The Student Success and Support Program and

Student Equity Program Plans

Yes, You Want to Know More

Aiden ElyInterim Dean, Student ServicesSacramento City College

In the beginning….

Student Success Task Force Recommendations

January 2012 - 8 areas of focus and 22 recommendations

1) Increase college and career readiness

2) Strengthen support for entering students

3) Incentivize successful student behaviors

4) Align course offerings to meet student needs

5) Improve education of basic skills students

6) Revitalize and re-envision professional development

7) Enable efficient statewide leadership and increase coordination among colleges

8) Align resources with student success recommendations

SB 1456: the Student Success Act September 2012 - effective January 1, 2013

Quick Summary• Targets new students – mandates core services• Focuses on students enrolling for degrees, certificates,

transfer and career advancement• Encourages the use of technology to effectively serve

more students• Mandates core services and targets funding –

orientation, assessment, counseling and developing an education plan

• Shared institutional and student responsibility and accountability

• Incentivizes positive student academic performance and progress (interventions and/or consequences)

• Linked to statewide common assessment and accountability scorecard

• Linked to student equity plan

Key ElementsInstitutional Responsibilities

The program of services funded through the Student Success and Support Program, shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

• Orientation services • Assessment before course registration• Counseling and other education planning services, which

shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following:

• Counseling and advising. • Assistance to students in the exploration of educational

and career interests and aptitudes and identification of educational objectives

• The provision of information, guided by sound counseling principles and practices, using a broad array of delivery mechanisms, including technology-based strategies to serve a continuum of student needs and abilities, that will enable students to make informed choices.

• Development of an education plan leading to a course of study and guidance on course selection that is informed by, and related to, a student’s academic and career goals.

Key Elements

• Referral to specialized support services as needed and available

• Evaluation of each student’s progress and referral to appropriate interventions for students who are enrolled in basic skills courses, who have not declared an educational goal as required, or who are on academic probation, as defined by standards adopted by the Board of Governors and community college districts.

(Institutional Responsibilities continued)

Key Elements

• The student’s responsibilities under the agreement include, but are not necessarily limited to,

• the identification of an academic and career goal upon application,

• the declaration of a specific course of study after a specified time period or unit accumulation,

• diligence in class attendance and completion of assigned coursework, and

• the completion of courses and maintenance of academic progress toward an educational goal and course of study identified in the student’s education plan.

• BOG Fee Waiver - Places conditions on eligibility. Students must meet academic and progress standards, as defined by the BOG.

Student Responsibilities

Student Equity Background2002 — BOG adopted recommendations of Task Force on Equity and Diversity for title 5 regulations requiring colleges to develop Student Equity Plan

2003 — Chancellor's Office provided guidelines to colleges for development of the plan

2005 — Chancellor's Office asked colleges to update/complete Student Equity plan

2008-09 to 2012-13 economic downturn

2011— Student Success Task Force established

2012— Student Success Act of 2012 (SB1456) link to student equity

2013—Student Equity Workgroup convened

2013-14 – Student Equity funded from SSSP. New plans required

Student Equity RequirementsPopulations required (at a minimum) (Title 5, §54220):

• American Indians or Alaskan natives• Asians or Pacific Islanders • Blacks• Hispanics • Whites • men and women • persons with disabilities

Success Indicators• Access • Course Completion • ESL and Basic Skills Completion• Degree and Certificate Completion • Transfer• Student Success and Support Services - The effect of

mandatory participation of new students in SSSP services and enrollment priority, as well as the loss of Board of Governors (BOG) fee waiver of new students.

SSSP and Student Equity Plans

Colleges were required to submit plans for both programs to the State Chancellor’s Office in October 2014.

SSSP Plan – One year plan with annual revision/update describing how SSSP services will be provided to credit students (orientation, assessment, counseling/advising, development of an ed. plan and follow-up to defined at-risk students) budget and coordination with other programs and colleges in the district – $2,900,332 (FY 2014-15) – Matriculation and Student Success Committee

Student Equity Plan – 3 year plan with annual revision/update that describes:

• basic research to determine the extent of disparities in student equity in the five student success areas

• activities to ensure student equity outcomes whenever disparity is noted

• Budget• Evaluation methods

FY 2014-15 Equity plan focuses is on completion of ESL and Basic Skills $1,019,180 – Equity Committee

Funding GuidelinesSSSP General Rules

All expenses charged to SSSP must be justifiable and reasonable. “Justifiable” means that expenditures are consistent with program goals and activities delineated in the SSSP plan. “Reasonable” means that expenditures will be made prudently and with every effort to utilize funds efficiently. Program funds can only be used to support and meet the costs of the service components described in title 5 (orientation, assessment, counseling/advising, development of an ed. plan and follow-up to defined at-risk students) and in accordance with the objectives and activities identified in the college’s approved SSSP Plan. Any expenditure not included in the SSSP Plan must be approved by the Chancellor’s Office.Core Services - Orientation - Assessment - Counseling, advising, ed. planning - Follow-up (3 at-risk populations)

Other (must be directly related to program/services) - Research, admissions and transfer - Program Director, coordinator and staff - Office Supplies and Postage - Publications and Outreach materials - In-state travel and Training - Computer hardware/software and equipment - Food and beverages

Funding GuidelinesGeneral criteria for expending Student Equity funds: Expenditures must:• Be targeted towards the populations, goals and activities prioritized in

the college Student Equity Plan as defined in statute and title 5. • Targeted populations, goals and activities must be prioritized

based on the results of a disproportionate impact study outlined in the Student Equity Plan.

• Meet the purpose, and address the target populations and success indicators of Student Equity as defined in statute and title 5.

• Be necessary and reasonable.

- Outreach – student groups in the plan- Student services and programs that support improved outcomes for prioritized populations- Research and evaluation- Student equity planning- Professional development

- Adapting academic/career related programs/courses to improve equity outcomes- Instructional support services (non-ftes)- In-state travel for equity- Other direct student support e.g. books, transportation, childcare, supplies

Program Coordination

Integrate Student Equity planning into college and district wide planning efforts:

Accreditation Educational master planning Program review SSSP Plan – including coordination

with other Student Services/college programs Basic Skills Initiative Plan

Adopt a holistic approach to planning, budgeting, and delivery of services to support equity in student access and success

Accreditation Education

Master Plan/Program

Review

Student Success & Support Program

Basic Skills Initiative

Student Equity

Program Coordination

Status UpdateSSSP and Student Equity

◦ End of first fiscal year June 2014◦ Funding and new plans◦ Challenges and lessons learned

Policies: set by a department, college, district and/or state can both create limitations and provide opportunities.

Practices: used by administration, faculty and staff in administration, instruction and student services can impact momentum in both positive and negative ways.

Programs: available to support students academically or financially also have structures and regulations that impact a student’s ability to access or benefit from that program.

Processes: embedded in student services, instruction and administration; must be navigated to support student completion and can present either roadblocks or reinforcements.

Next Steps