LA PIERCE COLLEGE & CSUN
PATH COLLABORATION:
HELPING STUDENTS MAKE SENSE
OF GENERAL EDUCATION
Los Angeles Pierce College
 20,253 Credit headcount (Fall 13)
 Diverse student body
 70% Part-time, 30% full time
 68% Under age 25
 Over 50 % state transfer as goal
 1,615 degrees & certificates
 927 transferred to a CSU (2011/12)
 320 transferred to a UC (2011/12)
Quality Collaboratives (AAC&U)
Opportunity
 Strong partnership with
CSUN
 Collaboration amongst
faculty
 Increase desired outcomes
 Success
 Retention
 Persistence
 Completion
 Transfer
 Community
Trail Blazing to Well Worn Paths
 Project alignment
with campus
culture
 Faculty buy-in
 Student
motivation
 Productive
partnerships
 Clear
communication
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Project Alignment with Campus
 “Simple” & “Cheap”
 Course vs. Section
 Serendipity vs.
Intentionality
 Transcript
memoranda vs. state
approved certificate
 Synergy vs. energy
Faculty buy-in
 Students at the center
 Intellectual community across disciplines
 Increased collaboration
 Increased intentionality
 Professional development
 Meaningful assessment
 Stronger GE program coherence
 Protected courses
Motivating students toward
completion
 Creating coherence through thematic
pathways
 GE Path communities
 Course
 Campus
 Bridge to CSUN
 Minors in Civic Engagement and
Sustainability
Productive partnerships
 Faculty leaders
 Department chairs
 Student Success
Committee
 Academic Senate
 Counselors
 Administrative support
 Institutional Researcher
 PR
 Scheduling staff
 Admissions and records
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Clear Communication
 Online schedule of classes
 Class syllabi
 Materials for students, counselling
and faculty
 Faculty leaders
 Transfer Center
 Online orientation
 Student leaders (ASO)
Five General Education Paths
 Aesthetics and
Culture
 Global Studies
 Health and
Wellness
 Social Justice
 Sustainability
GE Path plan for students
 Students apply to GE Path program
 Students take FOUR classes at Pierce in ONE Path
 Students apply for “GE Path Certificate”
(memorandum note on transcript)
 Students transfer to CSUN, apply to CSUN Path
 Students take TWO upper division GE Path classes
to earn a minor in Civic Engagement
 For minor in Sustainability Path, take 4 classes at
Pierce and THREE additional courses at CSUN
Aesthetics and Culture Path
courses at Pierce
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Art 101 Survey of Art History I
Art 102 Survey of Art History II
Art 103 Art Appreciation
Art 111 History of Contemporary Art
Art 119 Theories of Art
Philosophy 40 Introduction to the Philosophy of Art
Philosophy 41 Introduction to Philosophy and
Literature
Philosophy 42 Philosophy and Cinema
Psychology 69 Psychology in Film
Global Studies Path
courses at Pierce
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Art 105 History of Asian Art
Anthropology 102 Human Ways of Life: Cultural Anthropology
Communication Studies 121 The Process of Interpersonal
Communication
Education 203 Education in American Society
English 203 World Literature I
Philosophy 30 Asian Philosophy
Sociology 15 Religion and American Society
Sociology 86 Popular Culture
History 1 Introduction to Western Civilization I
History 2 Introduction to Western Civilization II
History 86 Introduction to World Civilizations I
History 87 Introduction to World Civilizations II
Health and Wellness Path
courses at Pierce
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Communication Studies 122 Communication Across
Culture
Health 2 Health and Fitness
Health 8 Women’s Personal Health
Health 11 Principles of Healthful Living
Kinesiology 117 Introduction to Personal Training
Psychology 14 Abnormal Psychology
Psychology 16 Intimacy, Marriage and Family
Relationships
Psychology 41 Life Span Psychology: From Infancy to Old
Age
Psychology 52 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality
Psychology 60 Stress Management
Social Justice Path
courses at Pierce
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Administration of Justice 1 Introduction to Administration of
Justice
Child Development 11 Home, School and Community
Relations
Child Development 42 – The Child in Diverse Society
Communication Studies 104 Argumentation
English 239 Women’s Literature
English 215 Shakespeare I
Political Science 19 Women in Politics
Psychology 13 Social Psychology
Psychology 32 Psychology of Women
Sociology 11 Race and Ethnic Relations
Sociology 21 Human Sexuality
Sociology 29 The US and Terrorism
Sociology 35 The Labor Movement
Sociology 31 Sociology of Gender
Sustainability Path
courses at Pierce
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Animal Science 511 Anatomy and Physiology of
Animals
Anthropology 101 Human Biological Evolution
Geography2 Cultural Geography
GIS 31 Introduction to Geographic Information
Systems
Philosophy 28 Environmental Ethics
Plant Science 103 Introduction to Soils
Spring 2014 Events at Pierce
 Planning coordination meetings Pierce & CSUN teams
 Informational Path events for students, in
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combination with the Resistance film festival
Path faculty coordinators’ meeting
Path faculty retreat, to meet and discuss assessment,
common concerns and strategies
Showcase of GE Path student work
Speech Competition
Diversity training for faculty and students
GE Path Faculty debrief “happy hour” (assessment….)
Future possibilities
 Increase intentionality
 Expand to other CSUs
 Align more courses with
GE Paths
 Strategic scheduling of
Path classes
 Stronger Student & faculty
Community
 Strengthen interaction
with CSUs
 Faculty
 Students
Thank you…..
Lumina
Foundation
AAC&U (LEAP)
Quality
Collaboratives
CSUN team
More information
http://faculty.piercecollege.edu/gepaths
www.csun.edu/gepaths
LA Pierce College
Barbara Anderson
Ania Bruzzese
Ray Lim
Mia Wood