Integrating Student Services with Learning Communities in the SSPIRE Initiative s s p i r e Student Support Partnership Integrating Resources & Education Strengthening Student Success: Making a Difference San Jose, California October 4, 2007

Panel Presenters  Rogéair Purnell, The James Irvine Foundation  Evan Weissman, MDRC  John Acuña, Santa Ana College  Edwina Stoll, De Anza College  Lyssette Trejo-Espinoza, Mt. San Antonio College

The James Irvine Foundation  Founded in 1937 by James Irvine, an agricultural pioneer, to promote the general welfare of the people of California  Current assets: Over $1.8 billion  Estimated grants in 2007: $75 million  Grants since 1937: Over $1 billion to more than 3000 nonprofit organizations  The largest multi-issue foundation focused on California, with three core grantmaking programs: Youth, Arts and California Perspectives

The James Irvine Foundation’s Youth Program Program Goal: The Youth program seeks to increase the number of low-income youth in California who complete high school on time and attain a postsecondary credential by the age of 25.

The James Irvine Foundation’s Youth Program (continued) Grantmaking Strategies: 1.Promoting academically rigorous career and technical education. 2.Improving instruction and student support services. 3.Increasing parent and family knowledge for student success (through the New Connections Fund). For more information on these strategies, please review the Youth section of our Web site,

MDRC  Non-profit social policy research firm committed to learning what works to help low-income youth and adults  Current community college initiatives include: Opening Doors, an evaluation of innovative approaches at six community colleges Achieving the Dream, a national initiative to build a “culture of evidence” at over 80 community colleges National Center for Postsecondary Research (NCPR) evaluation of learning communities designed for low- skilled students More information at

The Student Support Partnership Integrating Resources and Education  Funding from the James Irvine Foundation  Invitation to California community colleges Propose innovative approaches to integrating academic instruction with student services Target primarily young, low-income, and minority students  Nine Colleges Selected Receive three-year funding Implement and revise approaches Institutionalize successful approaches  MDRC’s role Manage the initiative Provide technical assistance Conduct evaluation of SSPIRE

Nine Colleges Selected for SSPIRE  American River College (Sacramento County)  College of Alameda (Alameda County)  De Anza College (Santa Clara County)  Merced College (Merced County)  Mt. San Antonio College (Los Angeles County)  Pasadena City College (Los Angeles County)  Santa Ana College (Orange County)  Taft College (Kern County)  Victor Valley College (San Bernardino County)

Range of Approaches to Integrating Student Services with Academic Instruction 1.Increased/personalized attention to students 2.Restructured curriculum 3.Increased involvement/linkage of faculty Identification/outreach to faculty New professional development opportunities 4.Contextualized instruction and counseling 5.Increased peer networks Student cohorts Peer tutoring and mentoring

The Freshman Experience Program at Santa Ana College Twelfth year of learning communities Link of basic skills class with a counseling class Coordinated instruction Year-long commitment Counselor in the classroom and faculty in the counseling class Proven record of increased persistence, higher pass rates and completion of a two course sequence of classes

The Freshman Experience Program at Santa Ana College Student Services Curriculum Project Goal: To develop strategies to introduce student services into the curriculum of academic classes. Results:  Development of specific lessons to integrate student services into the curriculum  Utilization of guest speakers from student service offices  Increased knowledge of the services available to students by both faculty and students

The Freshman Experience Program at Santa Ana College Financial Aid Initiative Goal: To increase the number of freshman applying for financial aid and/or completing the financial aid process using: Classroom presentations Personalized help Counselor/teacher intervention Results:  Thirty six percent increase in overall student awards  Twenty-nine new applications

Contact Information John Acuña Freshman Experience Program Co-Coordinator/Counselor Santa Ana College

Learning Communities at De Anza College Educational Reform through: Combining 2 to 4 classes Creating a collaborative community Integrating curriculum around a theme Planning/teaching in teams Dedicating support of a counselor Supporting faculty with training & assessment

De Anza SSPIRE Highlights Expanding Student Services by: Building a website: Infusing counseling/student services support Creating year-long sequence combining math/language arts and counseling

De Anza’s Year-Long Learning Community Sequence Reading Math, Solving Writing 9:30 – 12:20 M-Th FALL Pre-Algebra, Pre-Collegiate Reading + Lab, Counseling = 11.5 units WINTER Beginning Algebra, Pre-Collegiate Writing + Lab, Counseling = 11.5 units SPRING Intermediate Algebra, Freshman Composition, Counseling = 11 units

Contact Information Edwina Stoll LinC Coordinator De Anza College

Learning Communities at Mt. SAC The Pre-Nursing/Health Bridge  A fast track, two-year learning community, specifically designed to support students interested in nursing or health careers.  Complete English, math and science pre-requisites for the Nursing program in two years.  Complete courses that will help support and maximize success in the pre-requisite courses, i.e. Counseling 99A, Counseling 2 and Counseling 5  At the conclusion of the two-year fast track, ready to apply to Mt. SAC’s Nursing program. (This program does not guarantee admission into a nursing program.)

What to expect from the Mt. SAC Learning Community  Cohort or same group of students in the same classes  Linked classes and activities  Community class  Support Network: Counselors, Supplemental Instructors (SIs), Peer Advisors  Group activities and team-building relationships  Loaned textbooks  Conferences, workshops and activities related to the health field. Bridge Staff Peer Advisors Tutors/SIs Instructors Counselors Student

Mt. SAC Learning Community 2-Year Plan  Engl 67(4)  Coun.1(1)  Stdy. 85(1) Summer Bridge Fall 2007 Semester 1 Spring 2008 Semester 2 Summer 2007* *Engl. 67 will be taken in summer to qualify for the Fall/Semester classes. Winter Intermission  Repeat courses as needed Summer Intermission Options:  MEDI 90  College Math course  Repeat courses as needed **Student must be eligible for these classes, starting the fall semester. English Bridge  Engl 68 (4) (1 st 6 weeks)  Engl 1A (4) (2 nd 10 weeks)  Coun 2 (3)  Read 90 (3) Optional units Fall 2008 Semester 3 Spring 2009 Semester 4 Science Bridge 2  Micr 22(4)  Anat 36(5)  Coun. 99B(2) 11 units Counselor assigned and support Ready to APPLY to the Nursing Mt. SAC Science Bridge 1  Chem 10(4)  Anat 35(5)  Coun. 99B(2) 11 units Counselor assigned and support Math Bridge Math 51 (4) (1 st 8 weeks) Math 71 (5) (2 nd 8 weeks) Coun. 5 (3) 12 units Math Bridge Math 50 (3) (1 st 8 weeks) Math 51(4) (2 nd 8 weeks) Coun. 5 (3) 10 units or

Contact Information Lyssette Trejo-Espinoza Pre-Nursing/Health Bridge Program Program Coordinator/Counselor Mt. San Antonio College ext. 5376

s s p i r e Student Support Partnership Integrating Resources & Education