Self-Study Issues

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Standard Three

Committee Members

Dr. Lyn MacConnaire, Co-Chair, Dean of Student Development
Ralph James, Co-Chair, Professor, Counseling
Connie Baker, Campus Data Specialist (Enrollment Management)
Joan Beem, Professor; Coordinator, Nursing
Susan Bricker, Registrar
Marcelino DeCierdo, Professor, Counseling
Helen Galindo, Professor, Counseling; Coordinator, Matriculation
Carolyn Inouye, Director, Office Institutional Researcher, District Service Center

Standard Three: Institutional Effectiveness

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 use the results for institutional improvement. The institution identifies institutional outcomes which can be validated by objective evidence.

SELF-IDENTIFIED ISSUES

A. From 1996 Self-Study Report

1. Standard One - INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH

Issues:

  • More specific data are needed for instructional and student service program analysis
  • Need regular and accurate WSCH and FTE information (District-wide)
  • Need to identify areas of research germane to institutional effectiveness
  • Emphasis needs to be put upon obtaining easy-to-interpret enrollment and WSCH/FTE Ratio reports that can show trends over a period of years

Discussion Summary:
Implementation of the Banner system provides the College and the District access to a variety of accurate data. The college now produces reports regularly that provide accurate FTE/WSCH data for faculty and administration planning purposes. In addition, the College is also collecting department-specific data such as the SARS Trac tracking system that provides data on the counseling needs of students. Data is also extracted from Banner for district-wide reporting needs, such as MIS and IPEDS reporting. However, much of that data does not come back to the campus to utilize in planning efforts.

This is an ongoing project now that the data is readily available. The first elements of research that were identified and have been addressed were the need to collect accurate FTE, WSCH and enrollment history data (S 3.1).


Issue:
· Need district to refine the data concerning external and internal local and state demographic trends recently made available by developing predictive interpretations of the data.

Discussion Summary:
The College has developed a close and cooperative relationship with the District Office of Institutional Research (OIR). The District OIR has produced for the college a variety of reports that refine and clarify the data collected via internal and external scan instruments, local and state demographic and specific population trends (S 3.2).

Issue:
· These interpretations will be used as the basis of planning assumptions and to provide a focus for unit plans throughout the College.

Discussion Summary:
The data collected by the College via internal and external scans, the development of Institutional Performance Indicators, local and state demographic and population trends were used as a basis for the College’s Strategic Long Range Plan, and are a basis for the ongoing development of department/division unit plans (S 3.2, S 3.3).

 

Issue:
· The College Institutional Research Office will establish an ad hoc group to review current efforts and contributions supporting institutional effectiveness and recommend priorities for future institutional effectiveness research.

Discussion Summary:
Under the leadership of the Executive Vice President of Student Learning, the College has developed a collaborative effort with the District Office of Institutional Research, the new campus Enrollment Management Office, Matriculation, and other appropriate campus offices and operations to collect and distribute appropriate data and research.

 

Issue:
· District institutional research office will carry out another Student Perception Survey in Spring 1996.

Discussion Summary:
Student Perception Surveys were done in 1996, 2000 and another is planned for 2003.

 

Issue:
· College needs to identify the funding source for 50% of the research position that will be lost at the culmination of the Title III grant.

Discussion Summary:
This is no longer applicable. As reported above, the College has entered into a collaborative relationship with the District Office of Institutional Research. We anticipate this relationship will evolve into a regular and systematic process of research and evaluation. It is important to note that this partnership (in part) was a result of fiscal necessity. Ventura College always enjoyed an excellent relationship with the district office of Institutional Research. However, due to the severe reductions for the 2002-03 fiscal year, the College was forced to eliminate hours for its staff institutional researcher. As such, there will definitely be a drastic reduction in OIR services and studies germane to Ventura College.

 

2. Standard Two - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Issue:
· Develop Educational Master Plan that will provide an opportunity to examine existing programs and identify future directions.

Discussion Summary:
This is a current, on-going, process. The College is working with consultants, the JCM Group, to develop a campus wide assessment of programs and services to support the capital projects to be built as a result of Measure S. In addition, the Educational Master Plan will include the ongoing program review project, a review of the campus wide unit planning process, fiscal projections, enrollment management projections, and input from the College’s Facilities Oversight Group (FOG) as a basis for facilities expansion and remodeling.

 

Issue:
· Implement Program Review for all departments.

Discussion Summary:
This is in progress. The program review templates for instruction and student services were reviewed and revised in Fall 2002. Completed program reviews are being collected in the Office of Student Learning (S 3.2).

 

Issue:
· College will assess the impact of deleting programs and courses.

Discussion Summary:
This is an on-going process through the College Curriculum Committee and the campus-wide program review process.

Issue:
· The College will consider the advantages of developing an intensive tracking system of VC transfers.

Discussion Summary:
The College currently receives transfer data from the CSU and UC systems, some private colleges, the State Chancellor’s Office and CPEC reports. This data will be included in the collaborative research overview developing between the College and the District Office of Institutional Research.

 

Issue:
· College will continue to monitor vocational trends in the community and adjust courses and programs to better prepare students for employment.

 

Discussion Summary:
This is an on-going process. Vocational programs, such as Nursing, Paramedics, Automotive Technology, Machine Technology, Construction Technology, Biotechnology, Journalism, Computer Information Systems, CISCO and Oracle regularly gather information on industry trends and employer needs through association meetings, hosted fairs, roundtables and advisory boards. The College’s Institute for Community and Professional Development (ICPD) interacts directly with employers and local industry to provide contract education courses to meet their needs, and reports on local employer perceptions and industry trends.

 

Issue:
· College will continue to solicit information from students, staff and the community concerning the addition or deletion of non-credit classes.

Discussion Summary:
Based on community input, the College established the Emeritus Institute in Fall 2001, and continues to offer an active program of contract education to support the needs of local employers. This is an ongoing process. Noncredit program offerings fluctuate with community interest and budget restraints.

 

Issue:
· The English faculty will select a writing instrument to be included as a part of the VC assessment process.

Discussion Summary:
This has been done. The English faculty completed a validation study for all English placement instruments in Summer 2002.

 

Issue:
· The College will establish a plan to fully fund the Coordinator of Institutional Research position.

Discussion Summary:
This is no longer applicable. The College has developed a collaborative and successful working relationship with the District Office of Institutional Research. Again, this should not be misinterpreted for VC’s absence of a campus Institutional Researcher. This position was eliminated for the 2002-03 fiscal year due to funding. (See Standard One above)

 

3. Standard Three - STUDENT SERVICE

Issue:
· The College will evaluate recruitment and outreach effectiveness.

Discussion Summary:
This is an on-going process. The College continues to receive input from high schools via the annual County Counselors’ Exchange Day hosted by the college and attended by counselors from virtually all the local area high schools. The College has also hosted two community focus groups in Spring 2002, and a Principals’ Day, Fall 2002.

As a result of input from schools and the community, outreach efforts have been increased in elementary, middle and grammar schools. Outreach efforts have been broadened to include the areas of Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru and Ojai in the eastern belt of the county through the activities sponsored by the Middle College High School program as well as the ENLACE and Title V grants.


Issue:
· The College will continue student satisfaction studies, retention studies and other research that will give longitudinal data on students with disabilities and other high-risk students.

 

Discussion Summary:
This is an on-going process. The College has done two satisfaction surveys that focused on EAC students, in Spring 2000 and again in Summer 2002. The Student Success Team met with the district researcher during the 2001-2002 academic year to assess the implications of the survey results and future modifications to the survey. In addition, specific programs such as Middle College High School and MESA are tracking student progress.

 

Issue:
· The District and College management will encourage the District to design a system of accountability for achievement of Affirmative Action goals, diversification needs and requirements under AB 1725.

Discussion Summary:
See Response to Recommendation Four, and Progress Report on Standard 2.6. The District has revised its hiring policy, removing Affirmative Action and replacing it with a staff diversity policy. The Academic Senate is actively involved in oversight of hiring procedures and practices.

 

4. Standard Five - LIBRARY AND LEARNING RESOURCES

Issue:
The College will develop a process for . . . evaluation of the Supplemental Instructional Program.

Discussion Summary
This is no longer applicable. The program has been replaced by increased tutoring services at Guthrie Hall and the Math Center (including a group tutoring program). Nursing and Math Lab tutoring are examples of programs that have group and peer tutoring efforts.

 

5. Standard Seven - FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Issue:
· College will continue to update and refine its internal planning processes, utilizing the information generated to optimize resource allocation in the fulfillment of its mission.

Discussion Summary
This is an on-going process. This is being carried out through campus-wide efforts such as unit planning, the development of a college staff development plan and the (in-progress) Program Review project. Overall college issues for planning are identified through CID, and the Campus Resource Council carries out a review of the college budget process. The College is refining the use of a web-based planning instrument that allows for the linking and sharing of unit plan information across the campus. Plans for clarifying the link between planning and budget will be part of the Educational Master Plan.

 

B. FROM 1998 MIDTERM REPORT

1. Recommendation 2.3

Issue:
The College, through a thoughtful and inclusive process, should develop a coherent College-wide vision for the direction of its educational programs and their delivery to students.

Discussion Summary
The campus community participated in the development of a long-range strategic plan that includes the college mission, vision and goals, values and practices, and institutional performance indicators, The College Plan 2000-2003. All of the above provides the foundation for the newly emerging Educational Master Plan that is assessing programs and services and projecting future program, service and facility needs for Ventura College students. In addition, the values, goals and practices have provided a foundation for the unit planning process that is an integral part of the Educational Master Plan (S 3.1, S 3.3).

 

2. Recommendation 4.2

Issue:
· The College should strengthen its coordination and support for the staff development of all employee groups, with special attention to the need for training in new technologies and in strategies to deal effectively with a more diverse student body.

· It is expected that by the next accreditation visit, there will be more surveys to get the staff’s perceptions of what direction(s) the college should be taking in the next 3 to 5 years. These surveys will include an interest survey for staff development activities.

Discussion Summary
This is in progress. See Response to Recommendation Five. The College just completed its model Comprehensive Staff Development Plan that includes a prioritization of activities based on unit plans and staff surveys. The most recent surveys were completed in Spring 2002, including surveys of staff, faculty and management (S 3.4).

Issue:
· A fully functioning college research office is expected to be operating, and its role will be defined in relation to those of the district research office and the district information technology office.

Discussion Summary
See Standard One above.

 

C. FROM 2002 ACCREDITATION SELF-STUDY REPORT

1. Recommendation 2.3

Issue:
· The College, through a thoughtful and inclusive process, should develop a coherent College-wide vision for the direction of its educational programs and their delivery to students.

· College should establish an institutional research function.

· College should identify a set of institutional performance indicators.

Note: later under 6.1 it says:

· Additionally, the CID Institutional Effectiveness Task Force has made considerable progress specifying the performance indicators to which information gathering and research will be devoted, thus crystallizing the college’s information needs at that time when Partnership for Excellence financing has made performance accountability more critical than ever.

Discussion Summary:
These were all addressed in the 1998 Midterm Report.

Conclusion
In preparation for Ventura College’s 2004 Accreditation Self Study and the increasing focus of accreditation standards on institutional effectiveness and student learning outcomes, the College will develop appropriate means to collect, implement, evaluate, disseminate and utilize information to improve program and institutional effectiveness with an emphasis on student learning. It will rely on the continued leadership of the Office of Student Learning, the President’s Council, Administrative Council, the Academic Senate and academic departments, and the Student Success Team to organize these efforts.

In conclusion, the College reaffirms its commitment to continue the current cooperative efforts to conduct institutional effectiveness projects within and between the campus Office of Student Learning, Office of Enrollment Management, Matriculation, all academic departments, the Student Success Team and the District Office of Institutional Research.

Standard Three List of Documents

S 3.1 Samples of Reports (Program Planning Data Report, ENSTAT, FTES Report)
S 3.2 “Beyond 2000: Education and Training in the Next Century” (An External Scan Event Presented by Ventura College onOctober 16, 1998) and Samples of completed Program Reviews
S 3.3 “The College Plan 2000-2003” (Including the College Mission, Vision,Goals, Values, Practices and Performance Indicators)
S 3.4 Staff Development Needs Assessment Survey Reports

 

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Last Updated 12/7/07
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