Strategizing SI Support at the Department Level FLEX Workshop for Fall 2017 August 14, 2:00-3:15 in L-147

Why coordinate SI support within a department? Currently, except for COMM, SI support is based on individual instructor requests. Why coordinate SI support within a department?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Coordinating SI (and other Academic) Support More efficient use of limited SI resources=broader support for students Not every instructor will have Leaders to the extent desired Causes dept members to work together more closely and bridges gap with Academic Support Services Loss of individual autonomy; extra work required All instructors within dept have clear customized resource to which to refer struggling students ?? If and when SI funding gets cut, depts. with an SI master plan will likely suffer less impact. Extra time, planning, and care required to coordinate resources

The Spring 2017 COMM SI Pilot Background to starting the pilot The planning process -Finding space -Scheduling -Faculty on call Types of academic support offered Holding focus group meetings with Leaders Tracking attendance Promoting SI within the department Triumphs and struggles Professor Helen Acosta

Work with others in your discipline or department. 1st, take several minutes to individually skim over the handout: “Department Planning for Strategic Use of Supplemental Instruction (SI)”.

Discuss the following with those around you. Honestly, how open do you think your department would be to this level of collaboration regarding academic support? Would you be willing to spearhead a discussion at your next dept. meeting? Do you think it might require more effort than it’s worth? Explain. What would be your department’s biggest challenges in trying to get something like this set up? Are you currently satisfied with your students’ general level of achievement?

Looking to the future… SI is not yet institutionalized but rather still grant funded—we are currently in a time of relative plenty but need to plan for the inevitable pinch that always returns as the pendulum swings! Consider developing a department-specific plan as to how you could use SI, Tutoring, and other academic support services in a consistent way across your area. The form you have as a handout will also be available digitally at www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/si/faculty.

The Time to Start Planning for Spring 2018 is NOW Take the planning form to your department meetings. Invite Academic Support Services staff to present at your meetings. We want to work more closely with you in supporting your students outside the classroom. Concerns? Barriers? Let’s address them and find ways to resolve them or work around them.