Basic Skills Committee
Minutes
January 27, 2015
Attendees: Carolyn Arnold (Chair), Patricia Shannon, Matthew Kritscher, Hisako
Hintz, Michael Robinson, Jeremy Wilson, Mike Hodsdon, Anita Wah, Jane Wolford,
Michel Iriarte, Marcia Corcoran, Anissa Butler, Pedro Reynoso
1. Meeting called to order at 12:03 PM
2. Introductions
3. Review of the FINAL revised Basic Skills Committee Strategic Plan. Trish
Shannon moved to approve, Jeremy seconded. Motion carried. (Handout)
4. Spring Schedule**
Date
January 27
February 10
February 24
March 10
March 24
April 14
April 28
May 12
Topic/Presenter
Equity Plan 2014-15 and next steps
Infusing and Dissemination the BSC Plan
Planning for next year’s Basic Skills funds
Habits of Mind – Survey Outcome
Math Mentoring, Workshops, MESA
ESL (Curriculum Proposal) / Transitions CPT $$
English Equity FIG / Passion and Purpose
Commit to 2015-16 Planning/Funding Plan
Fall 2014 Data and Year Wrap
**Please take note if your project is on this list. Please confirm that you (or someone
else) knows about and will agree to be present on the date indicated. We are looking for
the status of the project at whatever stage it is. If just beginning, then what it is.
5. Anita Wah asked to make a statement. Anita is concerned about the continuing
direction and impact of accelerated courses, most specifically in mathematics and
English. She is concerned that there appears to be a deliberate silencing of any
dialogue that is not in support of acceleration. She is also concerned about
whether we are tracking the long-term impacts of acceleration on other
coursework and long-term student success. No consideration (she may have
meant evaluation) is being made to look at the impact of accelerated courses on
transferable courses. She compared what students have reported about courses,
e.g., ENGL 7 on our campus (student said that one book was read) with four-year
institutions, where significantly more work is required of students. She feels that
we should be looking at measures other than completion (and CLOs are not
effective/relevant). We should be looking more carefully at learning.
Disagreements are either ignored (her report submitted to BSC and her division
dean) or silenced through threats (grievance will be lodged).
Anita Wah wrote her equity proposal because she disagrees with the direction
that has and is being taken. She stated that anyone who disagrees is being
ignored and is stereotyped as a fuddy-duddy, and that ordinary faculty have no
recourse. Her observation is that acceleration results in less rigorous with
ensuing impact to sequential courses.
6. Equity Plan—presented by Carolyn Arnold and Matt Kritscher.
See two accompanying handouts:
1) List of Equity indicators for each underrepresented group
2) List of Equity projects approved with budgets.
a. Matt discussed the timeline, that we began work last spring when it first
became clear that the activity and funding would be passed by the
legislature. More concrete work occurred over the summer, with intense
activity during the fall semester.
b. Matt reviewed the criteria, that activity must fall into one of five categories
and must affect one or more specific populations, identified by the
legislation that, through quantitative analysis, are <80% of the college
average in that category, for example, access or course completion.
c. Between midsummer and December, a plan, budget, and activities were
developed. The college used a request for proposals, which while following
specific guidelines established by the state (activity, population, specific
outcomes), looks and feels very much like FIG proposals. The strategy
adopted by the steering group was to leverage and scale existing successful
programs or activities, e.g., Early Decision and Daraja, and to address
clear gaps, e.g., no program exists for Foster Youth. All proposals were
reviewed with careful quantitative and qualitative consideration. The list
of programs and activities in this year’s plan is attached.
d. Matt reviewed the various proposals, and individuals with approved
projects who were present, Anita Wah and Jane Wolford, discussed their
projects.
e. This information is critical to BSC because the committee has committed
to working with the Equity Group in an effort to best align our efforts and
spending. There is significant overlap between us. Rather than make two
appeals for proposals, we hope to do only one, which will mean a single
reviewing process that will use common criteria. As this aligns with
directions the state SBC is taking, it is a very good thing. Matt stated that
he fully expects another half million or more in 2015-16 funding to be
approved and, as of this moment, we also expect $100K in BSI funds for
next year, so the Request for Proposals will go out early in the spring
semester, so that projects can be ready to go for 2015-16.
f. The last activity is general professional development. We are working with
the National Equity Project, and we hope to have the first round of
training later this spring with college-wide training next fall.
7. Conferences: there is BSI funding available to support conferences or training
specific to basic skills. Please contact Carolyn Arnold, if you have a proposal.
8. Meeting adjourned at 12:55 PM