STUDENT SUCCESS & SUPPORT PROGRAM (SSSP) SPRING 2016 BULLETIN The goal of Student Success & Support Program at West Los Angeles College is to increase student access and success by providing students with core SSSP services that include Orientation, Assessment, Abbreviated and Comprehensive Student Educational planning and Follow-up services for students on probation, dismissal, in excess of 100 units and enrolled in basic skills courses to assist them in achieving their educational and career goals. Fall 2015 the Student Success and Support Program completed the WLAC Credit SSSP plan. The plan outlines the provisions of SSSP core services to students and the enhancements to these services based on program effectiveness research and increased funding from $1.3 FY 2014/2015 to $2.4 million dollars FY 2015/2016, strictly limited to providing orientation, assessment, student educational planning and follow-up direct core services to students. A SSSP Non-Credit Plan was also completed outlining the development on a Non-credit SSSP program at WLAC. The preliminary allocation for the FY 2014/2015 Non-Credit program was limited to $2,003 increased to $2,485 FY 2015/2016. The SSSP Credit and Non-Credit plans for the 2015/2016 year which were approved by the college governing committees and the President were submitted to the LACCD and CCCCO. SSSP UPDATE The SSSP core services: orientation, assessment, student educational planning and follow-up outcomes are the key factors that were evaluated in making adjustments for the 2105/2016 year. Changes to core services delivery strategies in the 2015/ 2016 plan are as a result of WLAC participation as a pilot college in CCCO state-wide initiatives such as: the Common Assessment Initiative (CAI), the Multiple Measures Assessment Project, and the California Guidance Initiative (CCGI), WLAC s participation in this initiative has provided student transcript information exchange between the college and Culver City High School. SSSP is also working with the University Of Southern California (USC). Researchers from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California are conducting a study in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to promote data-sharing with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). This project is being led by Professor Tatiana Melguizo and a doctoral student, Federick Ngo, and they have received federal funding from the National Science Foundation to conduct the study. WLAC SSSP has partnered with USC to provide assistance with WLAC Assessment and Dr. Patricia Banday SSSP Spring 2016 Page 1
Multiple Measures for student placement into English, Math and English as a Second Language courses. SSSP also hosted a Counselor to Counselor event inviting administrators and counselors from Culver City High and on a different day, counselors from the Los Angeles Unified School district feeder campuses to West to meet with administrators, faculty and counselors from West, to discuss SSSP and other new and exciting academic and student services programs at West! SSSP Coordinator and SSSP staff also attends CCCCO, 3CSN, LACCD and other sponsored conferences for exposure to statewide Best Practices research and literature. Changes to the SSSP Plan reflect the planning strategies that have been included in all core service areas for 2015/2016 year and are indicated in the SSSP plan update. Orientation SSSP offers the WLAC orientation online through the West ExpressWay and in several other formats such as: in person ground, group and individual orientations are also offered. The WLAC Orientation is in the process of being updated to reflect the SSSP SAO student assessment surveys that indicated that the Orientation was too long and needed to be shortened. Additionally, the Orientation platform is being changed to a format that will coincide with the new SIS system People Soft. Orientation Enhancements: The West ExpressWay is a locally developed online student portal that takes students through nine modules that include each of the SSSP core services orientation, assessment, counseling/educational planning and information pertinent to follow-up as a core service. West ExpressWay offers the WLAC Orientation on-ground (in-person) to individual students and groups of students, as well as the online in module 1 of the ExpressWay. As a result of SSSP Service Area Outcome Assessment student survey feedback, SSSP plans to revise the WLAC Orientation 2015/2016 year to a shorter more comprehensive version. SSSP is also changing the Orientation platform to coincide with the LACCD People Soft implementation. Survey findings also indicated a need for broader student information communication, and for this reason SSSP also implemented a welcome desk/center where students can ask questions and receive help and SSSP Student Planners. We are finding that the demand is greater than what was anticipated and additional assistance and space is needed for the future. It is an SSSP goal to increase the number of students who participate and complete the college orientation, subsequently SSSP has intensified its information dissemination campaign to faculty and students by increasing the number of student workers classified as Counseling Guidance Career Assistants and giving them a new role as Student Advocates. Our use of student worker CGCA / Student Advocates is a new initiative for SSSP this 2015/2016 year. SSSP provided orientation services to 5,672 students (LACCD 2014-2015 Research Report). SSSP has developed specific student campaigns to continue to improve our student participation and Orientation outcomes. Through consistent in-reach to students and faculty which is conducted primarily by our Career Guidance and Counseling Assistants termed Student Advocates, we are making strides in closing the gap of unmet need. SSSP Student Advocates help make significant contact with students and faculty. The Student Advocates began this fall 2015 semester by attending Faculty development days and Divisional meetings, as well as meeting with faculty one-on-one for discussions concerning support to students through the SSSP core services Orientation, Assessment, Dr. Patricia Banday SSSP Spring 2016 Page 2
Counseling/Educational Planning and Follow-up. This spring 2016, Student Advocates have taken a proactive role in helping student acclimate to their new classes answering questions and providing guidance a week before and during the first week of classes. Assessment WLAC Assessment is computerized and offered through the West Expressway for new, continuing and returning students. Assessment Enhancements: Over the course of the year WLAC has made significant changes to the Assessment / Placement process attempting to radically improve student outcomes with data driven decisions. SSSP through the hard work conducted by the SSSP Assessment Sub-Committee has made considerable changes to the current Assessment Instrument and Multiple Measures used by WLAC. WLAC is a pilot college with the statewide Common Assessment Initiative (CAI), and will be assisting the state in piloting the CCCASSESS statewide Assessment instrument. Currently the CAI is in the developmental stages with test items and platform delivery under evaluation this spring, the actual test will be piloted fall 2016. The Assessment Sub-Committee is serving as the pilot team for the college to assist with the test development and implementation process. WLAC is also one of the participating colleges in the statewide Multiple Measure Assessment Project (MMAP) and is currently piloting the state multiple measures model in our assessment placement process. The SSSP Advisory Committee with the Assessment Sub-committee continues to work throughout the year in consultation with: the LACCD office of Institutional Research, the college office of Institutional Research and Planning, the Multiple Measures Assessment Project (MMAP), the LACCD office of Institutional Research and Los Angeles Community College District Planning and Student Success Initiative, the college Student Success Committee, the California Community Colleges Statewide Network (C3SN) to make data driven decisions. Data indicates that using high school grade data as a multiple measure can significantly improve the assessment placement process of students. For this reason, WLAC SSSP has launched an agreement with the Community College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) to assist us with bridging the student data gap between Culver City High School students and WLAC. Through CCGI, WLAC will be able to access Culver City student data to help us in our assessment placement process. Additionally, through the college office of Institutional Research and Planning an agreement has been formulated with the University of Southern California and WLAC to begin work on multiple measures in Assessment testing and placement. With this agreement there is hope of bridging the student grade data gap between the Los Angeles Unified School District and WLAC (until CALPASS information becomes available) to assist with improving placement decisions. A major change to the WLAC SSSP Assessment plan is as a result of the retirement of the second party publisher ACT/ Compass Assessment instrument and the refinement of multiple measures. The SSSP Advisory committee saw the retirement of ACT/Compass as an opportunity to select another assessment instrument and reevaluate and select new multiple measures as a means to improve assessment and placement outcomes at the college. Dr. Patricia Banday SSSP Spring 2016 Page 3
The Multiple Measure Questions are as follows: 1. What was your overall high school grade point average? (for English, Math and ESL) 2. What was the last grade you received in your last English/or ESL Class? 3. How often do you read books or novels? 4. How good is your writing in you native language? (ESL Only) 5. What was the highest level of math that you completed with a grade of C or higher? 6. How long has it been since you completed a math class? 7. What was the last math course you took? Assessment Test Beginning Fall 2015 In response to this, the SSSP Assessment Sub-committee and Advisory Committee after diligent research, decided to use the College Board online ACCUPLACER assessment test. ACCUPLACER is currently on the CCCO Approved list of test instruments. The SSSP Advisory also decided to participate in the statewide Multiple Measure Assessment Project as a way to gaining access to assessment and multiple measures best practices and most recent developments to improve placement outcomes. Assessment Practice Students have an opportunity to visit several key websites that provide short diagnostic tests for skill refreshment and skill building. In addition to these key sites, additional website resources have been made available through the CCCCO State Online Educational Initiative. The Educational Initiative has provided Open Source online resources to allow students to hone in on specific areas in math, English and or ESL that will accelerate and boost their placement. The Assessment Sub-Committee established procedures for retesting while waiting for the development of LACCD retest policy. The committee agreed to the following: The committee agreed to test students 2 times (twice) in a term with an intervention (a non-credit course or tutorial assistance) and without intervention re-test requires one cycle in between test and re-test with a maximum of 2 tests maximum. Exception: For students who successfully accessed an intervention such as a non-credit class or credit class short-term, tutorial the student is allowed to retest in the same semester he/she tested. Assessment Results English/ ESL and Math placements are based the use of the MMAP model and ACCUPLACER Test. Results are processed through the Assessment Placement Management System (APMS) under the direction of the (APMS) Director for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). SSSP supports the hire of additional proctors to support the assessment effort. Completion of Assessment Process Upon completion of the Assessment test students meet with the SSSP ExpressWay Counselor to complete Expressway Modules 8 and 9 Educational Planning. The Counselors discuss with the student their placement recommendations in reference to their Student Portfolio completing the process with an Abbreviated Student Educational Plan. Students who miss their assessment appointment are called by the student workers and are also called by the SARS system to reschedule. Dr. Patricia Banday SSSP Spring 2016 Page 4
Student Educational Planning WLAC SSSP has made ongoing adjustments to the counseling delivery methods to increase student participation in counseling services. SSSP increased adjunct counselors for the West ExpressWay to provide more Abbreviated Student Educational Plans (ASEPS) and hourly General counselors to provide Comprehensive Educational Plans (CSEPS) to meet mandate demands. SSSP Counselors are providing group, individual, virtual and online counseling to students targeting the successful completion of an Abbreviated and/or Comprehensive Student Educational Plan for every student. Consistent with the SSSP goal to increase the number of students receiving a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan, a Transcript Evaluator has been brought on board to evaluate all student transcripts before a student sees a counselor for an appointment as a way to streamline the Comprehensive student educational planning appointment for the counselor and the student. There has been an expansion in the counseling services available to students through the assistance of Student Advocates / Career Guidance Counseling Assistants (CGCA S) in an effort to meet the targeted goals and the mandates. Student Advocates are directing students to group, individual, virtual and online counseling targeting the successful completion of an Abbreviated and or Comprehensive Student Educational Plan. Student Advocates assist Counselors with follow-up services to students needing assistance with defining an educational goal or course of study, students enrolled in basic skill courses and students on academic and progress probation. Additionally, a full time tenured Counselor was hired Fall 2015 under SSSP funds to provide CSEPs to students in general counseling. We are excited to announce that as a result of the services SSSP provides, a group of students that have gone through the SSSP process are currently forming a SSSP Student Club to enhance and promote SSSP services to students through weekly activities and events. Follow-Up Follow-up services are provided to students needing assistance with defining an educational goal or course of study, students enrolled in basic skill courses and students on academic and progress probation. Additionally, SSSP engages faculty in the use of the LACCD Early Alert System as a student follow up tool. SSSP currently offers workshops, individual counseling and assistance for students on academic and progress probation, in basic skills courses, undecided and needing help with educational goal and/or course of study clarification / major. SSSP has used all aspects of technology to reach students needing follow-up services to include contacts made: online, over the phone, virtual and inperson. All transcripts for students on academic and progress probation or in excess of 100 units are reviewed by a Counselor and recommendations made directly to the student in workshops, via email, phone call, class visits, faculty contacts to students, online or virtually for academic improvement. Students are advised concerning course line out, academic renewal, course repeat and other strategies to make academic progress. Course Line outs for substandard grades are identified by Expressway counselors and placed into the system by the SSSP Data management support assistant who also manages the appeals for Priority Registration and pre-requisite course completions. SSSP contact with students in Basic Skills courses, needing an educational goal and on academic or progress probation has expanded considerably. With the hiring of additional Student Advocates (CGCAS) and hourly Counselors, we are able to increase our visibility on campus with students, extend our contact to a greater number of students with classrooms visits, and increase our workshops for Dr. Patricia Banday SSSP Spring 2016 Page 5
probation (Academic Solutions) career and major clarification workshops. SSSP supports hiring SSSP representatives to provide more consistent follow-up services to students this year. As part of the WLAC SSSP Basic Skills Initiative, Student Advocates (CGCA s) are partnering with Supplemental Instruction Leaders (who provide tutorial and other academic support to students in selected basic skills courses). SSSP Student Advocates offer psycho-social support to students in selected English and Math basic skills courses with retention, persistence and success in the course as the goal. This Spring Student Advocates are surveying students to assist in providing referral to SSSP core services and other campus wide student and academic program support services. Our follow-up services include video, chat and virtual rooms for students to have live contact with our ExpressWay Counselor and or CGCA Student Advocate offering SSSP services and opportunities for students. We plan to bring on Student Services Representatives to assist with the follow-up effort. Non-Credit SSSP WLAC Submitted certification for offering Non-Credit SSSP core services to students enrolled in Non- Credit SSSP courses/programs to the CCCCO. Due to the small allocation SSSP was able to fund supplies for an orientation for students in a Non-Credit program. SSSP continues to work with the college Non- Credit program development. Expenditure Report Credit 2014/2015: The LACCD provided full support in the completion of the WLAC SSSP program expenditure report sent to the Chancellor s office February 2016 that indicated spending in the following core areas: Orientation: $52,971 Assessment: $365,687 Counseling: $664,303 Follow-up/Coordination: $234,459 Total Allocation 2014-2015: $1,317,420 Expenditure Report Non-Credit 2014/2015: Orientation: $2,003 (Supplies) Total Allocation 2014-2015: $2,003 SSSP is working to expand services in response to the program mandates and demands, and will continue to address student needs with core services. Dr. Patricia Banday SSSP Spring 2016 Page 6