College Skills Tutorial Report

Winter Quarter Site VisitsPresentation to PaRC

June 2, 2010

Overview

Purpose

Methodology

Findings

Next Steps

Purpose of tutorial search

How have tutorial services been provided at Foothill College? Some services focus on basic-skills students:

Pass the Torch ESL Writing Center Math Center (AKA PSME Center when there was a

coordinator) Puente Mfumo EOPS LA/Academic Skills lab

Purpose of tutorial search

How have tutorial services been provided at Foothill College? Some services assist basic-skills students, but do not

purposely target them Tutorial Center English Writing Center PSME Center

Purpose of tutorial search

How have tutorial services been provided at Foothill College? None of the services are centralized or coordinated

Why did the college skills committee undertake this project? State funding for redesigned Learning Resource Center 2007 Basic Skills as a Foundation for Student Success in

California Community Colleges report (Poppy Copy)

“Poppy

Copy”

A5: A comprehensive system of support services exists, and is characterized by a high degree of integration among academic and student support services

C1: Administrators support and encourage faculty development in basic skills, and improvement of teaching and learning is connected to the institutional mission

D10: Programs provide comprehensive academic support mechanisms, including the use of trained tutors

Methodology

Narrowed 110 community colleges to 8 colleges for site visits based on recommendations/knowledge of their excellent programs

Developed common questions to be asked during site visits

Sent at least two committee members to each campus

Colleges Visited

Northern Santa Rosa San Francisco Canada De Anza

Southern Pasadena Mt. SAC San Diego City Miramar

12 Questions

Funding

Level of faculty participation

Student participation

Who is the director? (faculty, classified, administrative)

Curriculum offerings

Physical layout (space limitation)

12 Questions

Assessment (student satisfaction, effectiveness of services)

Perception of support (administrative, faculty, student)

Accessibility (drop in, appointment)

Mission

Development

Specialized tutoring

Results: 9 Themes

1. Services were customized to meet students’ needs—make-up testing, online tutoring, ADL services, group vs one-on-one

2. Administrative support

3. Faculty support (many faculty-run)

4. Centrally located (main, if there were satellites)

5. Centralized services—one-stop shop for tutoring

Results: 9 Themes

6. Self sustaining for funding –i.e. courses (Supplemental Learning Assistance—open entry/open exit, different from Supplemental Instruction), credit and non-credit

7. Sense of professionalism—having a greeter, students were tracked and monitored, annually reported data

8. Open spaces, group study rooms, access to computers for students, space could be reserved

9. Location of intense student activities

Next Steps

Form college-wide tutorial committee (maybe under PaRC) What services to put in LRC space How to staff LRC—structure and shared duties Develop a self-sustaining center

Time constraint 5 years until groundbreaking 2 years to make plans