1 BASIC SKILLS INITIATIVE A statewide effort to bring focus and funding to foster student success in a student’s path from developmental education to college-level courses Saddleback College Irvine Valley College

Basic Skills Initiative (BSI) Requires colleges to significantly transform how they address and meet the needs of basic skills and ESL students. Basic skills...”foundation skills in reading, writing, mathematics, learning skills, study skills, and English as a Second Language that are necessary for students to succeed in college-level work.” Activities may include organizational, administrative, instructional, and support services. 2

Basic Skills Initiative FUNDING Saddleback College Curriculum Planning and Development $45,000 Tutoring $10,000 Instructional Materials and Equipment $33,000 Other purpose directly related to the enhance- ment of basic skills, ESL instruction, and related student programs.$78,876 TOTAL$166,876 Irvine Valley College Curriculum Planning and Development $10,730 Student Assessment$36,064 Tutoring$21,094 Instructional Materials and Equipment$19,220 Other purpose directly related to the enhance- ment of basic skills, ESL instruction, and related student programs$15,680 TOTAL$100,000 3

Saddleback College 4

Saddleback College Basic Skills Initiative Process  15 Member Committee  Selection of best practices based on strengths and weaknesses  Creation of awareness of Basic Skills Initiative  Endorsement of recommended plan  Academic Senate  Classified Senate  Four College Planning groups  Planning and Budget Council 5

Saddleback College Key Plan Components Formation of Basic Skills Advisory Council Initiation of Inter-segmental Group Area High Schools Primary Four-year Transfer Institutions Year Round Faculty Development Program with Focus on Basic Skills Information Skills and Knowledge Best Practices Increase SLO Outcomes Increase Retention Increase Persistence 6

Saddleback College Planned Action Organization/Administration Identify a faculty member as Coordinator of Basic Skills Operations Advisory Council and Inter-segmental group Five discipline experts Review and if necessary revision of Developmental education course contents Entry and exit skills Faculty and Staff Development Opportunities to participate in College, regional, and state events Develop in-house workshops and presentations Select speakers 7

Saddleback College Instructional Practices Promote Individualized student learning Learner-centered v. Teacher-centered Learning Assistance Program ESL Developmental Writing Developmental Reading Information Competency Developmental Mathematics 8

Irvine Valley College 9

Irvine Valley College Basic Skills Initiative Process Institutional Effectiveness Committee 14 Members One of five strategic planning committees for the college Action Plan closely linked to the College Strategic Plan Funded proposals were competitive, criterion- based, and each contain research component to assess project effectiveness 10

Irvine Valley College Action Plan Organizational/Administrative Practices Designed to increase student success and persistence rates Increase tutoring services Improve assessment and diagnostic tools in writing and mathematics Train faculty in English to score diagnostic tests for cross-validation and norming 11

12 Irvine Valley College Action Plan (cont.) Review math assessment test and implement recommended revisions Staff development for faculty in ESL to review best practices in teaching ESL Develop an ESL success center designed to promote success, persistence, and transfer Develop 2-week pre-algebra course modules designed to meet specific needs of students to accelerate advancement to algebra

Expected Outcomes As a result of completing the Basic Skills Initiative Projects More accurate student placement in appropriate writing courses will increase student success in writing courses Math tutoring and needs-based pre-algebra curriculum will increase student persistence and success in algebra courses ESL will re-design curriculum that will increase student success and persistence rates 13

Thank you Rajen Vurdien, Vice President for Instruction Saddleback College Craig Justice, Vice President of Instruction, Irvine Valley College 14