Supporting Student Success: The Basic Skills Initiative at

Fullerton College

Where Have We Been, and Where Are We Going?

Purpose of the Presentation

1. Background and planning process of the Basic Skills Student Success Steering Committee (BSSSSC)

2. Current areas of focus with some preliminary program feedback/data

3. Discussion of future directions/trends for Basic Skills

Background and Planning Process of the Basic Skills Initiative and the BSSSSC

Purpose # 1

Basic Skills Initiative (BSI)

The BSI aims to create innovative programs which incorporate the following categories of action:

Program, Curriculum Planning and Development Student Assessment Advisement and Counseling Services Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring Course Articulation Instructional Materials and Equipment Other purposes directly related to the enhancement of basic

skills, ESL instruction , and related student services programs

Basic Skills Definition

According to the Basic Skills as a Foundation for Student Success in California Community Colleges (AKA “The Poppy Copy”):

“Basic skills are those foundation skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and English as a Second Language, as well as learning skills and study skills which are necessary for students to succeed in college-level work.”

Fullerton CollegePlacement Test Results

Assessed Below Transfer Level ~ Fall 2007

  Number Percentage

English 3,523 72.3%

Mathematics 3,929 75.8%

Reading 3,212 70.1%

Note: Results are for all assessments administered between 4/1/2007 and 9/1/2007Adapted from a report prepared by Dr. Kenneth A. Meehan, Ph.D. on June 17, 2009

Basic Skills Initiative Yearly Allocations

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

Each year the state discusses whether to remove categorical restrictions of these funds which increases uncertainty.

Established Goals: Initial Planning

Established the Basic Skills Student Success Steering Committee (BSSSSC)

Created goals and objectivesCreated action plans Initiated a proposal process for project innovation

Established Goals: Ongoing Planning

Examination of best practices at Fullerton College and other California Community Colleges

Engagement in the statewide California Community Colleges Success Network (3CSN)

Participation in and hosting of regional discussions/ workshops on relevant topics

Logic modeling Data collection Program evaluation Facilitation of new innovations

Current Areas of Focus with Some Preliminary Program Feedback/Data

Purpose # 2

Focus Area # 1:Tutoring and Student Support

Graduate Student Internship Program Specialized ESL Tutoring Mathematics Enhanced Tutoring Program Academic Support for Student Athletes

Program Umoja Community

Graduate Student Internship Program

COURSEGSI SECTIONS OTHER SECTIONS

ENROLL RETENT SUCCESS RET RATESUCC RATE ENROLL RETENT SUCCESS

RET RATE

SUCC RATE

ANTH102 46 40 29 87% 63% 439 376 276 86% 63%

ENGL039 27 23 22 85% 81% 276 191 153 69% 55%

ENGL059 28 24 17 86% 61% 563 457 345 81% 61%

ENGL059 27 23 18 85% 67% 563 457 345 81% 61%

ENGL060 28 22 17 79% 61% 1313 1024 854 78% 65%

ENGL060 26 23 12 88% 46% 1313 1024 854 78% 65%

READ056 26 21 17 81% 65% 211 165 126 78% 60%

TOTAL 208 176 132 85% 63% 4,678 3,694 2,953 79% 63%

Spring 2010 GSI Enrollment, Retention and Success

Academic Support for Student Athletes Program (INCITE)

Spring 2010 Academic Success and Retention:

Study Hall Group (n = 50):

Non-Study Hall Group (n = 59):

Study Hall Group (without PE

credits):

Non-Study Hall Group (without PE

credits):

Total courses:

231 246 157 166

Success (%):

79.22% 55.69% 70.06% 43.98%

Retained (%):

90.91% 73.98% 87.26% 65.66%

Focus Area # 2:Staff Development Pipeline

Graduate Student Internship Program

Adjunct Training Program

Teaching Excellence Program

Conference Attendance

Teaching and Learning Certificate (TLC)

WorkshopsFaculty Inquiry Groups (FIGs)

Adjunct Training Program (ATP)

Spring 2010 Faculty Survey

Stronglydisagree

Disagree Slightlydisagree

Slightlyagree

Agree Stronglyagree

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

After the Training, Faculty Gained a Good Understanding of Basic Skills Students

Before After

Focus Area # 3:BSI Infused into Content-area Courses

Strategic Literacy Initiative Graduate Student Internship Program Cross-disciplinary conference teams Needs assessment surveys of content-area

faculty

Workshops, Strategic Literacy Initiative and Graduate Student Internship Program

Content-area Courses with aBasic Skills Graduate Student Intern

ANTH 101 (Physical Anthropology)

ANTH 102 (Cultural Anthropology)

ENC 130 (Introduction to Oceanography)

SOC 101 (Intro to Sociology)

Workshop Attendance by Division

Academic Services

Business and CIS

Counseling

Fine Arts

Humanities

Library and Learning Resource Center

Mathematics/Computer Science

Natural Sciences

Physical Education

Social Sciences

Technology and Engineering

Divisions Involved in SLI

Humanities

Natural Sciences

Mathematics and Computer Science

Library

Social Sciences

Technology and Engineering

Focus Area # 4: First-year Experience Entering Scholars Program (ESP)

“Fostering student success in the freshman year is the most significant intervention an institution can make in the name of student persistence.”

Andi Levitz and Lee Noel. “Connecting Students to Institutions: Keys to Retention and Success.” ML Upcraft, J. Gardner and

Associates, The Freshman Year Experience. San Francisco:

Jossey-Bass, 1989. 

ESP Program Goals

Self-exploration

EducationalPlanning

Study Skills

InformationCompetency

Success in Core

Curriculum

ESP Principles and Practices

The following compenents are infused into basic skills classes:

Faculty and tutor training Tutors (in and out of class) Student Support Professional (SSP) one hour per week in

class Social integration to encourage engagement and bonding Campus scavenger hunt to introduce services on campus SSP presentation on area of support services expertise Counselor visit to encourage educational planning Career and life planning center to introduce career interests Library workout to introduce information competency Ongoing: study skills incorporated into the curriculum

Entering Scholars Program Data

Prepared by Dr. Kenneth A. Meehan, “Institutional Effectiveness, Fall 2010”

Student Retention and Success in Basic Skills CoursesFall 2010

Department Enrollment Retention Success

English – All basic skills classes 2,241 82.60% 64.70%

ESL – All basic skills classes 459 81.90% 71.00%

Mathematics – All basic skills classes 2,715 74.20% 53.20%

Reading – All basic skills classes 825 82.10% 69.20%

Total – All basic skills classes 6,240 78.80% 60.80%

Entering Scholars Program 166 88.60% 72.30%

Purpose # 3:Future Directions/trends for Basic Skills

Acceleration in developmental sequences Activities that encourage greater participation

in matriculation Directed Learning Activities (DLAs) Faculty Inquiry Groups (FIGs)

Thank you!