Executive Summary
During the past year, Pasadena City College (PCC) has engaged the campus community in a
coordinated and productive effort to address student equity issues. Faculty, staff, and
administrators are participating in college-wide activities that are transforming the experiences
of students from the following targeted groups: African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Pacific
Islanders, Men, Women, Foster Youth, Disabled Students, Students from Low Socioeconomic
Backgrounds, and Student Veterans.
In spring, 2014 a campus-wide Student Equity Summit was held to showcase existing programs
on campus that have demonstrated success in closing achievement gaps. A Student Equity
Committee was formed with members from every constituency group on campus, based upon
the recommendations set forth by the Chancellor’s Office, to analyze institutional data and
identify PCC’s achievement gaps. The committee’s work led to a Request for Proposals (RFP)
process to ensure that members from across the college had an opportunity to submit ideas to
close achievement gaps. To prepare the college for this funding opportunity, forums were held
for several days in the morning, afternoon and evening to ensure that every campus member
could learn about the college’s student equity challenges and understand the high impact
practices that research reveals lead to increased success among specific groups of students. Dr.
Diane Goodman, a national expert, facilitated workshops on campus to help attendees
understand the differences between equity, diversity and equality and to norm the faculty, staff
and administrators in attendance. Campus forums were also held to discuss the data and the
methods used to calculate achievement gaps. An hourly institutional researcher was hired to
assist in collecting and evaluating data, and she has now been hired as a permanent researcher
funded, in part, by Student Equity resources.
In order to increase communication, the Student Equity Coordinator sent electronic
communications to the campus; embedded the results on a new PCC Student Equity web page;
and presented to the Academic Senate, the College Council, the Associated Students and the
Board of Trustees at least twice for each group. The Student Equity Committee created a rubric
based upon two reliable methods proven to increase equity and close achievement gaps: “High
Impact Practices” defined by the American Association of Community Colleges and “Promising
Practices” defined by the Center for Community College Student Engagement. The rubric also
encouraged proposal authors to collaborate with two or more departments outside of their
areas to encourage departments to break down silos. Additionally, the committee asked
authors to include a plan to bring programs to scale, describe a process to institutionalize the
project after Student Equity funds are exhausted, and develop a research plan to demonstrate
how the project had the potential to close achievement gaps. Finally, the committee asked the
authors to specify which achievement gaps would be addressed with their project.
The RFP Forums attracted approximately 70 attendees; 23 proposals were submitted; and 9
RFPs were selected. Since the summer of 2015, the RFP project leaders have met regularly to
discuss evaluation, research, and plans for implementation.
The four outcomes below guide the work of the successful recipients of Student Equity funds:
1. Increase by 5% the number of students from some of the targeted populations from PCC feeder high
schools who enroll at the PCC compared to the previous academic year.
2. Increase by 5% the number of students from targeted populations who earn a degree or certificate
compared to the previous academic year.
3. Increase by 5% the number of students from targeted populations that transfer to four-year
colleges/universities compared to the previous academic year
4. Increase student retention by 2% among students from targeted populations each semester/term
compared to the previous academic year.
Blackademia
This program focuses on ensuring the 1,300 African American students who attend PCC are
connected to resources on campus to help them succeed. Additionally, the college developed a
The African American Student Resource Center, which houses Ujima, the learning community
pathway for African American students, Blackademia. This project includes “Fletch,” a tutoring
app created by PCC Alum Marquet Burton
$118,000
Second Year Pathways
This program is designed to create a structured, supportive and engaging experience for second
year students who participated in PCC’s award winning First Year Experience program. A focus
on major and career decision making is included as well as campus engagement and student
support. The program is currently supporting 800 students primarily from the following
targeted groups: Latino, African American, Men and Women.
$139,000
Rosemead Pathways
PCC opened a new center in an area of PCC’s district that serves historically underrepresented
groups. This project will focus on creating a First Year Experience program for students who
attend this campus. At this point, there are 34 students in the program. Students are enrolled
in a 3 unit college success course which is transferrable to UC and CSU. Students also have
access to an academic coach and participate in a research conference.
$40,000
Mas2 (More Math and Science)
This program is designed to reach out to students from the following target groups: African
American, Latino, men and women to assist them in completing degrees in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and increase transfer rates. Currently there are 324
students participating in Mas2. Students have access to college assistants known as the “STEM
Squad,” who are students who have succeeded in higher-level science and math classes.
Students attended a national event, the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards
Conference (HENNAC), to meet business and industry professionals. Students are participating
in outreach efforts to provide service learning opportunities to K-12 students and parents in
local community organizations. Community members are also engaged in assisting with these
projects.
$100,000
Cross Cultural Center
The Cross Cultural Center is located within the Student Life Department and is focused on
cultivating a welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds. This fall, several
“Welcome Activities” were held for Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American and Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) students, faculty, staff, administrators and
community members. Finally, the Cross Cultural Center will continue to offer events and
services that help students explore culture and differences and an appreciation for their unique
identities.
$80,000
Online Education
The Online Education department is implementing a series of technology tools to help students
assess whether online education is a good match for them. The first tool is “Smarter
Measures,” which is an online assessment to help identify strengths and weaknesses for online
education. The second tool is “Drop Out Detective,” which helps teachers prevent students
from dropping out of an online course. Other technology to embed in online courses will also
be introduced over time to increase persistence and success for all students in distance
education.
$70,250
Chicano/Chicana Effective Pedagogy Speaker Series
The majority of students at PCC are Chicano/Latino and achievement data reveal that course
completion, basic skills completion, online education, transfer, and Associate Degree
completion are not at the same level as peers in other groups. This speaker series provided an
intellectual dialogue based upon six research/practitioners who provided a six hour seminar on
effective methods to reach Chicano/Latino students in the classroom. Over 70 faculty, staff,
students and managers attended. A follow-up session was held on Flex Day. Students also
attended a local event centered on the same topic. Informing students about culturally
relevant pedagogy is important as many students are not aware that most classroom
experiences are from a mainstream perspective and often feel invalidated from the experience.
$12,000
Foster Youth Programs & Services
The Foster Youth Programs & Services hired a new adjunct counselor specifically for 300 PCC
Foster Youth students. Additionally, students now have an academic coach to assist with
navigating processes such as Financial Aid, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKS, and other emergency
services. The college is in the process of identifying space to house the services but for now,
they are embedded within the EOPS/CARE department.
$100,000
Safe Zone Coalition
The Safe Zone Coalition has hired adjunct counselors to provide assistance to nearly 700
undocumented students, the majority of which are Latino or Asian/Pacific Islander or students
from low socioeconomic backgrounds. A website was created to house the resources available.
The campus is also searching for a physical space to create an area for students to obtain
services. In addition, the Safe Zone Coalition also provides services to another student
population that has the experience of “living in the shadows”-- LGBTQ students, many of whom
are also from low socioeconomic backgrounds and other target groups. This group will
continue to provide workshops for faculty, staff, managers and students on how to become an
advocate and a “safe zone” for students who are experiencing challenges associated with being
undocumented, LGBTQ and “living in the shadows.”
$18,000
Direct Services to Students & Prospective Students:
Homeless Student Support
Providing care packages for students experiencing difficulties securing appropriate housing is
extremely important. Faculty members have coordinated efforts to make these resources
available.
Food Bank
In conjunction with the Social Work Services Coordinator, faculty members have coordinated
efforts to unite the student club: “Food Recovery Network” to create a PCC Student Food Bank.
Resource Vouchers for Students with Unmet Financial Need
Many students have unmet financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA and other indicators.
Food vouchers, book vouchers, transportation cards, and supply cards will be provided to
students with unmet need.
$40,000
Library
Increasing operational hours for the Library to be open until 10:00 p.m. during the weekdays
and longer hours on the weekends will help students succeed in every area of the college.
Paying for subscriptions to Proquest, and Ebsco Discovery Service-research databases will assist
stduents in conducting research to complete classes and degrees. Providing wireless printing
and a print release station for students will help them succeed in achieving goals. Equipping
the library with book scanners for students to send images of pages in text to email will help
students who cannot afford printing. Providing more laptops for the library to lend to students
will address the technology gap that still exists for students from low income backgrounds.
Equipping student study rooms with smart screens will help students excel in group studying.
$125,000
Academic Athletic Zone
Operational hours for the Academic Athletic Zone have been increased on Fridays for student
athletes to have access to tutors, computers, advisors and counselors.
$12,000
DSPS
Currently, students must wait months to be assessed for a learning disability. Providing funds
for an hourly Learning Disability Specialist will help students get diagnosed and receive the
accommodations needed to close achievement gaps.
$40,000
Tutoring Support & Referral Service Program
In order to ensure students from Basic skills courses are obtaining the additional support
needed to succeed in college, intake forms were developed for tutors in two pilot areas -- Math
and TLC -- to obtain information from students during tutoring sessions. The intake forms are
designed to ensure students have an educational plan, financial aid, the appropriate major on
file, or address any other extenuating circumstance potentially interfering with their ability to
succeed. $60,000
Psychological Services Post-Doctoral Intern
Many students from target groups experience difficulties that can be remedied by the personal
counseling area. This intern will help students with these difficult situations. $12,000
Outreach Activities
The Outreach Department currently has one permanent staff member and has functioned with
the same marketing material used over ten years ago. Student Equity funding allowed for the
hiring of student workers and college assistants called, “The PCC Go Team” and to redesign the
marketing material. A New Student Orientation Video will also be designed for use during
outreach events. The application date has been set in advance and departments are working in
a concerted effort to outreach to students from groups who are underrepresented at PCC. This
includes White, African American and Asian/Pacific Islander students.
$100,000
Partnerships with External Organizations
In order to expand our reach into the community to connect with parents and prospective
students, PCC has enlisted the support of community-based agencies such as the Jackie
Robinson Center, Minority and Partnership for Youth Development, College Access Plan, Asian
Youth Center, Adelante Youth Alliance, and Villa Parke to provide information to the
community on our behalf.
$30,000
Minority Male Community College Consortium (M2C3)
M2C3 is a leader in the state on providing assessment tools for colleges to conduct inquiry to
create a plan to meet the needs of men of color for access, course completion, basic skills
completion and overall completion.
$21,207
Speaker: Dr. Diane Goodman
To continue learning specifically about equity, Dr. Diane Goodman has visited campus to
address how faculty, staff and managers can use an Equity Lens in our work.
$12,000
Division Retreats facilitated by USC Center for Urban Education
Division Retreats will be hosted as needed. The first, for the math department, was held to
help instructors explore methods that prove to move the needle on student success.
$65,000
Guest Speakers
Various speakers will be brought to campus and campus members can participate in
conferences regarding Student Equity.
$25,000
PCC Professional Development Committee
To make funding available for the Campus Professional Development Committee to hold events
related to Student Equity and make funds available to support these efforts, these funds will be
available.
$32,000
Technology to benefit students
Lancer Point Portal Refinement & Technology Tools
All students utilize the LancerPoint portal to conduct college business such as registration,
payment, financial aid, purchasing parking permits, etc. The current version is the “vanilla”
product implemented three years ago. Students have difficulty using the system to select
courses. In order to assist students, a consultant will be hired to refine the portal to add links
to services and instructional videos. Finally, a product called “Class Scheduler” will be available
to assist students in scheduling the appropriate classes during available times in their personal
schedule. Finally, students who currently submit transcripts from other colleges, do not have
an evaluation conducted due to workload issues. A technology tool is currently being explored
to electronically scan and read the coursework so students know which courses count for
requirements automatically. $160,000 (cost shared with SSSP)
Co-Curricular Transcript Software
In addition to the Office of Student Life, many faculty engage students in learning activities
outside the classroom. This software product helps measure the impact of such engagement
and creates a co-curricular transcript so that students can use for transfer applications to
increase their likelihood of transfer.
$60,000
Transcript Intelligent Scanning
In 2014-2015 the college purchased a product that will read external transcripts students
submit and populate which requirements have been met. This will help students understand
which requirements they have completed and which ones they still have left to complete.
$220,000
Staffing & Other
Social Work Services Coordinator
This position will organize resources for students from targeted groups. A canvas module will
be created to help teachers meet the needs of students who reveal they are homeless, lack
access to adequate food, clothing, etc. A technology tool called, “CareLinQ” was purchased to
identify services using geographic information to find resources by zip code. This position will
oversee a Student Food Bank and work with faculty to help homeless students.
$70,000
Student Equity Manager
A manager will be hired to oversee all of the aforementioned activities, complete annual
reports to the Chancellor’s Office, coordinate assessment and evaluation, and supervise faculty,
staff, managers and students involved in these projects. This position will work closely with
Fiscal Services, Contract & Purchasing, Academic & Student Affairs, and will chair the Student
Equity Committee, report out to the College Council, Academic Senate, Classified Senate,
Associated Students and Board of Trustees as needed.
$100,000
Researcher
The Office of Institutional Research was understaffed and could not support the evaluation
needs of Student Equity. Student Equity has provided funding for a 50% position to support the
college’s research requirements.
$50,000
Director, Creative Services
This position will be responsible for the production of student videos, campaigns to explain
complex processes to students, campaigns to promote deadlines and opportunities to students,
faculty, staff and community members.
$30,000
Other
African American Young Men’s Conference
PCC will host the African American Young Men’s Conference in fall 2016. During this
conference, young men from across the Pasadena Area Community College District will
participate in helpful workshops, receive information regarding service programs and academic
opportunities at PCC. (District-funded)
African American High School Conference
A conference for African American High School students attending local K-12 schools will be
held in spring 2016 to showcase PCC programs and services. A celebration of African American
culture will be included to help students feel valued and validated at PCC. (District-funded)
Asian/Pacific Islander Outreach Event
An event specifically for API students and parents will be held in January, 2016. This event will
explain the extraordinary educational opportunities available at the college. Students will be
able to apply to PCC Pathways at this event. (District-funded)
Dual Enrollment
Dual Enrollment activities will be supported through the braiding of Career Pathways Trust
Grant dollars, Student Success & Support Program funds and Student Equity. This is a proven
method to reach out to students from historically underrepresented groups to help in accessing
college.
$10,000
Total: 1,951,457
PLANNING COMMITTEE AND COLLABORATION
Committee Members include:
Dr. Cynthia Olivo, Associate Vice President, Student Affairs & Chair, Student Equity Projects
Melva Alvarez, Math Engineering Science Achievement Program, Classified Staff
Marilyn Johnson, Science & Math, Classified Staff
Dr. Patty Quinones, Research Office
Dr. Ryan Cornner, Associate Vice President, Planning & Innovation
Dr. Brock Klein, Associate Dean, Pathways & Professional Learning
Armando Duran, Associate Dean, Counseling & Student Success Services
Niki Dixon, Interim Director, EOPS/CARE/Foster Youth Services
Kaitzer Puglia, Faculty, Child Development
Shelagh Rose, Faculty, ESL
Kris Pilon, Faculty, CTE
Mary Erin Crook, Faculty, ESL
Yoshiko Yamato, Faculty, Math
Patty D’Orange-Martin, Faculty, Veteran’s Resource Center
Bianca Richards, Faculty, Disabled Students Programs & Services
Rose Marie Cervantes, Faculty, Disabled Students Programs & Services
Gena Lopez, Faculty, Counseling/Ujima
Carrie Afuso, Educational Advisor, Student Life, Cross Cultural Center, Classified
Theresa Reed, Educational Advisor, Foster Youth, Classified
Crystal Kollross, Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Christopher Jimenez y West, Faculty, Campus Diversity Initiative
Dr. Robert H. Bell, Senior Vice President/Assistant Superintendent, Academic & Student Affairs