Basic Skills Advisory Group (BSAG) Meeting
Thursday, March 8, 2012 1:00-2:00 p.m., H314
Minutes
Those in attendance: Lisa George, Arturo Hernandez, Sheryl Kunisaki, Julie Land, Arturo Martinez, Sabra
Sabio, Jason Suarez. Facilitator: Sara Blake, Humanities Basic Skills Coordinator
Those not in attendance: Mary Barrios, Theresa Clifford, Cynthia Mosqueda, Chelvi Subramaniam, Jose
Villalobos.

Approval of Minutes from Fall 2011 - minutes were approved with no changes.

Update on Basic Skills Budget – Sara Blake reported that the 2011-12 Basic Skills Initiative (BSI) funds had
been reduced from $211,133 to $188,695 ($113, 217 for Humanities and $75,478 for Math).

Update on Math Basic Skills – Art Martinez reported on a Counselor Intervention Effectiveness Study being
done by the college’s part-time researcher funded by BSI. He also described the expansion of the Summer
Math Academy funded by Title V and a Chevron grant. This summer there will be 4 academies at once: Basic
Skills, 12 +23, 40 + 80, and pre-calculus (Chevron), with two classes each. Art also reported on two
accelerated programs in Math, not funded by BSI, including a new pilot program of Basic Accelerated Math
(BAM) that allows students to get credit for 1-3 semesters of math in one semester meeting 4 times/ week for
two hours and using a combination of CAI and instructor-mediated coursework.

Update on Reading Center, LRC – Sheryl Kunisaki reported that the new center has initiated a
Mentor Intervention program for students who fail the Reading Department midterm. Inna Newberry
has created a contract for students that gives them a list of activities to complete in the center. Sheryl
noted that some content area students are being sent to the center for help with assigned course
reading. At present the center is staffed from 9-2 by an instructional aide (casual worker) and by
adjunct English faculty.

Overview of SRC Ed Dev Program – Julie Land explained how the Ed Development courses
relate to Basic Skills math and English courses. She noted that, while 50% of students in Ed Dev
courses must be verified as having a disability, the courses are open to other students on campus as
well. She also described assistive technology and career planning available in the SRC.

Accelerated English Course Pilots – Sara Blake reported on two pilots for accelerated courses in
writing (English 50WW) and Reading (English 50RR). These courses follow the model of
compressing two 16-week courses into one 16-week course by doubling the number of hours each
class meets per week from 4 to 8 hours and running them consecutively. The courses are Eng B/Eng
A and Eng82/84. Each pilot course is worth 6 units.

Social Sciences Professional Development - Jason Suarez reported that he is presenting workshops
to show Behavioral and Social Science faculty techniques to infuse basic skills in their courses,
including use of Web 2.0 applications. He noted that 15% of students enrolled in Behavioral and
Social Sciences have not passed English 1A He also shared that faculty are developing an
Introduction to social Sciences team-taught courses.

Data on the Student Success Task Force was distributed for discussion at the next meeting.
Meeting Dates for Spring 2012: (Second Thursday of each month) March 8, May 10, June 7
(Second Thursday of each month from 1-2 p.m.) in H314.