1. Community Colleges of Spokane Focus Group Summary Report Prepared by Robinson Research October 2007

2. Methodology Six focus groups –Business leaders –Community leaders –Alumni –Employers served by CCS –Higher education representatives –K-12 counselors Conducted at Robinson Research facility

3. Purpose Gather perceptions to help CCS evaluate the progress it is making on the goals established in 2004

4. Overview Perceptions of CCS –Overwhelmingly positive Biggest surprise –High school counselors see both liberal arts transfer and career/technical education offered by CCS as good options for variety of students

5. Objective #1 Prepare students to compete and succeed in a global economy … Perceptions: –Better at seamless transitions from high school than other higher ed institutions –Doing excellent job preparing students for workforce –Aware of CCS role in improving adult literacy –Not aware of CCS role in educating young children, Head Start

6. Objective #1 Continued Prepare students to compete and succeed in a global economy … Perceptions: –Work supporting adults in transition well known: women’s programs, Kaiser, retraining –Considered diverse in relationship to region Student population representative of community Lack of diversity in faculty –No awareness of promotion of personal, academic, civic responsibility –Extremely responsive to changing needs of employers

7. Objective #2 Provide access to lifelong learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds … Perceptions: –High awareness of continuing education, personal enrichment classes –Low awareness of district’s geographic size or rural/urban nature –Low awareness of need to manage enrollment

8. Objective #2 Continued Provide access to lifelong learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds … Perceptions: –Assume CCS pursues new resources (e.g., new buildings, programs) but little knowledge of details –Seen as slowly growing nontraditional delivery methods Believe hands-on, face-to-face classroom interaction still important

9. Objective #3 Define the Institute for Extended Learning’s roles, relationships and future directions … Perceptions: –Awareness of IEL and its roles, relationships to district, SCC, SFCC has increased GEDs, ESL, adult literacy It’s where people need it to be Everything that’s not degree related Oversees programs in rural areas Tied closely to social programs

10. Objective #3 Continued Define the Institute for Extended Learning’s roles, relationships and future directions … Perceptions: –SCC Extraordinary outreach to employers Technical programs with very good reputations –SFCC The liberal arts transfer school Appropriately small class sizes Reputation for providing excellent value

11. Objective #4 Clarify policy and operational roles to enhance efficiency … emphasizing collaborative and student-centered strategies … avoiding unnecessary duplication Perceptions: –Little knowledge of CCS policies or operational roles –Efficiency equated with Blackboard, online learning –Noted long lines for financial aid and parking permits –Class times not convenient for working students –Duplication, if any, viewed as necessary

12. Objective #5 Support a workplace environment where diversity … is … cultivated and celebrated … Perceptions: –Trying hard to celebrate diversity among faculty and staff –No awareness of efforts to recruit and retain globally competent, highly qualified faculty and staff –No awareness of professional development –No awareness of recognizing, rewarding job performance –However, they assume CCS does these things.

13. Objective #6 Create and implement communications strategies that enhance the public image of CCS … increasing awareness and understanding across the district. Perceptions: –Public image is pretty good –Aware of quarterly schedule, advertising, advisory groups, presence at community events –Dr. Livingston is a positive influence, good spokesperson –Could communicate more about programs, community resources

14. Objective #7 Continually conduct master planning … that clearly identifies, prioritizes and documents future … needs. Perceptions: –Low awareness of this objective’s specifics –But general feeling that CCS is getting its share of funding from the State Legislature and is planning for technology needs

15. Objective #8 Practice good stewardship of the financial resources entrusted to us … Perceptions: –Presume CCS is fiscally responsible –Appears to be good No scandals No news is good news Continuous building, so must be doing okay –Aware of the CCS Foundation and its work

16. Objective #9 Be response to changing educational, training, social and employment needs by building strong collaborative relationships … Perceptions: –Seen as dynamic and flexible –More responsive than the four years –Amazed that CCS can put together a special program in six months –SCC especially good at collaborating with business

17. Objective #9 Continued Be response to changing educational, training, social and employment needs by building strong collaborative relationships … Perceptions: –Strong community player –Works well with K-12 and four-year institutions

18. Constructive Criticism Perceptions of areas that could be improved: –Advising: Provide career counseling, not just class schedule planning Ensure students understand the difference between a technical degree and transfer degree –Math: Correct the disconnect between high school and college –Class times: Make schedule more convenient for working adults –Update programs that may be out of touch with today’s workplace

19. Conclusion Even though specifics about many of the objectives would be best known by CCS employees and insiders, according to opinions expressed by these six subsets of stakeholders: CCS has been performing remarkably well. Robinson Research October 2007