Gavilan Community College

Gavilan Community College

GAVILANCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

MID –TERM REPORT

Since GavilanCollege’s accreditation review in 2000, the College’s self-identified issues have been diligently reviewed and significant progress has been made in implementing action plans to address these areas. Those issues that are unfinished continue to be addressed. The College’s progress to date is reported in this section using the ten (10) broad categories identified in the December 2000 Self-Study Report. These areas are as follows:

  1. INSTITUTIONAL MISSION
  2. INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY (Public Documents)
  3. INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS (Research & Planning)
  4. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
  5. STUDENT SUPPORT
  6. LEARNING RESOURCES
  7. FACULTY AND STAFF
  8. PHYSICAL RESOURCES
  9. FINANCIAL RESOURCES
  10. GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

The status of each of the following 91 self-identified issues is reported. In addition to the above-mentioned issues, a status report of the five (5) recommendations of the site visit team is provided.

I. INSTITUTIONAL MISSION(Public Documents)

The institution has a statement of mission that defines the institution, its educational purposes, its students, and its place in the higher education community.

1.4The institution evaluates and revises its Mission Statement on a regular basis.

ACTION PLAN(page 1-5, section 1.4)

  1. Update the Strategic Plan in a timely manner to complete the Process by

2001.

Status

The Strategic Plan began an update in the spring of 2002. Due to the hiring of a new president, planning for a possible bond measure and the current state budget crisis, the update continues with completion scheduled for Spring 2004. The technology plans will then be updated to conform to the Strategic Plan.

  1. INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY

2.2The institution has a readily available governing board-adopted policy protecting academic freedom and responsibility, which states the institutional commitment to the free pursuit and dissemination of knowledge and fosters the integrity of the teaching/learning process.

ACTION PLAN(page 2-3, section 2.2)

  1. The College is advised to consider developing a handbook that

includes academic freedom and responsibility issues, for part- time faculty.

Status

Only one handbook is published and updated yearly and it applies to both full and part-time faculty. Part-time faculty is encouraged to review and familiarize themselves with the faculty handbook policies and procedures. They are also invited to participate in staff development and new faculty orientation. The handbook is published on-line as well as in hard copy.

2.3Faculty and other college staff distinguish between personal conviction

and proven conclusions and present relevant data fairly and objectively to

students and others.

ACTION PLAN (page 2-4, section 2.3)

  1. The College needs to identify a faculty evaluation process that protects

the anonymity of students so they can address concerns about

Class/curriculum issues confidentially.

Status

The College has included in its faculty evaluation process more student involvement by having students hand out evaluation forms, collect them and deliver them to the administrative assistant to the Vice President of Instructional Services. (Faculty members are not present during this process). Students are encouraged to assess their instructors with written comments on the evaluation form. Instructors review the written comments after they are collated and typed. Greater education about and enforcement of the procedure began in Spring 2001.

2.5The institution provides faculty and students with clear expectationsconcerning

the principles of academic honesty and the sanctions for violation.

ACTION PLAN (page 2-5, section 2.5)

  1. Develop and disseminate a more comprehensive explanation of plagiarism.

Status

Plagiarism is fully outlined in the Student Handbook, the College Catalog and Chapter 6 of the Student Personnel Policies. A universal policy, outlined in faculty green sheets, is being developed with implementation in Spring 2004.

2.6 The institution demonstrates through policies and practices an appropriate understanding of and concern for issues of equity and diversity.

ACTION PLAN (page 2-7, section 2.6)

  1. The College is working collegially to develop a written plan to maintain

Title IX compliance.

Status

A campus committee will convene to complete a written plan in Spring, 2004. To meet compliance regulations set forth by Title IX, the following has been addressed. The athletic department has focused its attention on three main areas:

  1. Budgets: The budget for Women & Men’s sports reflect equity in the distribution of funds (ie., women and men’s basketball budgets are now the same).
  2. Coaching Stipends: Over the past year, coaching stipends for head and assistant coaches have been analyzed and reconfigured for equality. A report on coaching stipends has been developed and will be presented in collective bargaining. If approved it will go to the Board of Trustees for adoption in Fall 2003.
  3. Creation of Sports: Ongoing analyses are taking place to identify the viability of adding new opportunities for our women student-athletes. It is the College’s goal to add new sports over the next three to four years to help balance out the numbers. Emphasis on improving female participation is an ongoing priority.
  1. INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

Research and Planning

The institution, appropriate to its mission and purposes as a higher education institution, develops and implements a broad-based and integrated system of research, evaluation, and planning to assess institutional effectiveness and uses the results for institutional improvement. The institution identifies institutional outcomes, which can be validated by objective evidence.

3A INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND EVALUATION

3A.1 Institutional research is integrated with and supportive of institutional

planning and evaluation

ACTION PLAN(page 3-2, section 3A.1)

  1. Establish a research capability and an assessment process.

Status

To meet the need for a research capability and to establish an assessment process, an Institutional Researcher was hired July 2, 2001. The position reports directly to the Vice President of Student Services. Studies and reports that have been developed are listed on the GavilanCommunity College website: Reports were conducted for Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) reviews as well as for planning purposes (Fall 2001). An Annual Performance Indicators report was completed in Spring 2002. Responding to the Chancellor’s Office, performance evaluations were completed in Spring 2002 and are on-going.

Several assessment validation projects have been completed or are underway in the areas of English, ESL, Math, Reading, and Writing Assessment (Fall 2003.

Presently the college is developing a district-wide survey to determine community and students needs and to assess college services(Fall 2003).

3A.2 The institution provides the necessary resources for effective research and

evaluation.

ACTION PLAN (page 3-3, section 3A.2)

  1. Assess and develop MIS (Management Information System) capability that will meet the present and future needs of the College as a component of a comprehensive technology plan.

Status

A comprehensive Technology Plan, which goes to the board for approval Spring 2004, now contains a component that addresses present and future needs of MIS (Management Information System). Following the Technology plan, the Santa Rosa data management system is nearly updated to the latest level (J.03) and the number of full-time staff in the department has increased from 1 to 4. Two other positions are approved and are waiting funding. Planning is continuing for replacement of the Santa Rosa system with a proposal for funding through a possible bond measure in spring 2004.

3A.3 The institution has developed and implemented the means forevaluating how well, and in what ways, it accomplishes its missionand purposes.

ACTION PLAN (page 3-4, section 3A.3)

  1. Develop program outcome measures as proposed in the EMP (Educational Master Plan).

Status

The curriculum committee and departments continue working on course outlines to establish learning outcomes and relating them to our institutional learning outcomes. We are making progress to complete all general education course outline updates by the end of the spring semester 2004. All course and program learning outcomes will be completed by Spring 2005.

  1. Strengthen the College’s research capability to obtain follow-up data on students who graduate or leave the College before graduating.

Status

In Fall 2001 the researcher collected persistence rate data by conducting follow-up outreach services to students who were statistically predicted to drop out. Plans for surveying graduates and non-graduates are in the development stages. Implementation is planned for Fall 2003.

3A.4 The institution provides evidence that its program evaluations lead

to improvement of programs and services.

ACTION PLAN(page 3-4, section 3A.4)

  1. Fully implement, monitor and evaluate the new IEC (Institutional Effectiveness Committee) procedures and requirements.

Status

IEC (Institutional Effectiveness Committee) procedures and requirements have been implemented, monitored and evaluated. The Institutional Effectiveness Committee itself went through a program review, then developed, implemented and completed an action plan in order to assess and update their processes. The IEC has completed reviewing the instructional, administrative and student divisions of the College and the subcomponents of administrative and student divisions. The College continues on a 4-year cycle to review all support services and academic programs. (Initiated Fall 2002)

  1. Develop and implement an appraisal evaluation process for programs that have been reviewed.

Status

An appraisal evaluation has been developed and is monitored annually by the IEC (Institutional Effectiveness Committee). All program action plans developed as a result of the program review process are updated yearly to coincide with the budget development process. This was implemented in Fall 2002.

3BINSTITUTIONAL PLANNING

3B.1The institution defines and publishes its planning processes and involves

appropriate segments of the College Community in the development of institutional plans

ACTION PLAN (page 3-6, section 3B.1)

  1. Complete the Technology Master Plan.

Status

The Technology Plan is in final draft form and will be submitted for Board approval by Spring 2004.

  1. Complete the Facilities Master Plan.

Status

The Facilities Master Plan was completed and approved by the Board in 2001. It is now undergoing an update by a subcommittee of the President’s Council (participatory governance body) in preparation for a possible bond measure. It will be revised by Spring 2004.

  1. Monitor implementation of the Educational Master Plan (EMP)

Status

The year 2000 Educational Master Plan has been monitored and 70% of the strategies in the plan have been completed. Some strategies were deleted due to changing priorities and the remaining strategies are being incorporated in the Strategic and Educational Master plans that are presently undergoing updates. This work will be completed by Spring 2004.

3C INSTITUTIONAL OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT

3C.1 The institution specifies intended institutional outcomes and has clear

documentation of their achievement.

ACTION PLAN(page 3-8, section 3C.1)

  1. Identify specific institutional outcomes and measures and document their achievement.

Status

The Strategic Planning Committee developed specific Institutional Learning Outcomes in the Fall 2002. The course outlines are being modified to develop Course Learning Outcomes and relate them in priority to the Institutional Learning Outcomes. Documentation occurs through the course learning outcome measures (tests, papers, presentations, portfolios, etc.) that determine the grade. When the course and program learning outcomes are completed, the measuring and documentation will be fully implemented (spring 2005).

3C.2The institution uses information from its evaluation and planning

activities to communicate matters of quality assurance to the public.

ACTION PLAN(page 3-9, section 3C.2)

  1. Review internal and external marketing plans for communicating to the public.

Status

The marketing plan has been reviewed and implemented in Spring 2003, resulting in the addition of a 2003 Media Survey, a Web site redesign, the Campus news online, and a weekly news show on GavTV. News and events are easy to find on Gavilan’s Web Page.

3C.3The institution systematically reviews and modifies, as appropriate, its

institutional research efforts, evaluation processes, institutional plans and

planning processes to determine their ongoing utility for assessing

institutional effectiveness.

ACTION PLAN (page 3-10, section 3C.3)

  1. Review and update the Strategic Plan.

Status

The Strategic Planning Committee has reviewed the strategic plan and is currently updating the Strategic Plan with a completion date of spring semester 2004.

  1. Assess the new IEC (Institutional Effectiveness Committee) program review procedures.

Status

The IEC (Institutional Effectiveness Committee) went through the IEC (Institutional Effectiveness Committee)process, then developed, implemented and completed an action plan in order to assess and update their procedures. This was completed Fall 2002.

IV. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The institution offers collegiate level programs in recognized fields of study that culminate in identified student competencies leading to degrees and certificates. The provisions of this standard are broadly applicable to all educational activities offered in the name of the institution, regardless of where or how presented, or by whom taught.

4A.GENERAL PROVISIONS

4A.1 The institution seeks to meet the varied educational needs of its students through programs consistent with its institutional mission and purposes and the demographics and economics of its community.

ACTION PLAN (page 4-2, section 4A.1)

  1. Complete the review of identified “at risk” programs, and take appropriate revitalization or phase-out follow-up actions.

Status

Cosmetology showed increased enrollment and was revitalized in Spring 2001. The Journalism program was revitalized in Spring 2001 to include a new instructor and new equipment; it has shown increased enrollment.

  1. Complete the phasing in of Network Management, Multimedia and Engineering ladder programs over the next two years.

Status

The Network Management Program (CISCO) was developed to a three-semester certificate program in Fall 2001. A Systems Management AA degree will be offered once a Windows 2000 server course is developed in Summer 2003. The Digital Media Program was approved at the district level; the state approval was granted Summer 2003. Courses are presently being taught, and the Program will move to its new headquarters in June 2003. The first year of the Engineering program was offered during the 2002-2003 school year; the second year of Engineering will be offered in the 2003-2004 school year. Enrollments are declining. Discussions are occurring as part of a plan on viability of engineering program in its current form.

4A.4 The institution provides sufficient human, financial, and physical (including technological) resources to support its educational programs and to facilitate achievement of the goals and objectives of those programs regardless of the service location or instructional delivery method.

ACTION PLAN(page, 4-6, section 4A.4)

  1. Assess support staff needs and equipment deficiencies in educational programs.

Status

Support staff needs and equipment deficiencies have been addressed in the main body of the Technology Master Plan (to be approved by Spring,2004), and staffing needs in Appendix B, to conform to Statewide TCO Minimum Technical Support Baseline Initiatives. Title V grant has provided infra-structure upgrades and contributed to increase in Smart Classroom.

4A.5 The institution designs and maintains academic advising programs to

meet student needs for information and advice and adequately informs and prepares faculty and other personnel responsible for the advising function.

ACTION PLAN(page 4-7, section 4A.5)

  1. Evaluate the advising systems for possible change.

Status

  • In summer of 2002, a new Vice President of Student Services was employed at GavilanCollege. In light of severe budget reductions in the State, The Vice President, in cooperation with the Counseling Faculty, established some counseling service directions:
  • For budget reasons, based on the state revenue shortfall, counseling services have been reduced for summer session beginning 2002.
  • The counseling department, in cooperation with the Vice President of Students, initiated an internship program Fall 2001 allowing graduate students in the discipline of counseling to intern for a semester at Gavilan.
  • Interns who have been trained and who have completed their Masters in Counseling have been hired as adjunct counselors (Summer 2002) to supplement the work of contract faculty in the counseling department.
  • Per the Faculty Union Contract, the Vice President has reported to the Academic Senate every semester regarding counseling and advisor needs. Counseling needs are fully met by the professional faculty (contract and adjunct) in the counseling department with the addition of one advisor serving students in the nursing department. (Summer 2002)
  • Academic advising by faculty who are subject experts in their disciplines is encouraged and performed through office hours and academic department sessions (ongoing).

4B. DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

4B.3 The institution identifies and makes public expected learning outcomes for its degree and certificate programs. Students completing programs demonstrate achievement of those stated learning outcomes.

ACTION PLAN(page 4-10, section 4B.3)

  1. Explore the implementation of program-based learning outcomes.

Status

Course learning outcomes are in development and will be completed by Spring 2004. The General Education learning outcomes were established Fall 2002. Program learning outcomes will be developed beginning in Fall 2003 and completed by Spring 2005.

4C. GENERAL EDUCATION

4C.4 Students completing the institution’s general education programdemonstrate competence in oral and written communication, scientific

and quantitative reasoning and critical analysis/logical thinking.

ACTION PLAN(page 4-20, section 4C.4)

  1. Implement procedures that will ensure appropriate adherence to course outlines.

Status

Course outlines are provided to all new faculty members by the area Dean or department chair with direction as to how they must be followed.

  1. Assess the policies regarding what grade represents AA degree level of competence and the repeatability of courses.

Status

Students must have a 2.0 to graduate. Faculty are continuously reminded that a “C” grade indicates a students’ readiness for the next level. The Curriculum Committee continues to discuss what grade represents AA degree level competence. Repeatability of courses follows Title V guidelines and the revised policies of the State Chancellor’s Office(ongoing).

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