Dean’s Council Wednesday, September 14, 2011 9:00a – 10:30a, LRC 103 & HOCC Conference Room Notes Present: Utpal Goswami, Rachel Anderson, Jeff Cummings, Pat Girczyc, Maggie Ly, Geisce Ly, Anita Janis, Crislyn Parker, notes 1. Corsair Connection (Keith): The Corsair Connection is the first year experience program. Keith will send the framework electronically to all Deans, to work with Instruction on the next steps of student development, to make a stronger program. The program primarily targets basic skills students; to provide as much support to at- risk students as possible during the first semester and first year for retention and persistence through the second. Keith especially needs help with late courses and how to link courses. Utpal noted this year we did not see usual drop in enrollment and would like to figure out a way (this semester) to keep them going. He would like more disciplines to look at alternate ways of providing developmental education. Other discussion included whether Basic Skills funds can be used to develop alternate developmental education programs. Keith will research this. Rachel briefed on how advisors look at our concurrent enrollment success. Concerns were expressed on how to adequately serve students at all levels of college preparedness, to ensure success. These discussions should move to the EMP and EMC. 2. Program Review Update (Rachel): Rachel gave a brief overview of changes to the needs addendums and program review templates and process this year. Documents that need to be completed are located on the IR site. At the end of the process, completed documents are posted on the Program Review Internal site. PRC agendas, meeting notes, actions and updates are posted on the internal site regularly. There is a direct link on the Program Review internal site to IR. The annual and comprehensive templates have been streamlined. The information requested is specifically designed to look at the health of the program. Assessment will be an addendum. The PRC is using a checklist of key performance indicators defined by the program discontinuance and revitalization committee, with emphasis on assessment. Annuals and comprehensives will be done in the spring. Competed program reviews are submitted to prc@redwoods.edu. The focus of the PRC will be on closing the loop this year. The prioritization-BPC-feedback loop wasn’t smooth. This year, final prioritizations will include a trail back to line item requests, at least for authors to check. 3. Update on GE Assessment Plans (Rachel): All assessment plans are due 10/3. The PRC will not forward a needs addendum request to planning committees until assessment is completed. The GE Assessment process will take a year and a half to complete, as they are evaluating one component a semester. GE Comprehensive review will include all three components and by spring all faculty will be involved. At the end of each semester, two “grade” rosters will be submitted: one for student grades and the second for GE assessment. Because documentation is through the grade process, tracking can be done through IR by course, grouping, etc. By the 5th year, all information will be compiled to evaluate how the program has done over time. There will be a group meeting for the comprehensive program review. Rachel is confident we will meet proficiency by the end of 2012, except for the feedback loop. The feedback loop will be addressed by documenting how information is returned to faculty; who will document how they will incorporate the feedback into the next semester. 4. Discussion on Plans for Evaluating Online Courses Fall Semester. (Rachel): The process will be the same as the in-seat evaluation process. The online student evaluation form will be the same form as in-seat forms, in Survey Monkey format. Geoff will create a test site for each class, as the information must be anonymous, but we need to know what class is being evaluated. The form will be posted on the class site and at the end of two weeks, downloaded for the evaluation process. The observational component will also be the same; the observer will let the instructor know a date between the sixth and twelfth week, will follow the class, and complete the same form (AF-2). 5. Discussion of the Faculty Allocation Process and Related Information (Anita): What are the steps and timeline to ensure we put out timely advertisements? Per Utpal, submit requests for growth and new programs through the Program Review and Addendum process. Regarding departing faculty, the same form should be used, but might be outside of PR. The Prioritization Committee begins discussions in December, recommendations go to cabinet/president for final authorization pending budget approvals. Announcements go out in February. 6. Dean Report-outs: Geisce – Mendo is struggling to get construction work requests completed. Utpal - hopefully the bulldozers in Eureka will be gone by mid-October. Anita – the DN ramp has been designed at an estimated cost of $3600. Tim is to meet with the contractors soon. Jeff - has two measure Q funding priorities and is concerned how funds will be allocated for promised projects. He has questions about replacement computers and labs and how they will be cycled. He will work with IT and Steve to establish a campus wide process. 7. Other/Future Discussion Topics: Per Keith: Regarding the Spring Schedule, priority registration starts November 7. He would like to open the schedule on web advisor October 2 and will send the current iteration of TLUs. Advisors are asked to send the Dean’s what they see is needed for spring, from student perspectives. Utpal noted that the Self Study Visiting team will visit in seat classes during the visit. On Wednesday 10/19 a group will visit night classes and be a guest in online classes. We should receive a list of which classes. The purpose is to compare syllabi of online with face to face, and confirm core materials and tests are equivalent. Faculty may need to give samples of tests. Meeting adjourned. Next meeting: September 27, Lakeview Room, following Expanded Cabinet.