REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Meeting of the First Year Experience (FYE) Committee
March 21, 2013
1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
SS104
AGENDA
FYE Mission
Our mission is to improve the retention, persistence, and success of first year college students.
1. Call to Order
2. Review Notes from: February 28, 2013
3. Action Items
4. Discussion Items
4.1 Math and English placement recap
4.2 Orientation - Semester of Success
4.3 After registration, before 1st class
5. Reports
6. Future Agenda Items
6.1 Next meeting: March 28, 2013
7. Announcements
8. Adjournment
CCC Confer Participant Details:
Dial your telephone conference line: (888) 450-4821
Cell phone users dial: 719-785-4469
Enter your passcode: 118385
REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Meeting of the First Year Experience (FYE) Committee
February 28, 2013, 1:15 – 2:30, in SS-104
AGENDA AND NOTES
FYE Mission
Our mission is to improve the retention, persistence, and success of first-year college students.
Present: Dave Arnold, Natalie Barbero, Bob Brown, Sheila Hall, Kintay Johnson, Pam Kessler, Lisa
Liken, MaryGrace McGovern, Ruth Moon, Jamie Peterson, and Erin Wall.
1. Call to Order: Sheila called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.
2. Review Notes from February 14, 2013: Approved
3. Action Items: None
4. Discussion Items:
4.1 Math and English placement process: MaryGrace attended the meeting to discuss the
placement process. New students will be informed that they are required to take the
placements, and they must take the placements before they meet with an advisor. The
placement website was reviewed. MaryGrace plans to revise the website. She will remove
the information that does not pertain to placements. The math and English placement practice
information and links have been moved to the top of the page and are located below the
statement about the importance of studying for the placements. Sheila reviewed the
placement process. Tina Vaughan is working on the placement schedule for March and April.
New students may begin taking their placements now. ASC and advising staff will be able to
schedule students for placements and orientation. At the point students attend orientation; we
want to make sure they have been placed in the appropriate English and/or math courses.
Registration and orientations for new students will begin on May 13. Students who have
questions about their placements will be referred to an advisor. The new student letter was
reviewed. The letter emphasizes the importance of studying for placements. Sheila will send
the committee a copy of the new student letter. Students will receive a follow-up letter that
will be specific to the type of student they are. This letter will be a reminder of the steps they
need to complete in the process. Students who are attending CR for job training and personal
enrichment will be able to exempt themselves from the placement tests; however, we will be
very selective about who will be able to be exempt. A flowchart needs to be developed that
would review the steps students need to follow through the application, placement,
orientation, and advising processes. It was suggested these steps could appear on the backs
of other handouts that are given to students. The English and math sequencing chart was
distributed to everyone. Students are given this sequencing chart before they begin the
placements. Erin suggested we give the students a document showing the high school course
equivalent to the English and math classes at CR. The Accuplacer Local Background
Questions and Intake Questions for Multiple Measures handouts were reviewed. It was
suggested that the Intake Questions for Multiple Measures questionnaire is more practical to
use. The advisors use the Multiple Measures Intake Questions along with the Accuplacer
score to help place students in the appropriate classes. It was stated that we are legally
required to use multiple measures. We can’t use the Accuplacer placements alone. It was
suggested that we add a self-reported high school G.P.A. question to the Multiple Measures
form. We could also ask the student to list the last high school math course they completed,
the grade they received, how long ago they took the course, and their G.P.A.. Sheila and Lisa
will meet with the advisors and review the Intake Questions for Multiple Measures and also
the Accuplacer Local Background Questions. They will refine the information, determine
where it needs to be recorded, and figure out how to access the information. Sheila will bring
this information to the next meeting.
4.2 Math acceleration pilot using Math Jam: Erin reviewed the draft of the FYE 2013 Pilot of
Revised Multiple Measures Process flowchart. There was a discussion about the problem
with the Math 380 Accuplacer placement. It was suggested that all of the Math 380 students
bring their high school transcripts with them when they come in to meet with an advisor
because of the variety of math skill levels that place into this class. The advisors could use
this information to place students into the appropriate math class. Sheila said we may need
to include a pre-advising or placement review before the student comes to orientation. Math
Jam 300 classes will be offered July 8-18. They are planning to offer short math review
classes in the fall. It was suggested that every year we have a district-wide counseling and
advising meeting about Math Jam and also include a meeting about English. Dave will talk
to Mike Butler about setting up this meeting.
4.3 Orientation components: Sheila reviewed the orientation components. The face-to-face
orientation will be a two hour session, and we will also have an online version for out-of-the
area students. The orientation will help students recognize resources, identify their course of
study, develop an SEP, be proficient with the technology of the college, and register for
classes. Currently, we are working on the SEP component. It was agreed that all first-year
students do not need to take the GS-6 class. It was suggested we have a G.P.A. screen to help
determine which students should take this course.
4.4 Summer/Fall course scheduling to support FYE: Sheila tabled this item until the next
meeting.
5. Reports: None
6. Future Agenda Items: Results of Multiple Measures Intake Questions and Accuplacer Local
Background Questionnaire review.
7. Announcements: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 21, at 1:15 p.m. in SS-104.
8. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
Name: ____________________________________ CR ID#:________________________ Date: _______
Advisors will likely ask you the following questions to help you select classes:
 What is your educational goal or academic program?
 Where did you place in math and English?
 What was your high school GPA (if applicable)?
 Do you plan to be full-time (12+ units)?
 Will you be working during the semester? If so, how many hours/week? Other responsibilities?
 How comfortable are you using a computer?
TRANSFER TO A UNIVERSITY
ADVISOR
RECOMMENDATION
1st Semester
ADVISOR
RECOMMENDATION
2nd Semester
English and/or Math course
GS 1 or 6
General Education course
Elective or Major Prep course
CAREER TECHNICAL PROGRAM
3.5-11.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
ADVISOR
RECOMMENDATION
1st Semester
ADVISOR
RECOMMENDATION
2nd Semester
English and/or Math course
Program Requirement course
Program Requirement course
General Education course
UNDECIDED
English and/or Math course
Guid 8 and/or GS 1 or 6
General Education course
Elective course
Units
Units
3.5-11.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
ADVISOR
RECOMMENDATION
1st Semester
ADVISOR
RECOMMENDATION
2nd Semester
Units
3.5-11.0
2.0 – 5.0
3.0
3.0