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NEWS
September 2012

Student Success Legislation Awaits Governor’s Signature

Sen. Alan Lowenthal

The Student Success Act of 2012, which would help more California community college students reach their goal of earning a degree, certificate, career advancement, or transferring to a four-year institution, cleared its final legislative hurdle last week and now awaits action by Gov. Jerry Brown. If signed by the governor, the Student Success Act of 2012 (Lowenthal, D-Long Beach) would:

  • Restructure the way student support services are delivered to improve the assistance that students receive at the beginning of their educational experience. The bill refocuses existing student services resources to support orientation, assessment and education planning services and lays the groundwork to expand these services as more resources become available.
  • Provide that campuses using an assessment instrument for student placement utilize a statewide system of common assessment once available, to improve consistency and efficiency within the 112-campus system.
  • Require colleges receiving student support service funds to post a student success scorecard to clearly communicate progress in improving completion rates for all students and closing the achievement gap among historically under-represented students.
  • Require students whose fees are waived because of their economic need to meet minimum academic standards.

 

“The Legislature clearly recognized that this bill’s important policy changes will put more students on the path to completing their educational goals and will make California more competitive economically,” said Chancellor Jack Scott. “This is the result of nearly two years of hard work that started with the recommendations of the Student Success Task Force. But it’s not the end. Instead, it’s really just the beginning of a restructuring of our priorities so our students succeed in greater numbers.”

Key Dates

 

Sept. 10-11: Board of Governor’s meeting, San Diego

Sept. 12-13: Professional Development Summit, Pomona

Oct. 3: SB 1456 Implementation Webinar, for more information click HERE.

Basic Skills Summit Produces Plan to Improve Student Success

The Chancellor’s Office conducted a summit in July to respond to the Student Success Task Force recommendations dealing with Basic Skills. Summit participants represented all areas of community college instruction, student services, research, and other support activities.

Participants developed a plan of action to address the recommendations through the completion of resource documents that would be developed during 2012-2013. These documents would be widely distributed in an effort to rapidly improve the success of students. Major sections of the resource documents are designed to:

  • Focus on the vision in California for basic skills programs.
  • Present all support materials addressing the student life cycle (readiness, transition to college, and transition to work or university).
  • Document and guide colleges on the successful practices for a student during their time in the California community college system.
  • Provide further recommendations or strategies that must be supported in the future.

 

The resource documents will be developed by the Chancellor’s Office in coordination with various groups in the state during fall 2012 with a publication date sometime in early 2013. The timing of the release of the publication will coincide with the planning process required for the Basic Skills Programs at each college. For further information, please contact Dr. Barbara Illowsky, Basic Skills Coordinator, Chancellor’s Office at Illowsky@cccco.edu

Note: For complete information, participants, research and reading materials go HERE.

Professional Development Meeting Slated

The Chancellor’s Office is formingan advisory committee to address revitalizing and re-envisioning professional development as called for in the Student Success Task Force recommendations. The committee will consist of representatives from all segments of the system; faculty, administration, and staff. The committee will meet in September, October, and November to discuss issues related to professional development. The initial meeting will be held at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona’s Kellogg West Conference Center in Pomona, on September 12-13, and will be followed up with two virtual meetings in October and November. For more information, go HERE.

 
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