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OFF-CAMPUS INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWSQualitative Research StudyCalifornia State Polytechnic University, PomonaSpring 2017Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Overview PAGEREF _Toc480450036 \h 3Santa Monica College – Michael V. Tuitasi, Vice President of Student Affairs: PAGEREF _Toc480450037 \h 6CSU, Fullerton – Meredith Basil, Interim Associate Vice President and Dr. Elizabeth Boretz, Associate Vice President for Student Success and Director of Academic Advisement PAGEREF _Toc480450038 \h 7CSU, Sacramento – Dr. Ed Mills, Vice President for Student Affairs, PAGEREF _Toc480450039 \h 9CSU, Sacramento – Beth Lesen, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, and Danielle Mu?oz, University Case Manager PAGEREF _Toc480450040 \h 10CSU, Northridge – Dr. William Watkins, Vice President for Student Affairs PAGEREF _Toc480450041 \h 11Boise State University – Leslie Webb, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management PAGEREF _Toc480450042 \h 12CSU, San Diego – Dr. Frank Harris III, Associate Professor, Postsecondary Education PAGEREF _Toc480450043 \h 13CSU, San Jose – Debra Griffith, EOP Director and AVP, Transition & Retention Services PAGEREF _Toc480450044 \h 14CSU, Long Beach – Charity Bowles, MSW Executive Director, Educational Equity Services PAGEREF _Toc480450045 \h 15CSU, Dominguez Hills – Matthew Smith, Director, Educational Partnerships PAGEREF _Toc480450046 \h 17OverviewPurpose:To identify the best in student success work that supports facilitating the graduation rates of all students with an emphasis on eradicating the equity gap for underrepresented minorities.Limitations:The study was conducted with only seven California State Universities, Boise State University, and Santa Monica College from January through April 2017Due to time constraints or unfamiliarity, each student success expert did not address or answer every questionCampusVPSAContact InfoSanta Monica CollegeFri, January 27, 1pm – 2pmMichael V. TuitasiVice President of Student Affairs(310) 429-7595 tuitasi_Michael@smc.eduFullertonMon, January 30, 10am – 11amMeredith BasilInterim Associate Vice President(657) 278-7757mbasil@fullerton.eduSacramentoWed, February 1, 1:45pm – 2:30pmDr. Ed MillsVice President for Student Affairs(916) 278-6060emills@csus.eduFullertonTue, February 28, 10am – 11amElizabeth Boretz, Ph.D.AVP for Student Success and Director of Academic Advisement(657) 278-7383eboretz@fullerton.eduNorthridgeFri, March 24, 8:30am – 9:30amDr. William WatkinsVice President for Student Affairs(818) 677-2391william.watkins@csun.edu Boise State UniversityMon, March 27, 2pm – 3pmLeslie WebbVice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management(208) 426-4218lesliewebb@bosiestate.eduSacramentoWed, March 29, 11am – 12pmBeth Lesen Associate Vice President and Dean of Students(916) 278-6060beth.lesen@csus.edu SacramentoWed, March 29, 3pm – 4pmDanielle Mu?ozUniversity Case Manager(916) 278-6060 danielle.munoz@csus.edu San DiegoThu, April 6, 10:30am – 11:30amDr. Frank Harris IIIAssociate Professor, Postsecondary Education(323) 864-3659frank.harris@sdsu.eduSan JoseThu, April 6, 11:30am – 12:10pmDebra Griffith EOP Director and AVP, Transition & Retention Services(408) 924-2698debra.griffith@sjsu.edu Long BeachFri, April 7, 10am – 11amCharity Bowles, MSWExecutive Director, Educational Equity Services(562) 985-1630charity.Bowles@csulb.eduDominguez HillsTue, April 11, 9am – 10amMatthew SmithDirector, Educational Partnerships(909) 921-4824mattsmith22@Methods: One-on-one 45-minute to 1 hour interviews with eight questions to guide discussion:Nationally, what are some best practices or high-impact practices to increase the retention and persistence of URMs and non-URMs?In an effort to increase graduation rates of URMs and non-URMs, what are colleges and universities doing well? What areas could we improve? As a Division of Student Affairs, what programs, policies, services, or activities are utilized to close the equity gap for URMs?How are these programs/policies/services/activities (p/p/s/a) funded?How do you advocate for these p/p/s/a?How do you assess the p/p/s/a effectiveness & direct correlation to closing the gap?What are the benefits of these p/p/s/a? What are the costs, if any?Which p/p/s/a has had the most impact? Least?In collaboration with Academic Affairs/Faculty, what are some Student Affairs partnerships that support student success?How are these partnerships funded?How do you advocate for these partnerships?How do you assess student success?What are the benefits of collaborations? What are the costs, if any?Which partnership has had the most impact? Least?What successes have you achieved in the development and implementation of student success strategies/initiatives? What do you attribute to these successes?What challenges have you faced in the development and implementation of student success strategies/initiatives?In hindsight, what advice would you share to an institution considering similar strategies/initiatives? Is there any literature on the role of Student Affairs in student success work that I should consider? Any institutions I should look at?Are there any additional student success experts that you would recommend I connect with? Participants were requested to be interviewed via e-mail (see example below)Hello [student success expert name], My name is Tim Alexander and I serve as a graduate assistant at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. On behalf of the Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Lea Jarnagin, I am conducting informational interviews to identify strategies to increase the graduation rates of all students; with an emphasis on eradicating the equity gap for underrepresented minorities. As the [their title] at [their institution], you have been identified as a leader in student success work and I hope to connect with you on [potential dates/times]. [Including a sentence or two about their institution’s student success work, based on their website/recent articles/etc].?The interview should take about 45 minutes – 1 hour and we can meet at [their institution acronym] or via skype/phone; whatever works best for you.Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to connecting with you.Tim AlexanderGraduate?Assistant,?Vice President for Student AffairsBuilding 98-6th Floor /?(909) 869-6578Santa Monica College – Michael V. Tuitasi, Vice President of Student Affairs:Career Services: Type Focus and Transferable Skill SurveyCommunication: Text messages through Student Government Students are not checking their e-mailEnrollment Management: 24 Hour Turnaround of my EdPlanIdentified high failing rates to create Summer/Saturday boot campMen of Color Program: Adelante (Ahead) Program & Black Collegians ProgramKorean men are often lost in API data Professional Development: A2Mend ConferenceCommunity College administrators getting students to transfer on Student Success Issues for men of colorSafety: Live Safe (Trial)Other notes:TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee)6 UC campuses offer the TAG program for California community college students who meet specific requirements. Long Beach College Promise ScholarshipCover 1st semester enrollment fees for all local high school graduates who enroll at LBCC the fall immediately after graduation. Dedicated support and pathways for LBUSD Invite High School Counselors to CampusProvide lunch and educate them about higher education admission policies, and updates. Avoid misinformation and strengthens partnerships with communitySMC Attempted a high school 1-2 unit summer course program, but was unsuccessful CSU, Fullerton – Meredith Basil, Interim Associate Vice President and Dr. Elizabeth Boretz, Associate Vice President for Student Success and Director of Academic AdvisementAdmissions:Removed financial penalties for services (change major, etc)Identified software to electronically change grades, drop major, or withdrawPurchased templates to read 35 more community college transcripts for transfersStreamlining bureaucratic policies and processes towards graduation Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), if you declare a minor voids agreementAdvising: Additional Academic AdvisementCross-divisional Student Success Teams with proactive intrusive interventions Out-sourced success coaching through Inside TrackEducate students that taking a class for Credit/No Credit turns into an electiveAssessment:[See Retention and Grad Specialists -- Outcomes for 2015-16][See Stampede Survey Outcomes 2016]Scheduling: Additional Course Offerings “Offer classes when students need them, not when faculty want to teach them”Committees/Task Forces:Steering CommitteeAdvisory Board5 Task Forces: (1) Strategic Enrollment Services, (2) Registration, Records, Graduation, TDA, (3) Advising, (4) Students in Transition, (5) Scheduling, Curriculum, uDriect, Enrollment Dashboard, Student Success Dashboard Financial incentives: Intersession and Summer School for 4.5 to 2.5 cohortsGuiding Principles: Collegial and CollaborativeSeeking Broad-based InputData DrivenRespectful and Reflective SustainableUphold Academic Rigor & Integrity Not Compromising Student ExperienceRecognize Individual Differences (not only a 4-year graduation means successMarketing: Taking more than 12 units is the same cost as 12, so you get free unitsAvoid additional tuition costs for extra semestersLess student debtAttend graduate schoolGraduate soon so that you can start earning money in the workforceProfessional Development: Topic Lunches for both Divisions (Not just Student Affairs)[See Student Success Team Retreat 2017]Remediation: Encourage students through HS advisors to fulfill requirements prior to Fall ALEKS –computer program for developmental help in mathSmall Group Analysis for Faculty & Staff: Name 10 things to improve student experience, and also help them graduate?What have you been doing as a faculty or staff to increase student success?From your perspective, what can faculty or staff do to ensure timely graduation? What ideas or strategies do you have for eliminating the opportunity (achievement) gap? Focus on things that your dept. can do. Student Employment: Increase Opportunities More High-Impact Practice intentional work, not just menial taskSuccess TeamsGraduation Specialist – Junior StatusGrad Check Workshop: Must state a graduation dateGrad Deferral PreventionProgram for Juniors and Seniors who flunk out of their majorRetention Specialist – Freshmen/SophomoresPeak Season: January, 1st time Academic Probation Use a motivational model for evaluation Called every Freshmen that hadn’t registered and had a 40% recapture rateUndeclared: Created intentional 51-unit General Education tracks for undeclared studentsWellness: Increase CAPs Counsels for students in-crisesNeed a student health liaison Other notes:Never go alone to an Academic Affairs meetingFullerton established their teams before they hired someone to centralize and manage, in hindsight, it should be the other way around to avoid pushback and foster early buy-in“[Student Success is] not only graduation rates, but also well-being, learning, retention, graduation in a timely manner, career prospects, and becoming a contributing member of a diverse society.”“Identify what can we accomplish, that doesn’t require spending money...Not big barriers, just small challenging tweaks to improve, which make a big impact”CSU, Sacramento – Dr. Ed Mills, Vice President for Student Affairs, AAPI students: Full Circle Project GrantHigh dropout rate for Mung females Development: Reduced funding for conferencesPeer Mentors: Peer Led Advising for College Experiences (PLACE)Intentional training for students if we expect them to coordinate Remediation: Plan to Eliminate ELM and EPT and remove developmental educationNo 4th year A-G Math Requirement, so California Students don’t do wellStudents who excelled in Math, are tested on Intermediate Algebra, and forgetEO 665 - Needs to be revisedThe test is designed so that 50% will failBeing used 20 years later for a different purpose On avg, 50% remediation ratePartnered with 37 local high schools for ELM prep classes Allocated $10,000 to pay for students who need to retake the testCross enrolled and collaborated with local community colleges (BOG fee waiver)Orientation: Refer to incoming students as their expected graduation date in 4-yearsAsk students to take the pledgeProvide incentives such as priority registrationOther Notes:“Change your budget model to support your problems to make a tangible difference or your ethical decision are really hollow”“We know the problems, but we don’t resource them for solutions”CSU, Sacramento – Beth Lesen, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, and Danielle Mu?oz, University Case ManagerCalFresh application assistanceAbility to use food stamps at all campus dining Food and Housing Task ForcePartnerships with local food banks Host a Hornet Connecting with nearby community stakeholders and invited them all to brunch to discuss partnerships (faith community, local shelters, youth shelters, families in the community who can host students short term) as an act of charity, no credit/background checkOnly had one incident where the student was asked to leaveFacilitates the process of connecting students, but DOES NOT coordinate Local shelters do not allow study space and can be unstable/scaryStudent Emergency Fund (SEF)Reviewed by 4: AVP, Case Manager, Financial Aid, and Alumni AffairsFunding:Amended Housing Guest Fee to be waived by Associated StudentsAuxiliary donates $100 a month to support Emergency Housing FundAlumni Affairs – Philanthropic Giving Club select a fundraiser each year, and choose Student Emergency FundPublic Affairs/Local Newspaper increased community awareness and Beth received checks and Advancement received calls to directly support SEFRequirements:Student maxed out Financial Aid (not a strict requirement anymore) Provide an Itemized Budget of ExpensesProvide Itemized ReceiptsStudent Emergency HousingIdentified what cost money, what could be waived, what were the gapsIn the process of developing a ManuelCreated a Special-License Agreement (up to 30 days)Mandatory Weekly meetings for long-term planImportant there is a single point of contactEducate Faculty to listen, validate, and referCC students when submitted advocacy letters to professors Associated Students pays dining facility for meals to be loaded on food insecure students’ cardsWork with Motel 6 to negotiate $50 vouchers for adults/student-parents Developed an MOU: Vouchers honored at another Motel 6 if full, University is not accountable for damages by student, and maintain a ban/do not rent listAuxiliary donates $100 a month to support Emergency Housing FundRestaurant Meal Program when Dining is closed over Intersession & SummerEBT Machines on campusHousing donated a temporary laundry card and meal cardLinens were provided by Conference Management CSU, Northridge – Dr. William Watkins, Vice President for Student AffairsAACU: CSUN Part of National Initiative to Increase Diversity in STEM2014 - Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM (TIDES), $300,000 for faculty and curriculum development over the next three yearsEducate IT about their role is Student SuccessExperiencing Confidence and Enjoyment of Learning ExCEL ProgramsDeveloped by Dr. Mark Stevens in 2007 for Developmental Math students1-unit Self-efficacy Spring Semester class coupled with development course First-Year Probation Status: 22-23% not returning, although most were fully eligible Exit Interviews Process to identify versus speculateAlso called and mostly a financial issueInstitutional Research: Data gathering is not as robust as Academic AffairsLiving Learning Communities in Housing: Steering Committees populated by faculty Orientation: OLs serve as Peer Mentors throughout the yearNO academic advising and scheduling during orientationFaculty attend and present a mini-lecture/discussion to prepare students for academic expectationsStudents come to campus on a rolling basis BEFORE orientation to register and use MyAcademicPlanner (Mandatory Activity) as well as explore CSUNHelps identify early challenges for course offeringsProfessional Development: Student Affairs/Faculty Lectures:David Yager – Belonging, MatteringBaxter Magolda – Self-Authorship Shaun Harper – Men of ColorVincent Tinto – Student DepartureLaura Rendon – Validation Recreation: Use of REC center directly correlated with greater academic outcomes Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Change: Was 80%, Max was 150 units, when most were 180 (Most stringent CSU)Small group analysis: Ask employees to think about what happened or did not happened that made them feel like they belong/contributed to them stayingHow might you interact with new students in ways to allow them to know that you’re happy that they’re here?Student Affairs & Academic Affairs partnership:Conspire and contrive to be seen together, supporting each other, reinforcing each other’s agendasShould experience the Vice President and the Provost as a single institution and not as divisional silosUNIV 100:40% D and F rates from standalone courses, and need first year seminars that are unique to field of studyOther notes:“We can’t say with confidence what is resulting in the success for students because [universities] may be engaging in multiple strategies”“Since Prop 209 (Nov, 1996) banned the use of racial preferences in admissions at public colleges in California, CSUs have seen a dive”Boise State University – Leslie Webb, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment ManagementAcademic Affairs:Universal Design Model for Accessibility of all studentsEvidence-Based Instructional Practice – program or strategies that have been tested and demonstrated success Massive open online course (MOOC) is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the webDiversity & Inclusion:Students of color reception focused on specific populationsHired an Assistant Dean of Retention (Tammy Young)Safe, Brave, Forgiving SpacesInclusive language for OrientationCSU, San Diego – Dr. Frank Harris III, Associate Professor, Postsecondary EducationAcademic Affairs:How do you get faculty without mandates, as they can choose or choose not to Include folks committed to the issue, leave behind those that do not see valueIdentify allies in leadership and support them in leading the effortCasa Azteca – engage commuter Latino studentsOrientationLearning communityIntentional programming throughout the yearStudent success workshopsSpace on campus (commuter lounge)Demonstrated success, funding they were able to access, to actualize initiatives in the strategic fundLiterature: Shaun Harper, Models of Success of Society Tyrone Howard, UCLA (Counter narrative report on Black and Latino male Success)President Scholars Program – high achieving students of color (mostly outside of San Diego) attached to first-year courseProfessional Development for Faculty:10 Workshops to address 10 different focus areas3 Workshops, 90-minutes each = $10,000Raise awareness of targeted population and recognize targeted population, less pushbackStudent’s Voice: Be sure it is accounted for, they can offer a lot of supportOther notes:Engage a broad range of stakeholdersMake sure it is inclusive with facultyUltimately, need faculty buy-inSustainable and transformativeLeadership for program design and implementationWhat the initiative is going to look likeHow is it going to be delivered CSU, San Jose – Debra Griffith, EOP Director and AVP, Transition & Retention ServicesAdvising DepartmentIntended outcomes and timelinesRevisit what worked, what didn’tCommittees/Task Forces:African American/Black Task ForceLatino/Chicano/Hispanic Task ForceUse for recommendations, rather than act as programs without wallsFormalize and clear on what the committee is expectedReevaluate committee needsCompletion dates and end goalsDefine why it is important for students (not important for staff/faculty)Community Outreach: Partner w/ SuperintendentsCostEngage Advancement to support Student SuccessStudent Affairs pays for someAcademic Affairs pays for someGrades First:Take notes, schedule appointments, schedule tutoringStarted in Summer Bridge now Campus-Wide30-40% return rateCost: Year license based on # of studentsMarketing: #FinishIn4 #FinishIn2 Pledge Provost relied on Dean/ChairsWord of MouthNeeded better marketing plan, posters, campaignSuccess Centers:Welcomes, Study nights, Success centers, culture nights, speakers, support activities, alternative spring break, leadership conferencesSummer Bridge called Spartan ScholarsInclude Faculty FellowsCSU, Long Beach – Charity Bowles, MSW Executive Director, Educational Equity ServicesAcademic Affairs:Provost Graduation Initiative Award - developed a pool of incentive funds for faculty (Stipends)Call out to faculty for research money through Academic SenatePushback to students graduating in 4, fear of curriculum changesGet them involved ASAPDecision-makingBrain-stormingTheir perspective Advising:Change practices to encourage 15 units a semesterIf they are considering dropping, advise on which class to dropAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU): 44 universities across the U.S. that were chosen to reimagine first year initiatives 20155 or 6 CSUsAssessment:Housed in different offices, not everybody has access to itData rich and information poorCalifornia Promise: Fall 2018, all 23 campuses will be on itCareer & Graduate Studies:Require Juniors and Seniors to attend mandatory career development meeting to discuss job or graduate school after graduation Centralized Scholarships:Need a 2.0 to get into the systemLess merit-based, more need-basedApplications quadrupled and they gave out all fundsCommittees/Task Forces:Re-Imagining the First-Year of College (RFY)Time to DegreeDiversity and Support ServicesStrategic AdvisingFaculty DevelopmentResearch & EvaluationHighly Valued Degree Initiative (HVDI): institution-wide Steering CommitteeRepresentatives from each of the academic colleges, Division of Student Affairs, University Center for Academic Advising, Institutional Research, Enrollment Services, Faculty Center for Professional Development, and the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Chaired jointly by the Provost and the VP for Student AffairsInformal Focus Groups:Create prototypes, come up with a few ideas, and go out and talk to 20 studentsQuick 5-15min conversations Random sample, more diversity of student perspective and divergent thoughtOrientationHybrid system1) 2 hour gamified online-content orientation with informationBuilt into BeachBoard to learn LMS with low riskNot a private company. Homegrown system that can be updatedLearning Modules with Badges2) On-campus is more to create a sense of belonging/communityProposals:Engage broader campus community in submitting proposals to promote student successThings move slowly the more people you have involved (death by committee)Every time you say yes to something you have to say no to something elseStudent’s Voice:ASI reps on 2nd tier Success Committees by Vice President for Student AffairsBit of a steep learning curveAnd intimidation factorCSU, Dominguez Hills – Matthew Smith, Director, Educational PartnershipsHistory:MSA, started as a taskforce with only $2,500 - $3,000 and held two events, a Fall Convocation, and a Spring SummitBegan in 2009 when Administration and President looked at numbers regarding Black and Latino Males on CampusNo formal program, only 30 students. The students created their own student organizationAfter a 2-year pilot, the campus hired 2 full-time staff and it became a departmentSuccess was because of the student organization support below, and the Administrative support aboveFunding:University was covering expenses with one-time moniesBaseline came from Student Success Fee $Operating Budget started with $350 and now $380,00030-40% of that comes from Partnership with the Advancement OfficeVice President for Advancement assigned one of the individuals on their staff to MSA:They have partnerships and grants from -State FarmCalifornia EndowmentEl Pollo Loco – provides in-kind support by catering events for freeAngel FoundationStructure:Program is rooted in literature and theory (Yosso, Community Cultural Wealth. Rendon, Theory of Validation. Duncan-Andrade, Hope. Bourdieu, Cultural Reproduction. Stanton-Salazar, Social Capital)Students embodied the literature even without ever having read it and became MSA's greatest marketing materialThey built on their cultural capital and did not just make it about achieving a degree, but about the brotherhood. And brothers sitting next to them expected each other to be successful.Assessment: Pre- & Post-Surveys After Each WorkshopCreated a MissionLearning DomainsLearning OutcomesUsed Campus Labs to house all DataHired an external consultant and a graduate assistant to conduct 60 surveys, 35-40 one-on-one interviews, and 3 focus groups. (Students spoke about CCW, and Validation without even knowing it)Compiled together, they created an evaluation of programs impact, and the report and data will be published in a book. Already in the Hispanic Journal of Higher Education and other articles. Other Notes:Program has a 90% Graduation RateEven students not involved with the program benefiting as men of color on the campus, because MSA built and established a communityPresident, VP, Alumni Office highlight the program everywhere they goThe university cannot expect positive results without investing in a full-time staff or spaceMentors:No Peer Mentor Model because another department on campus already facilitates this and they did not want to Matt also shared thoughts on programs like Mentor Collective, he believes that mentorship shouldn't be assigned, and should happen organically through events and interactions (we can chat about this more later)Other Universities/Men of Color Programs to look at:CSU Sacremento, partnerships with Improve Your Tomorrow. Michael Lynch (Community-based Program)CS Long BeachThe University of Texas Austin, more research focusedOhio State, Winter Retreat for Black Males (Todd Bales Center)University of Wisconsin ................
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