LAMC SELF STUDY
Standard II.B. Student Support Services
II. B. Student Support Services
The institution recruits and admits diverse student who are able to benefit from its programs, consistent with its mission. Student support services addresses the identified needs of student and enhance a supportive learning environment. The entire student pathway through the institutional experience is characterized by a concern for student access, progress, learning, and success. The institution systematically assesses student support services using student learning outcomes, faculty and staff input, and other appropriate measures in order to improve the effectiveness in order to improve the effectiveness of these services.
II.B.1 The institution assures the quality of student support services and demonstrates that these services, regardless of location or means of delivery, support student learning and enhance achievement of the mission of the institution.
Descriptive Summary
The college for the past five years has averaged an enrollment of 7,000 students each semester. According to the Dean of Institutional Research the general student average age, for AY ’04 – ‘05 was ____ and they enrolled in an average of ____ units. LAMC’s diverse student population is made of 67.46% Latino, 13.16% Anglo, 7.34% Asian, 5.75% African American, .49% American Indian, and 5.80% other. This diverse population enhances the learning environment of LAMC, through the various celebrations of cultural and ethnic pride.
Student needs are identified through the matriculation process that includes admission, registration, assessment, orientation, counseling sessions, and other applications and information-collecting processes of the college. Effectiveness in meeting those needs is evaluated through the use of student surveys, student evaluation forms and faculty input. Student Support Services is currently revising its Program Review and Unit Plan process. New forms have been developed and the process for both planning tools will be completed by each department in Student Services by the end of October ’06. This planning process will better identify and quantify Student Services’ work with students and its plans for improvement as they relate to achieving the college’s mission and goals.
Los Angeles Mission College provides an enriched educational experience in higher learning and specialized programs to students who are admitted. Students benefit tremendously which directly parallels the commitment of success that the College has pledged to its students. Addressing the identified needs of students along with promoting a supportive learning environment, student support services provides the needs of its student body on a daily basis. Focusing on student access, progress, learning and success, LAMC is committed to providing a pathway for an exceptional institutional experience.
Student support services are divided into three areas: 1) Programs and services under the Department of Student Services, 2) Programs and services under the Department of Academic Affairs, and 3) Programs and services under Specially Funded Programs.
The programs and services under the Department of Student Services are as follows:
Admissions and Records provides guidance and assistance to students in applying for admission, registering for classes, determining residency and military status, athletic eligibility, veteran certification, transfer certification, transcript requests, enrollment verifications, GPA verification reports for state grants, collection and processing of census and grade reporting rosters. Admissions and Records is responsible for the maintenance and storage of all student records.
ASO provides leadership for student government, campus clubs and organizations, club fairs, leadership and personal growth workshops and entertainment. New and continuing students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the activities.
Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) provides programs and services to enhance equal educational access for students with physical, communication, learning and psychological disabilities, including educational support services and accommodations, which assist students to overcome physical and educational barriers and allow access to the college’s regular program and services.
Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) provides support services to educationally and economically disadvantaged students. Services include academic and personal counseling, student peer advising, tutoring, retention services, student survival kits, field trips, priority registration, cash and book grants and referral services. EOPS counseling faculty develop student educational plans and advise students in regard to transferring to a college or university. Community outreach is also an integral part of the EOPS program. Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program, under the auspices of EOPS, provides services to TANF/CalWORKs single heads of household recipients with children under the age of 14. Services include personal and academic counseling, tutorial services, peer support groups, and development of occupational/career opportunities. Additional services include financial assistance with educational expenses. The program is to provide single head of household recipients with the resources they need to complete their academic goals.
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is responsible for the administration of student financial assistance programs governed under Title IV, the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended and reauthorized in 1998, 34 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 600, 668, et al. Federal Student Aid Programs, Final Rule, the State of California State Legislature, and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The majority of student financial assistance funds are intended to financially assist low and middle income families through grants, loans, fee waivers, scholarships and employment.
Student financial assistance for all programs is determined and established by the federal government in the form of a Need Analysis. Need analysis is computed by taking the institution’s cost of attendance minus the parent’s and/or student’s financial resources determining the student’s financial need. Within the guidelines and monetary constraints, the Financial Aid Office determines the amount of student financial assistance that is awarded each applicant. In no instance is the student awarded more than the cost of attendance.
The mission of the Financial Aid Office is to insure that all student financial assistance funds are distributed to applicants in accordance with federal, state, and institutional policy, procedures and guidelines; and, to disburse these funds in a timely manner so that each applicant is able to successfully complete his/her educational goal at Los Angeles Mission College.
The financial aid programs that are administered by the Office of Financial Aid are but not limited to:
Grants
· Federal PELL Grant Program
· Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program
· Cal Grant B Program
· Cal Grant C Program
· Chafee Grant Program
· Child Development Grant Program
· Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program
Loans
· Federal Family Education Loan Program, Subsidized
· Federal Family Education Loan Program, Unsubsidized
· Federal Perkins Loan Program
· Alternative/Private Loans
Employment
· Federal Work Study Program
Scholarships
· Los Angeles Mission College Scholarship Program
· Outside Scholarship vendors and entities
A District Consortium Agreement allows students to combine enrollment status between colleges for maximum funding. Community outreach includes regularly scheduled financial aid workshops.
Health Center assists students in achieving and maintaining optimum health through the presence of nurses and other health care professionals providing a variety of services. Services include first aid, emergency care, diagnosis, testing, treatment, immunizations, family planning, mental health and domestic abuse counseling, resources and referrals. Additional activities include classroom visits, community outreach and faculty and staff safety training.
TRIO/Student Support Services (SSS) Program provides selected participants who are first generation college student, low-income, and/or disabled with a supportive environment to foster educational and personal growth. Students undergo a comprehensive needs assessment to identify academic deficiencies, learning style preferences, personal challenges and economic barriers to success. SSS Program provides personal counseling, tutoring, workshops, field trips and student grant aid.
Veterans & Foreign Students provides educational assistance for veterans who served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days. Veterans Services assists students in applying for veterans educational benefits. The student’s eligibility status is certified by the institutional and reported to the Veterans Administration. Foreign Students enhances the college culturally and ethnically through the recruitment and support of international students. Specialized support services designed specifically for foreign students include orientations on available campus services, assistance in registration and obtaining housing, international student admissions packet, personal and career counseling, cultural events and field trips. The program includes verification on INS qualifications and compliance and visa monitoring.
The programs and services under the Department of Academic Affairs are as follows:
Articulation develops a formal, written and published agreement that identifies courses (or sequences of courses) on a “sending” campus that is comparable to, or acceptable in lieu of, specific course requirements at a “receiving” campus. Continuous updating and maintenance of agreements between Mission College and four year public, private and independent institutions is performed on a daily basis.
Counseling Department provides individual attention to students in areas of academic advisement, career goals and personal counseling. Counselors provide students with a plethora of information on career options and assist them in the development of an educational plan that reflects students’ personal interests, potential and motivation. Counseling faculty also teach Personal Growth classes with curriculum supportive of academic success.
Job Placement Center provides employment services to students, alumni and the general public. Comprehensive job boards post campus, local, state and federal employment opportunities, including paid and unpaid positions. The Center participates in outreach activities in the community and facilitates an annual job and career fair.
Matriculation supports student success with the goal of ensuring that all students complete their college courses and persist in realizing their educational objectives. The success of the program is supported by eight areas: Admissions and Records; Assessment; Orientation; Counseling/Advising; Student Follow-Up; Coordination and Training; Research and evaluation; and Prerequisites, Co-requisites and advisories. The Matriculation program focuses on both student success and institutional effectiveness. Two of the major components of Matriculation, Assessment and Orientation provides Math, English and English as a Second Language (ESL) placement testing for all new students entering the college. These tests are used as a placement tool for which the student could then enroll in the appropriate Math and English class. Orientation provides an in-depth overview of all academic procedures that a student must be aware of in order to achieve academic success at the college. Students are also informed about all student support and tutorial services.
Student Career Center provides career exploration and counseling to undecided students who are choosing a major or vocational choice. Students explore their interests, skills and values through the use of career and vocational assessments. Additional services offered by the Center includes information and job related training in resume writing, job search skills and labor market outlook which is accessible through the use of computerized resources. Workshops related to career planning and vocational development are also offered every semester.
The Transfer Center assists students to be transfer ready in order to continue their education at a four year college or university. Along with assisting students in identifying their university of choice, the transfer center ensures that all academic and application requirements are completed. Additional information regarding on-campus housing, scholarships, campus tours, college fairs and a resource library is available for students.
The programs and services under Specially Funded Programs (SFP) are as follows:
CalWORKs supports students receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) through individual academic/career counseling, on-campus childcare, job placement, advocacy, vocational testing, work-study opportunities and on-the-job training experiences. The purpose and the goal of CalWORKs is to provide students with a program that will get them job ready within the allowable time of eighteen months.
Careers in Child Care Training provides the training required to work as a pre-school teacher assistant. Students earn a 12 unit skill award in either Child Development, Family Child Care or Pre-School Teacher.
Community Literacy Academy (CLA) - Even Start is a community literacy academy based on the idea that when families read together and talk about what they read, family ties are strengthened and parents become role models for their children.
Early Start to Emancipation Preparation (ESTEP) motivates foster youth aged 14 and 15 to begin preparing early for their eventual release from the foster care system and to identify academic and life skills needing enhancement.
English Literacy and Citizenship Center provides an integrated program of services incorporating English literacy and civics education to prospective United States citizens, students and members of the community.
Family Child Care Homes Network (FCCHN) provides child care for children 6 weeks through 12 years old. FCCHN has at least 25 licensed family day care homes. All providers homes are accredited or in the process of getting accreditation by the National Association for Family Child Care. Although Mission College students have priority to our services, community is able to utilize the program as well.
Foster/Kinship Care Education provides a variety of training programs for foster parents through California community Colleges. Foster parents are offered 350 to 450 hours of training each year in both English and Spanish.
Foundation for California Community Colleges (TANF) Child Development Project provides training through the Foundation of the California Community Colleges to meet the training requirements necessary to work as a preschool teacher’s assistant and preschool teacher.
GEAR-UP CSUN a federally funded five year program between Cal State Northridge and LA Mission College is designed to provide the support system needed in order for students to be prepared to attend and be successful in college.
GEAR-UP Project GRAD LA a federally funded program designed to provide the support system needed in order for students to be prepared to attend and be successful in college.
Health Care Clerical Assistant Training (HCCAT) provides customized training that has a career ladder opportunity in the medical and clerical in the health care field.
Independent Living Program (ILP) provides training and services to foster youth that develops skills that will enable them to locate jobs, manage money and survive as productive citizens outside of the foster care system.
Kinship Education Preparation & Support (KEPS) provides services and training to caregivers who are caring for children of relatives. A strength based approach to help families develop the skills that are needed to prepare the children for their future.
Minority Science Engineering Improvement Program—TRAILS creates a new molecular biology laboratory course and summer research internships with collaboration from partner universities and biotechnology companies.