CSM Basic Skills Initiative Committee
Meeting Minutes
Wednedsay, July 22, 2008
1:30 to 3:45
Members Present: Jon Kitamura, Olena Mykhaylichenko, Harutiun (Harry) Nishanian,
Christopher Rico, Brandon Smith, Danita Scott-Taylor, Juanita Alunan, James Carranza
Others Attending: Alex Guiriba
See below, BSI coordinator job description and RFP draft
1. Updates. Summer Bridge.
We discussed goals for summer bridge. Danita pointed out that we can think of it
as serving multiple purposes but that we should focus first on the students who
are in most need of assistance, Take Read first placements and 828 placements.
We agreed the summer bridge should provide an "academic jumpstart," orient
students to the college, and create a connection. We will continue discussion of
how to schedule it in fall semester.
2. Any new web developments/content.
James will get the newsletter organized and posted to the website first thing in the
Fall. There's a Sharepoint workshop next week James will attend, so we can
update our site.
3. BSI Coordinator search.
See attached revised draft of description (or below). Danita and James will draft
the proposal for the position, which will go to Cabinet.
4. RFP guidelines for discipline based training.
The BSI Committee discussed RFP content and process, creating a working draft.
See attached draft (or below BSI Coordinator job description.
5. 07-08 Training Opportunities for CSM.
The Research and Planning Group of California group is sponsoring a Basic
Skills and Beyond conference in Anaheim. October 1-3, 2008.
6. Fall BSI Kick-Off.
We discussed scheduling and set two possible dates for fall. Wednesday,
September 17 or 24, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. In this two-hour event, we would like to
provide food, and create some social interaction and excitement around BS. We'll
continue discussions at the next meeting.
7. Schedule fall meetings.
First meeting is scheduled for August 28th. Next one is scheduled for September
18th, October 16th, November 20th, December 18th, February 19th, March 19th,
April, 16th, May 21st, June 18th.
Third Thursdays of every month, 2:15 to 4:15. Location TBA.
8. Recap and plan for next meeting.
Review RFP, plan for Kick-Off, follow up on proposal to Cabinet.
BSI/Developmental Education Coordinator, job description
1. Coordinate training for College of San Mateo faculty in current trends and effective best
practices in basic skills education through flex workshops, faculty mentorships, division and
department meetings, and individual sessions to:
a. Understand and participate in the California State Basic Skills Initiative
b. Assess model programs at other colleges and appropriate organizations and employ current effective
practices at College of San Mateo
c. Coordinate workshops and training opportunities for Instruction and Student Services
courses and programs
d. Integrate Student Services and instruction at basic skills/developmental levels.
2. Develop and coordinate the logistics of the Basic Skills Committee meetings with the CoChairs to:
a. Create task forces/subcommittees to implement BSI plans
b. Inform committee members of changes, new information, and progress towards implementing the
BSI in accordance with planning at the college, regional, and state levels.
3. Attend conferences and visit colleges with relevant programs that could inform the BSI
Committee and Basic Skills Institute.
4. In coordination with the Vice President of Instruction and Vice President of Student Services
and the BSI Committee, monitor basic skills money from the state to:
a. Develop a process by which to distribute funds according to the BSI action plan
b. With the Vice President of Instruction ensure that accountability measures
are observed for expenditures.
5. Serve as a BSI liaison to develop learning communities and other experimental approaches to
basic skills education and related curriculum.
6. In consultation with Research and Planning, assess effectiveness of BSI projects to:
a. Identify, interpret, and disseminate research (both local and external) in planning for basic skills
b. Communicate with faculty and staff across campus to identify existing strategies
and programs at the college
c. Communicate with Student Services programs to identify existing support and
potential gaps that could be filled via the BSI (such as EOPS, Counseling, Financial
Aid, etc.)
d. Document existing strategies and practices campus-wide
e. Work with college researcher to create baseline measures for student success, persistence, and
retention
f. Prepare the college action plan for submission to the state.
7. Participate in campus planning to establish a Basic Skills Institute to:
a. Communicate with other BSI coordinators in our district
b. Explore grant-writing opportunities to obtain funding for CSM BSI-related projects
c. Coordinate marketing of the Basic Skills Initiative and BSI Institute with CSM's public relations
d. Represent the BSI Committee on college-wide committees, as needed.
8. Archive all campus basic skills activities and documents to:
a. Archive agendas, meeting notes, and budgets for the Basic Skills Initiative Committee to the BSI
website
b. Archive reports.
RFP—Draft
We encourage applicants to review CSM's BSI long-term goals and action plan prior to
drafting a proposal. Projects will be reviewed and awarded funding according CSM's
planned objectives. (See attached.)
Please submit two copies of the proposal to the CSM, Office of Instruction.
Upon completion of the project, applicants will submit a Culminating Summary Report
with related project materials to the BSI Committee for archiving.
Contact CSM's BSI Co-chairs, Danita Scott-Taylor (?????) or James Carranza (X.6568,
carranza@smccd.edu) with questions.
Submission dates: (Please allow one month for review)
 September 18, 2008 (short term project for fall, 2008)
 November 3rd Thursday (semester long projects for spring, 2009)
 January 3rd (short term projects for spring, 2009) In the even we have
money left???
 April 3rd Thursday
Please address the following areas:
Rationale: Identify and explain department, division, and/or college-wide need for the
proposed basic skills/developmental education project. (Projects which promote studentcentered teaching methodology and/or the
integration of Counseling/Student Services will be given special consideration.)
Short Description: Please describe the project's objectives, timeline, number of
participants, or other pertinent, logistical information. Correlate the objectives with
department, division, and/or college SLO's, if applicable.
Assessment: Please explain how the effectiveness of the project will be assessed. This
will be included in the culminating Project Summary Report.
Requested funds: Funds may be requested as stipends or reassigned time, or for the
purchase of project related materials. ?????????
Dissemination: Please explain how, for the benefit of others, the results of the project
(positive or negative) will be shared with departments, divisions, and the campus
community. This may include a variety of methods—department or division meetings,
department website, Flex Day activities, CSM Internal, etc.