should be required for certificates.  Offering lower level computer courses in Spanish.  Students need to learn English. We are in USA.  Start a reading lab so students would have support in reading and comprehending their textbooks, research, etc.  Also how to write, spell, and compose a paper using capitalization and correct punctuation, etc.  Have incoming students “write” a short essay to determine course placement vs. current way it’s being done. (Readers and Graders need to be paid.)  Send basic skills students to Adult Ed.  Have pre-requisites on transfer classes so students must take or be proficient in basic skills before getting to transfer level work.  Work with high schools and middle schools to articulate curriculum and make them (HS’s) aware of the qualifications necessary to succeed in COS classes.  Students must know multiplication and subtraction tables. Coordinate a program with adult schools.  Require all students to know where their water power comes from.  Faculty/Staff interest groups (FIGS) focusing on basic skills.  Work in alliance with Adult School to provide basic skills COS is not all things.  Have awareness meetings and training for local high school educators  Basic competencies students to accomplish prior to college entrance  Train staff on the use of the career pathways.cos.edu website.  Develop a career oriented interactive digital catalog.  Have specific lesson plans/SLO’s addressing time meeting, study habits, etc.  COS will offer a weekend course or study guide on how to pass placement tests by 2011.  Viable responsibilities held by students, faculty, and administration. (Don’t pass the buck)  Required minimum level placement for full time acceptance to COS  Create a semester assessment of students to see what they need not what we think they need connected to support services.  Manners Matter. Basic etiquette i.e. cell phone, iPod use, verbal communication skills  Hire an appropriate Number of coun/HD classes to teach student success classes.

Convocation Comments Page 7  Offer enough Basic English and Math classes for all students who need them.  Develop an online and on your own Math tutor or skill refresh.  Expand writing center with English Faculty load considered like model at Allan Hancock Fall 2010  Offer open study skills  Use success in basic courses as assessment for instruction change to student learning needs.  Place basic writing classes in compute labs so students get hands or access to technology that will be used in future classes – Word, Internet, Basic typing.  Develop quality measurement in skills related subsets. Put quality and standards in curriculum.  Invest in current tools, software, etc. Set up funding on 5 year basis to upgrade.  Beginning Fall 2010 offer more English 360, Math 360 classes. 1st semester students end up “crashing” classes.  Institute as many pre-requisites as appropriate.  More remedial level Math/Engl Courses with lab support  Incorporate curriculum with everyday skills. E.g. Personal management, Finances, etc. Any subject can relate to life if you incorporate it, know your students, ask questions, and get to know their needs.  Provide Assessment classes prior to college to insure basic skills are learned.  Increase by 10% teachers who use blackboard and educate students.  Increase by 15% students using COS email.  Formally invite and set up meeting for interested faculty to meet with appropriate high school faculty annually.  Market CTE programs to High School students. Help them to select occupation in 11th grade – 13 certificate programs.  Specify literacy requirements for all existing counselor/HD students success classes by Spring 2011: 1. Computer 2. Library research 3. Navigation transfer process 4. Campus resources 5. Service learning  Then expand into other classes as they are added.  Require all students with basic skills needs to pass basic skills classes in the first year or as a prerequisite. (Offer this class in high school)  Pre-requisites so they are ready to do transfer level work  Include keyboarding/computer skills in FYE mandates by Spring 2011  Use Chicago Style in all classes  Coordinate basic skills resources with Adult School.  Starting Fall 2012, Require all “Student Success” or “Life Success” sections for every new student (whether true freshman, transfer, returning).  Unify objectives and outcomes.  Tests for basic skills as an iPhone Application so students have easy access  Expand use of writing skills lab  Labs – train student workers in APA citations

Convocation Comments Page 8  All students entering computer skills classes must have keyboarding kills of 20 words per minute. (Entry Exam).  Set standards i.e. APA style across tall courses within a division.  Give lower registration priority for all semesters for students that drop.  Meet annually with high school English teachers about college writing standards.  Provide support for High School students to understand their responsibility to follow through assignments for completion with critical thinking, logic and reasoning for an appropriate standard.  Students’ families are also educated about the importance/value of completing basic skills/college.  Invite and ask them to sign an agreement  Track Numbers and outcomes  Make tutoring/support labs required for the basic skills classes starting Fall 2010.  Require a computer course  Screen and place all ESL students into ESL classes before they can move into regular curriculum. Basic skills requires ESL competency by Fall 2011 or Spring 2010.

Convocation Comments Page 9 Economic Growth of Tulare and Kings Counties

 Our students are employed or go on to higher learning at 80%.  Offer 5 new diverse cultural events each year.  Improve web page for better access  Fix Problems in blackboard and increase use  Establish “Open House” utilize campus Career Fair with Universities on campus with local businesses and students to track relationships –enrollment transfer reg. /etc. Advisory Boards for each area include local employers  Expand advertising (example movie theaters, other sites, radio, web, direct to industry, facebook, Social Networking)  Green campus: Recycle Paper, bottles, cans, etc. Put receptacles all around campus.  All divisions will have a formal internship process, relevant to their industry.  Local business internships for students. Bridge gap between academic and “The World”.  Advertise job openings  Support 1 to 2 manufacturing camps for younger students and include entrepreneurship component.  Be sure that all campus certificates lead to real jobs not just what faculty thinks might be nice.  Connecting to the community through more community service classes and activities that can include them and show them what we have to offer.  Encourage and support service learning courses – encourage their development and partnerships with community service providers – food Banks (boys –girls’ clubs, etc.)  Within the year, create 2 new technical programs that address current job opportunities in the community i.e. Paramedic, Vet Tech, or whatever  Involve students and faculty in business/community Roundtables and various “think-tank” type activities in both counties.  Establish COS booths at Tulare County Fairground.  Increase technological literacy through expanded online/internet/computer skills ed. (i.e. applications, research, etc.)  Statistic projects focused locally.  Large Dutch population – but neglected by COS.  Organize a Unified Body that oversees cultural event planning to better analyze marketing success and unified cultural appeal  Make yearly events at the same time every year.  Promote re-investment in community through departmental events.  We need to know what new businesses/industry is out there so we need to do research and stay current.  Have local industries visit classes to see what students and instructors are learning/teaching. Industries need our students and we need industry input. (Collaborate with all divisions, if possible)  Campus wide – to save resources both here and with businesses, leaders, etc. visiting

Convocation Comments Page 10  Utilize theater and gym (like this – convocation) “great idea.” to engage students to help them think.  Host brainstorming conference with businesses and transfer institutions discovering how we can meet their needs.  Invite employers to give presentations in various classes.  Expand college annual career fair to include all Businesses and Industries in the county. Not always the same…new.  Provide job placement services for students – Post Graduation.  Flex time for presentations to groups (i.e. high school)  Encourage local agencies to create trade specific scholarships.  Place at least10 students/year in local businesses as paid interns  Meetings with Employers in area for round table to assess needs and skills  Create job shadowing opportunities here at COS as well as at other colleges  Take a class period to invite a professional in community to have Q & A session about their job or field.  Create an Industry clusters advisory group that interfaces with Economic Development professionals to ensure new curriculum addresses industry needs  Include NGO’s, Government agencies in bullet Number on original list.  All academic/CTE areas will meet with an advisory committee to advise on entry- level and advanced occupation opportunities.  Coordinate all counseling, career plan, classes to have measurable tools in portfolios by term end the first week of class – Resume, cover letter, interview talking points, philosophies, etc. (hire full time instructors to coordinate this)  Career seminars for all students  Proof that we are “green” by having a certain number of students organized to do environmentally friendly projects in the community (CCC@COS)  Provide students mentor/volunteer opportunities in area business/reported semester by semester.  Offer college credit for working in businesses. Students would need to take preparatory class(es) before being tied to a business.  Decrease class size of ESL students.  Increase bilingual vocational classes by 10% in 5 years, i.e. Comp 220  Invite Professionals to give an overview of what jobs are available in each division.

Convocation Comments Page 11 Student success in completing their Education

 Use peer mentors to help in process. Students track goals and know recommended paths.  Faculty (and Business Advisor) mentoring to our Students  Accountability – Why are they going to have success? (A human example)  Develop an orientation for all child development students to ensure the correct pathway or career path for child development.  G.E. certification  Increase students who only complete transfer requirements to also complete AA or AS degree.  More Academic Counselors  Require information literacy course and test measuring understanding and mastery required “passing” with some consequence: hold grades, reg. whatever  30% increase in CTE certificate completion rate.  All students must test into Basic writing skills courses via a written placement test.  Students should wait less than 30 minutes to meet with their counselor. Hire enough counselors to make this possible.  Have advisor/Faculty contact students with excessive absences.  Create an intrusive counseling program associated with early alert.  Mandatory Placement  Demonstrate 3 out of 5 attempts observable measurement. 4 out of 5 tests.  Mandatory counseling within a defined time frame (Provide enough counselors so this is possible)  Basic skill classes taken in 1st or 2nd semester. Offer enough sections.  All transfer level courses have pre-requisites that ensure the student can read write at college entry level before taking the class.  Utilize assigned faculty advisor at least one per semester.  Each student must meet with a counselor twice a semester.  Hire enough counselors to make this possible.  Strategy: Have 2 or 2.5 year plan for degree completion.  Highlight successful transfer students or certificate earners on webpage.  Bring in more counselors to make counseling more available.  Develop method to track student success after transfer to universities.  Install a degree audit system so that students can more easily track their progress and staff can plan better.  Develop an evaluation process to assure that SEP met/accomplished.  Talk about need for consistent counseling/advising relationships beginning this semester Spring 2010.  By Fall 2010, set goals to assign students to one advisor or group for their entire time at COS.  Develop Peer advising to do non-academic parts and save counselors time for specialized advising.  More counselors are needed to facilitate students process.

Convocation Comments Page 12  Start relevant CTE classes in 11th/12th grade with one year certificates leading to a 2 year Associates degree if wanted.  Provide support for students who fail to maintain their goals via tracking of counselors, instructors, etc.  Additional counselors – Ratio of students to counselors I increasing. More guidance/advising available. Support for low/under achieving students.  By 2010, establish student manned center to provide mentoring and emotional support (student support groups).  In vocational programs, designate a class that has a student education Plan for that program as an assignment in the course – ensuring that every student completes the plan.  Student success survey when students leaving COS.  Each division needs to know results, so they could improve programs.  Pay for peer mentoring.  Percent of student loans forgiven/written off when they get degree/certificate completed at COS. (i.e. “pay” student to finish)  Incorporate “Certificates” into Syllabus  Monitor each student monthly, let counselors know where student is.  Allow certificate flow to be easy access to students.  Know your certificates.  Require all math/Science/Engineering students to review division course sequence recommendations through MESA.  By Fall 2010, expand writing center with consideration to English Faculty load like Allan Hancock model  Need staffing and services  Every student needs an SEP. Not only financial aid recipients.  Give students a brief questionnaire with a short written response that requires critical thinking and basic competency to answer.  Develop system to track students from exit or program to 5 year after starting work in career path.  Financial incentive to student to finish in 2 years.  Program specific workshops throughout semester to provide info related to career path.  Have the student set a goal within individual class. Then student self checks outcome.  Allow “concurrent” enrollment for students who fail a course one semester and wish to re-enroll the next semester to pass it.  Create a system that if a student is progressing with Education Plan, he/she receives priority registration.  Offer classes to students needs on a regular basis so they can take them within 2 years.  Meet the recommended counselor/student ratio of 1:300 (Carnegie and ASCCC)  Students need access to counselors to facilitate their success to their educational goals.  Create a stronger mentor program within divisions.  More counselors to help students through the process.

Convocation Comments Page 13  Put a reward system in place priority registration, access to labs, and priority usage of tutors.  More availability of counseling.  Create a student web page that follows students through their college career (like a facebook page) that could highlight successes and chart things still needed to do and provide transfer/scholarships info. A COS Ning site could work or similar.  Counselors to help with “life” issues.  Offer workshops for students who go off track or need help in redefining an educational plan.  Limit number of years student can remain enrolled at COS to three years. (Like Mt. San Antonio College)  Monitor the success/finish rate and time it took to finish.  Train faculty on how to advise students, not counsel, to help them with quick questions. Assign each instructor a group of students.  By Summer 2010, create questionnaire that all waiting students complete while waiting for their appointments. Talk with Chris Knox about idea from Student success conference Oct. 2009.  Grades Policy: written in syllabi. Communication with Instructor  Increase number of interns and placement sites each semester. More tutors are needed for student success.  Require failing students to see a tutor.  Within first year of enrollment students will be given an appointment to meet with a counselor, register only if they have a current SEP.  Probation lasses for all students on probation. Hire enough full time instructors to teach enough sections.  Academic dismissal – 3 unit class  Class mandatory and ID issues affecting individual students retention/grades  All students must have a completed and Updated SEP prior to registration each semester. Hire enough counselors to make this possible.  All students must have an annual appointment with a counselor to verify the completion of the SEP. This date should also be linked to support service programs such as EOPS, Puente, etc.  Expanded hours in which tutoring is available (for Non-Math and English courses)  Give them all ice cream

Convocation Comments Page 14 Efficient and Effective College Practices

 Take away politics  Students and Adjunct Faculty should have activated email accounts before they attend any class (and know how to access Blackboard)  Stud Comm: Every websites is up to date and thorough AAL important progress can be found in our web page  Make some students know the transfer/non transfer classes and programs/certificates available before they sign up for classes  Eliminate inconsistencies in Program Review and prioritize and limit number of initiatives  More counselors  Our COS courses must reflect the local job market. We will know use have success when business call faculty and are “scouting” our students before they graduate  Advisory committee meetings  Create and maintain a social network page (facebook, etc)  Tweak the waiting list process

Convocation Comments Page 15