Essential Skills Committee Minutes
October 16, 2013
Members Present: Carlos Gonzalez, Cindy Luis, Michong Park, Maria Renteria, Debby Wong,
Marie Zaiens, Susan Polk, Robert Schwartz, Gary Prostak
Cindy called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m. The minutes from the September 18, 2013,
meetings were approved with corrections. MtA Prostak, Second Zaiens. All in favor.
The BSI Report was submitted on time at the end of September. Luis reported current budget
$98,423 allotted for the current year, of which $21,460 was spent on summer program, and just
under $5000 was sent to the District for coordination. This leaves $72,000 of which $35,000 is
earmarked for tutoring. Approximately $37,000 is left for the rest of the school year to be spent
by June 30. Next year will be funded at $100,409 with $415 allocated to the District and $99,994
to our ESC.
After a discussion, the ESC determined that the BSI Annual Budget Report should be placed
online. The report includes narratives on

BSI assessments of how funds were spent and how the funds are related to the LAMC
Master Plan

problems LAMC is facing in ESL and Basic Skills

obstacles that 3CSN and the Chancellor’s Office can assist in addressing

Action Plans for evaluating programs

how BSI funds have helped student success

detailed data analysis from Sarah Master comparing whether LAMC Basic Skills
programs were more successful in 2010-2012 than they were in 2008-2010
The Report also lists our three Long Term Goals, which have been carried over from year to year:
the percentage of students beginning in ESL, English, and Math at two levels below Freshman
Level will complete the Freshman Level within 4 years and that percentage will increase by two
years annually [two percentage points yearly?]. Activities that support these goals are also
included:

Continue to support directed learning activities and supplemental instruction for ESL and
Developmental Communications.

Implement pilot projects combining academic courses with student success courses such
as Personal Development.

Scale up student orientations, assessments, Ed Planning for students including Kick Off
activities for Basic Skills students.

Set up a Professional Learning Hub on campus and provide professional workshops to
promote best practices in Basic Skills classes.
Achieving the Dream Update (Luis): An AtD Team meeting will take place 10/17/2013. The Fall
visit by Coaches will take place on December 5th and 6th and will include workshops as well as
meetings about LAMC interventions.
PIP Update (Luis): Focus Groups are being set up. Those who filled out a survey in Spring will be
contacted to contribute to discussions on persistence.
Old Business (Luis): District Student Success Initiative meetings are attended by Luis and Bonilla
every month. This past month focus was on completing BSI Reports. Colleges were also required
to complete a Student Success Practices Report (SSPR) to list activities such as Bridge Programs,
First Year Experience Programs, EOPS Programs, Orientation Activities, and Welcome Days.
The Report will be shared so all colleges in the District can learn about each other’s programs.
Luis suggested posting our SSPR online.
Review Requests for Funding: No requests have been received yet. Luis and Bonilla will request
funding for Fall 2014 Kick-Off. Funding for a Professional Learning Hub may also be requested.
Strengthening Student Success Conference Report (Luis, Zaiens): The Conference was held in
San Francisco from October 9 – 11. Workshops attended:

Accelerated program allowing ESL students to skip levels to move through the program
faster.

Professional Development Workshop on how to build a center for faculty learning.

Non-Completion Success Workshop on how to collect data on students who may not have
transferred or graduated, but have garnered success in their workplace or job placement.

Luis shared how to access a comprehensive report on all successful initiatives, pilots, and
programs that have been implemented at other colleges and an administrator’s toolkit. The
link is on the Chancellor’s website and the link will be added to the ESC webpage.
3CSN events, the progress on building a Professional Learning Hub on campus for faculty
training, and the need for funding an IT person to assist faculty were also mentioned.
The Committee asked that the email blast about BSI Proposal deadlines be resent.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.