Student Services Cluster

STUDENT SERVICES SUB-COMMITTEE OF CPC

March 19, 2008

2:00 p.m.

PACE Conference Room

Members Present:

Absent: Administration:  D. Ching; Classified: R. Barker, C. Clark, T. Gonzalez, M. Murillo;

Faculty: B. Guertin, Y. Pueblos

Meeting called to order at 2:05 p.m. 

The agenda was accepted as presented.

        The minutes of February 20, 2008 were accepted as presented.

Budget – the state shortfall from property taxes will affect funding at the community colleges.  The district anticipates a deficit of $7.5 million.  Last week, the chancellor froze all classified hiring. Supply and equipment funds had already been frozen.  The impact on categorical funding may vary with reductions from 3.7% to 10%.  Financial aid will be reduced by 12%.  Dr. Spink requested the chancellor’s growth funds up front and the college will make a request to the grant allocation committee.  The Board received the accreditation progress report.

Construction – B. Blackman from the moving company sent an e-mail to all Student Services managers who will be moving into the new building.  A. Patterson requested a map with room numbers. The company will provide packing boxes.  If the move occurs during registration, any offices connected with registration will move last.  Both S. Millman and M. Yanez have been unable to connect with I. Clarke to clarify IT equipment needs. 

·         Child Development Center – the bid for the interim building is complete and they hope to move in June.

·         PE/Wellness building is out of DSA after 18 months and will now go out to bid.

·         Bus stop – students are sitting on the curb on L Street, so the college will move one of the concrete benches to the area.

·         Athletic Field – everything is working properly.

·         Music building – furniture installed during renovation has begun to break apart and areas of the new carpeting are coming apart.

·         Facilities/Maintenance Operations – an all campus open house is planned for the new facility on 4/15 with a bar-b-que.

·         ADA transit plan is done.

·         Library – a meeting with the architects in 2 weeks will work on details for the Library.

·         Financial Aid – S. Millman expressed concern over the copy area for financial aid in the new Student Services building.

·         A question was raised on the Xerox machines in the new building.

New users of the present Administration Building include: 

·         Job Placement/CalWorks/Foster Care to be located on both sides of the hall in the north portion of Administration; 

·         CAHSEE will remain in AD 133; 

·         AJ and Fire Tech offices will occupy the south portion of the building around the atrium; 

·         IT will utilize the mail room and international students areas;

·         DSPS will remain in their current location  and acquire the PACE/Assessment bungalow for  Life Skills and the federal project.

The space in the administration building will be painted and refurbished with carpeting.

CAHSEE – a director and academic specialist have been hired.  Mailings to non-completers are occurring and brochures are being designed.  Meetings with students are scheduled for May 19 and 26. By 2008/09, we will provide service to 375 students.  Funding for the program can be carried over through 3/09, with new funding beginning 7/1/08.  S. Millman would like to offer financial aid to students. LAUSD has hired a liaison.

Basic Skills  – the college will host a world café on 4/7  to address new essential skills.  A report is due 5/1/08.

Degree Audit – the next stage for the degree audit program has begun.  Both East LA and Southwest colleges were part of the first stage.  The next meeting is planned for 4/2.  Harbor will start next fall and go ‘live’ in the spring.  K. Blackburn is working on this.

Math Assessment – has changed.  R. Richards noted math placements have not met state minimum standards.  The Math department decided that the current math assessment is not working and will return to students making informed decisions.  Students will need a copy of their transcript to work with counselors to verify a math level.  This will then be forwarded to A & R.  This is expected to start this semester.  S. Millman noted the ABT test also needs to be clarified.  It was noted that all areas need to be looked at when changes are made to be sure the entire campus is able to accommodate changes and not be disruptive to students.  Such changes usually come through CPC,  Division Council and senior staff.  This method of assessment may be more bureaucracy for students.  Math and counseling need to meet to clarify different areas to be addressed.  It was suggested to accept unofficial transcripts. A. Patterson will work with L. Rosas to develop a working system.

Student Services managers are working with B. Richards to update unit plans and how SLO’s are measured so that they align with the college SLO’s.  B. Richards and R. Barker will talk with other Student Services managers.

Harbor does a good job of capturing high school students.  Our retention rate, fall to fall, is 56%, the same as the district average.  R. Barker is doing a good job recruiting.  The college is working to fit the needs of the community with programs, i.e. process plant, culinary.

Dr. Tull is working on a mental health grant that ties into prop 63 funding.  The grant addresses two issues: 1) the critical shortage of mental health workers; and 2) Un-served and underserved students with mental health issues.  There are not a lot of mental health services in the district.  50 campuses would get$100,000 renewable funds.  The Life skills Center is a cost effective model.

·         Mark Hobbs, the recently hired .6 limited counselor, will focus on retention, assist in the transfer center, and with students on probation.  An on-line PD course is geared towards this group.  Some of the chancellor’s growth funds will go towards tutoring.  It was noted the course is purely on-line and that frequently retention rates decline for on-line courses.  Students will have other options to get into a PD course.  The desire is to engage students.  An at-risk student support group involving interns from Life Skills will be available.

Next meeting: April 16, 2:00 p.m., PACE Conference Room.

Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.