Executive Summary
During the past year, Pasadena City College (PCC) has engaged the campus community in a coordinated and productive effort to address student equity issues. Faculty, staff, and administrators are participating in college-wide activities that are transforming the experiences of students from the following targeted groups: African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Men, Women, Foster Youth, Disabled Students, Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds, and Student Veterans.
In spring, 2014 a campus-wide Student Equity Summit was held to showcase existing programs on campus that have demonstrated success in closing achievement gaps. A Student Equity Committee was formed with members from every constituency group on campus, based upon the recommendations set forth by the Chancellor’s Office, to analyze institutional data and identify PCC’s achievement gaps. The committee’s work led to a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to ensure that members from across the college had an opportunity to submit ideas to close achievement gaps. To prepare the college for this funding opportunity, forums were held for several days in the morning, afternoon and evening to ensure that every campus member could learn about the college’s student equity challenges and understand the high impact practices that research reveals lead to increased success among specific groups of students. Dr. Diane Goodman, a national expert, facilitated workshops on campus to help attendees understand the differences between equity, diversity and equality and to norm the faculty, staff and administrators in attendance. Campus forums were also held to discuss the data and the methods used to calculate achievement gaps. An hourly institutional researcher was hired to assist in collecting and evaluating data, and she has now been hired as a permanent researcher funded, in part, by Student Equity resources.
In order to increase communication, the Student Equity Coordinator sent electronic communications to the campus; embedded the results on a new PCC Student Equity web page; and presented to the Academic Senate, the College Council, the Associated Students and the Board of Trustees at least twice for each group. The Student Equity Committee created a rubric based upon two reliable methods proven to increase equity and close achievement gaps: “High Impact Practices” defined by the American Association of Community Colleges and “Promising Practices” defined by the Center for Community College Student Engagement. The rubric also encouraged proposal authors to collaborate with two or more departments outside of their areas to encourage departments to break down silos. Additionally, the committee asked authors to include a plan to bring programs to scale, describe a process to institutionalize the project after Student Equity funds are exhausted, and develop a research plan to demonstrate how the project had the potential to close achievement gaps. Finally, the committee asked the authors to specify which achievement gaps would be addressed with their project.
The RFP Forums attracted approximately 70 attendees; 23 proposals were submitted; and 9 RFPs were selected. Since the summer of 2015, the RFP project leaders have met regularly to discuss evaluation, research, and plans for implementation.
The four outcomes below guide the work of the successful recipients of Student Equity funds:
1. Increase by 5% the number of students from some of the targeted populations from PCC feeder high schools who enroll at the PCC compared to the previous academic year.2. Increase by 5% the number of students from targeted populations who earn a degree or certificate compared to the previous academic year.
3. Increase by 5% the number of students from targeted populations that transfer to four-year colleges/universities compared to the previous academic year
4. Increase student retention by 2% among students from targeted populations each semester/term compared to the previous academic year.
Blackademia
This program focuses on ensuring the 1,300 African American students who attend PCC are connected to resources on campus to help them succeed. Additionally, the college developed a The African American Student Resource Center, which houses Ujima, the learning community pathway for African American students, Blackademia. This project includes “Fletch,” a tutoring app created by PCC Alum Marquet Burton
$118,000
Second Year Pathways
This program is designed to create a structured, supportive and engaging experience for second year students who participated in PCC’s award winning First Year Experience program. A focus on major and career decision making is included as well as campus engagement and student support. The program is currently supporting 800 students primarily from the following targeted groups: Latino, African American, Men and Women.
$139,000
Rosemead Pathways
PCC opened a new center in an area of PCC’s district that serves historically underrepresented groups. This project will focus on creating a First Year Experience program for students who attend this campus. At this point, there are 34 students in the program. Students are enrolled in a 3 unit college success course which is transferrable to UC and CSU. Students also have access to an academic coach and participate in a research conference.
$40,000
Mas2 (More Math and Science)
This program is designed to reach out to students from the following target groups: African American, Latino, men and women to assist them in completing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and increase transfer rates. Currently there are 324 students participating in Mas2. Students have access to college assistants known as the “STEM Squad,” who are students who have succeeded in higher-level science and math classes. Students attended a national event, the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENNAC), to meet business and industry professionals. Students are participating in outreach efforts to provide service learning opportunities to K-12 students and parents in local community organizations. Community members are also engaged in assisting with these projects.
$100,000
Cross Cultural Center
The Cross Cultural Center is located within the Student Life Department and is focused on cultivating a welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds. This fall, several
“Welcome Activities” were held for Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members. Finally, the Cross Cultural Center will continue to offer events and services that help students explore culture and differences and an appreciation for their unique identities.
$80,000
Online Education
The Online Education department is implementing a series of technology tools to help students assess whether online education is a good match for them. The first tool is “Smarter Measures,” which is an online assessment to help identify strengths and weaknesses for online education. The second tool is “Drop Out Detective,” which helps teachers prevent students from dropping out of an online course. Other technology to embed in online courses will also be introduced over time to increase persistence and success for all students in distance education.
$70,250
Chicano/Chicana Effective Pedagogy Speaker Series
The majority of students at PCC are Chicano/Latino and achievement data reveal that course completion, basic skills completion, online education, transfer, and Associate Degree completion are not at the same level as peers in other groups. This speaker series provided an intellectual dialogue based upon six research/practitioners who provided a six hour seminar on effective methods to reach Chicano/Latino students in the classroom. Over 70 faculty, staff, students and managers attended. A follow-up session was held on Flex Day. Students also attended a local event centered on the same topic. Informing students about culturally relevant pedagogy is important as many students are not aware that most classroom experiences are from a mainstream perspective and often feel invalidated from the experience. $12,000
Foster Youth Programs & Services
The Foster Youth Programs & Services hired a new adjunct counselor specifically for 300 PCC Foster Youth students. Additionally, students now have an academic coach to assist with navigating processes such as Financial Aid, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKS, and other emergency services. The college is in the process of identifying space to house the services but for now, they are embedded within the EOPS/CARE department.
$100,000
Safe Zone Coalition
The Safe Zone Coalition has hired adjunct counselors to provide assistance to nearly 700 undocumented students, the majority of which are Latino or Asian/Pacific Islander or students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. A website was created to house the resources available. The campus is also searching for a physical space to create an area for students to obtain services. In addition, the Safe Zone Coalition also provides services to another student population that has the experience of “living in the shadows”-- LGBTQ students, many of whom are also from low socioeconomic backgrounds and other target groups. This group will continue to provide workshops for faculty, staff, managers and students on how to become an advocate and a “safe zone” for students who are experiencing challenges associated with being undocumented, LGBTQ and “living in the shadows.”
$18,000
Direct Services to Students & Prospective Students:
Homeless Student Support
Providing care packages for students experiencing difficulties securing appropriate housing is extremely important. Faculty members have coordinated efforts to make these resources available.
Food Bank
In conjunction with the Social Work Services Coordinator, faculty members have coordinated efforts to unite the student club: “Food Recovery Network” to create a PCC Student Food Bank.
Resource Vouchers for Students with Unmet Financial Need
Many students have unmet financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA and other indicators. Food vouchers, book vouchers, transportation cards, and supply cards will be provided to students with unmet need.
$40,000
Library
Increasing operational hours for the Library to be open until 10:00 p.m. during the weekdays and longer hours on the weekends will help students succeed in every area of the college. Paying for subscriptions to Proquest, and Ebsco Discovery Service-research databases will assist stduents in conducting research to complete classes and degrees. Providing wireless printing and a print release station for students will help them succeed in achieving goals. Equipping the library with book scanners for students to send images of pages in text to email will help students who cannot afford printing. Providing more laptops for the library to lend to students will address the technology gap that still exists for students from low income backgrounds. Equipping student study rooms with smart screens will help students excel in group studying.
$125,000
Academic Athletic Zone
Operational hours for the Academic Athletic Zone have been increased on Fridays for student athletes to have access to tutors, computers, advisors and counselors.
$12,000
DSPS
Currently, students must wait months to be assessed for a learning disability. Providing funds for an hourly Learning Disability Specialist will help students get diagnosed and receive the accommodations needed to close achievement gaps.
$40,000
Tutoring Support & Referral Service Program
In order to ensure students from Basic skills courses are obtaining the additional support needed to succeed in college, intake forms were developed for tutors in two pilot areas -- Math and TLC -- to obtain information from students during tutoring sessions. The intake forms are designed to ensure students have an educational plan, financial aid, the appropriate major on file, or address any other extenuating circumstance potentially interfering with their ability to succeed. $60,000
Psychological Services Post-Doctoral Intern
Many students from target groups experience difficulties that can be remedied by the personal counseling area. This intern will help students with these difficult situations. $12,000
Outreach Activities
The Outreach Department currently has one permanent staff member and has functioned with the same marketing material used over ten years ago. Student Equity funding allowed for the hiring of student workers and college assistants called, “The PCC Go Team” and to redesign the marketing material. A New Student Orientation Video will also be designed for use during outreach events. The application date has been set in advance and departments are working in a concerted effort to outreach to students from groups who are underrepresented at PCC. This includes White, African American and Asian/Pacific Islander students.
$100,000
Partnerships with External Organizations
In order to expand our reach into the community to connect with parents and prospective students, PCC has enlisted the support of community-based agencies such as the Jackie Robinson Center, Minority and Partnership for Youth Development, College Access Plan, Asian Youth Center, Adelante Youth Alliance, and Villa Parke to provide information to the community on our behalf.
$30,000
Minority Male Community College Consortium (M2C3)
M2C3 is a leader in the state on providing assessment tools for colleges to conduct inquiry to create a plan to meet the needs of men of color for access, course completion, basic skills completion and overall completion.
$21,207
Speaker: Dr. Diane Goodman
To continue learning specifically about equity, Dr. Diane Goodman has visited campus to address how faculty, staff and managers can use an Equity Lens in our work.
$12,000
Division Retreats facilitated by USC Center for Urban Education
Division Retreats will be hosted as needed. The first, for the math department, was held to help instructors explore methods that prove to move the needle on student success.
$65,000
Guest Speakers
Various speakers will be brought to campus and campus members can participate in conferences regarding Student Equity.
$25,000
PCC Professional Development Committee
To make funding available for the Campus Professional Development Committee to hold events related to Student Equity and make funds available to support these efforts, these funds will be available.
$32,000
Technology to benefit students
Lancer Point Portal Refinement & Technology Tools
All students utilize the LancerPoint portal to conduct college business such as registration, payment, financial aid, purchasing parking permits, etc. The current version is the “vanilla” product implemented three years ago. Students have difficulty using the system to select courses. In order to assist students, a consultant will be hired to refine the portal to add links to services and instructional videos. Finally, a product called “Class Scheduler” will be available to assist students in scheduling the appropriate classes during available times in their personal schedule. Finally, students who currently submit transcripts from other colleges, do not have an evaluation conducted due to workload issues. A technology tool is currently being explored to electronically scan and read the coursework so students know which courses count for requirements automatically. $160,000 (cost shared with SSSP)