Give Students a Compass, Phase II
Request for Proposals
California State University, November, 2011
We invite proposals from California State University (CSU) campuses, in partnership with one or
more local California Community Colleges (CCC) campuses, to become part of an intersegmental statewide learning community to explore and test ways to make the general
education (GE) transfer curriculum more relevant and engaging through the incorporation of
high-impact practices (e.g., learning communities, service-learning, first-year experience
programs, internships, and research with faculty) and student learning outcomes. Two kinds of
projects will be supported:

Pilot projects of one CSU campus and one or more CCC campuses to design, implement,
and assess a model curriculum innovation that incorporates one or more high-impact
practices into lower-division GE. Curricular innovations should address on one or more
of the “Essential Learning Outcomes” identified through LEAP initiative of the
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). (See
www.aacu.org/leap/vision.cfm). We anticipate funding two pilot projects with grants of
up to $85,000.

Networking partnerships of one CSU campus and one or more CCC campuses to meet
locally and participate in statewide conferences and online conversations to explore
ways to increase student success by making GE more engaging and relevant to students.
The partnerships will also have the opportunity to apply for small seed grants to expand,
replicate, or assess promising models. We anticipate funding up to 11 partnerships with
initial grants of up to $12,000.
During the 2013-2014 Academic Year, we plan to convene a statewide inter-segmental
conference to share campus experiences and to develop recommendations for improving the
GE transfer curriculum.
Proposals are due by Friday, December 2.
The Challenge
Across the CSU system, the six-year graduation rate hovers at 50%. It is lower for students of
color, first generation to college, and the economically disadvantaged. In the CCC system, rates
of completion are even lower. Most students who drop out do so in the first two years, when
they’re taking GE.
The majority of CSU undergraduates enters as transfer students, mainly from CCC campuses
and must meet GE requirements set by the CSU. This means that most lower-division general
education is taught within the CCC, and so any effort to reform GE must involve both sectors.
The current GE curriculum dates from the mid-1960s and was created to facilitate student
mobility. Students choose from a list of interchangeable, stand-alone courses, isolated from
each other, from courses in the major, and – too often – from our complex and rapidly changing
world. Although program assessment and accreditation in higher education are moving from a
focus on what courses students complete to what knowledge and skills they can demonstrate,
meeting GE requirements continues to be measured by the old paradigm of credit hours and
“seat time.”
Research has identified high-impact practices that promote student learning, engagement, and
persistence. Approaches such as learning communities, service-learning, first-year experiences,
internships, and undergraduate research help all students, but may have disproportionate
benefits for underserved populations. They hold great promise for addressing the achievement
gap. Despite evidence of their effectiveness, such practices are neither required nor available
to all students.
Our overarching goal is to examine ways to make the GE transfer curriculum purposeful,
integrated, relevant, and engaging.
Give Students a Compass
The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has been working with the CSU
and other state university systems to support grass-roots efforts to reform GE. The project is
part of AAC&U’s Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative
(www.aacu.org/leap), which promotes an emphasis on essential learning outcomes, highimpact educational practices, authentic assessments, and inclusive excellence.
In 2008, the CSU formally adopted the essential learning outcomes as the framework for its GE
breadth requirements, an innovation that continues to the present executive order
(www.calstate.edu/EO/EO-1065.html). Three CSU campuses were selected by a state steering
committee as beta-sites to test innovative projects (www.calstate.edu/app/compass/betasites.shtml) in the first phase of the Compass Project (“Compass I” 2008 – 2011).
In 2011, the project began a new phase (“Compass II”), focusing on inter-segmental
collaboration. At a conference in January, 2011
(www.calstate.edu/app/compass/conferences/AACU2011.shtml), teams were invited to
develop proposals for pilot projects. With initial support from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert
Foundation and the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, three projects were selected to begin in
July, 2011 (www.calstate.edu/app/compass/phase-two.shtml).
We have received funding from the James Irvine Foundation to fund 2 additional pilot proposals
and 6 networking partnerships. We also have a proposal under review by the William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation to support up to 5 more networking partnerships.
Application Guidelines
Pilot projects
Proposals for pilot projects must:
 Involve at least one CSU campus in collaboration with one or more CCC campuses;
 Include one or more of these high-impact practices: learning communities; first-year
experiences; service-learning; undergraduate research; and internships.
 Focus on one or more lower-division GE transfer requirements;
 Focus on one or more of the LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes as well as at least two
other indicators of student success such as persistence, rate of progress, and/or GPA.
Because of the tight timeline for developing the proposal and implementing the project, we
strongly recommend that institutions draw on work already planned or in progress at one or
more of the collaborating institutions.
We welcome a diverse range of project proposals and encourage creativity. For example, you
may wish to propose a project that includes one or more of the following, in addition to the
focus on high-impact practices - peer mentoring or peer-led instruction; e-portfolios; a thematic
focus; multiple GE areas; and/or integration of GE and major coursework. If appropriate, the
CSU Chancellor’s General Education Advisory Committee may consider exceptions to current
unit requirements for GE certification to encourage experimentation.
The cover page, narrative outline, and budget instructions are in the appendix.
In addition, we require written commitment to the project from the project director (CSU) and
co-director(s) (CCC); the chief academic officer (provost or vice president) at each institution;
and a faculty leader from a group that approves curriculum (Senate or key committee chair) at
each institution. Note that written commitments may be submitted after the rest of the
application.
Evaluation criteria - Proposals will be evaluated by the Give Students a Compass Steering
Committee using six criteria:
1. Potential to improve student engagement with GE and persistence in college.
2. Effective use of one or more high-impact practices.
3. Potential to further incorporate LEAP outcomes into general education.
4. Scalability for potential system‐wide adoption.
5. Long‐term sustainability when grant support is no longer available.
6. Indicators of success that could be used to create to assess project effectiveness.
Grantee Expectations - Participating institutions will be expected to become part of a
networked learning community, collaborating to identify improved, scalable, and sustainable
approaches to GE and transfer. We are interested in understanding challenges and obstacles as
well as successes and facilitating conditions. We also expect that the institutional
research/institutional effectiveness offices at the participating CSU and CCC campuses will
support efforts to collect comparable data on student progress and participation in high-impact
educational practices. We will also ask for input from other institutional staff involved with
facilitating transfer (e.g., articulation officers, advisors, admissions staff, etc.) as we assess the
results of the Compass partnerships.
At least one representative from each participating CSU and CCC will be expected to attend
Compass Project conferences on February 13-14, 2012, in Los Angeles, and in Spring, 2013,
(date and location TBD), and to participate in quarterly webinars.
Reporting requirements will include brief monthly progress reports, two expanded reports (in
September, 2012, and September, 2013), presentations at Compass Project conferences, and
contribution to a culminating monograph. The project will provide central funding for any such
required travel, and proposals don’t need to include this travel in their budgets.
Networking Partnerships
Proposals for networking partnerships should:

Involve at least one CSU campus in collaboration with one or more CCC campuses;

Identify at least one high-impact practice that the participating institutions want to
explore within the lower division GE transfer curriculum.
The cover page and narrative outline are in the appendix.
In addition, we require written commitment to the project from the project director (CSU) and
co-director(s) (CCC) and the chief academic officer (provost or vice president) at each
institution. Note that written commitments may be submitted after the rest of the application.
The participating networking partnerships will jointly receive $8000 for the CSU and one CCC
campuses, with an additional $1000 for each additional CCC campus up to a maximum of 5
($12,000), to be used between January, 2012, and September 30, 2013. The funds are primarily
to support local meetings and travel to state meetings. In addition, they may be used for
materials, small stipends for faculty or students, or other expenses related to the project. No
indirect costs will be allowed. Partnerships will be invited to submit proposals for another
$8000 to $12,000 to support small projects during the 2012-2013 Academic Year.
Evaluation criteria - Proposals will be evaluated by the Give Students a Compass Steering
Committee by three criteria:
1. Clear rationale for participation.
2. Potential contribution to initiative goal (e.g., to make lower division GE more
integrated, engaging, relevant, and purposeful).
3. Geographic distribution of participating campuses across the state.
Grantee Expectations - Participating institutions will be expected to become part of a
networked learning community, collaborating to identify improved, scalable, and sustainable
approaches to GE and transfer. At least one representative from each participating CSU and
CCC will be expected to attend Compass Project conferences on February 13-14, 2012, in Los
Angeles. They will also be expected to meet locally as a team at least 3 times, inventory current
high-impact practices and learning outcomes within GE courses and model transfer practices,
and provide feedback on models being developed by pilot sites and on emerging policy ideas.
Participation in quarterly webinars and in additional regional and statewide meetings will be
encouraged, but not required.
Reporting requirements include two brief interim reports (Spring and Fall, 2012) and a final
report (Spring, 2013).
Support from the CSU Office of the Chancellor
The CSU Office of the Chancellor will:
 Compile a handbook with resources;
 Organize the conferences and possible regional meetings;
 Coordinate research activities;
 Host webinars;
 Assist with state and local faculty development activities;
 Disseminate project outcomes;
 Provide technical assistance;
 Assist with the development of joint proposals for funding.
Queries/Technical Assistance
For questions and guidance in developing proposals, contact Debra David, Project Director, at
DDavid@calstate.edu or (562) 951-4775.
Application Submission
Submit proposals by Friday, December 2, 2011, as a Word document via e-mail to:
Debra David
DDavid@calstate.edu
Submit signatures certifying agreement to participate with the proposals or by Friday,
December 9, 2011 to Debra David via e-mail or fax - (562) 951-4982.
Key Dates
November 7, 2011
Request for Proposals issued
December 2, 2011
Proposals due
December 9, 2011
Signatures certifying agreement to participate due
mid-December, 2011
Announcement of selected projects
February 13-14, 2012
“Kick-off” conference at CSU Los Angeles
Spring, 2013
Joint CSU-CCC statewide conference
Compass Steering Committee
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Kevin Baaske, Professor of Communication, CSU Los Angeles
Mardel Baldwin, President, Associated Students, CSU Dominguez Hills
Alexander Boyar, President, Associated Students, Sonoma State University
Andrea Renwanz Boyle, Professor of Nursing, San Francisco State University
Bernie Day, Articulation Officer, Foothill College
Bettina Huber, Director of Institutional Research, CSU Northridge
Patricia Kalayjian, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, CSU Dominguez Hills
Ken O’Donnell, CSU Office of the Chancellor (state liaison to the AAC&U)
Michelle Pilati, Professor of Psychology, Rio Hondo College
James Postma, Professor of Chemistry, CSU Chico
Barry Russell, CCC Office of the Chancellor
Jeff Spano, CCC Office of the Chancellor
John Tarjan, Professor of Business, CSU Bakersfield
Mark Van Selst, Professor of Psychology, San José State University
Jeremy White, President, Associated Students, CSU Los Angeles
APPENDIX
Pilot Project Application
Give Students a Compass, Phase II
Deadline to Submit Proposal – December 2, 2011
CSU Campus Submitting Proposal:
Community College Partner Campus (es):
Project Director Contact/Title/Phone/E-mail:
General Education Area(s) addressed:
High-Impact Practice(s) included:
LEAP Essential Learning Outcome(s) to be assessed:
Abstract (150 words maximum)
If the pilot project is not funded, do you want to be considered for a networking partnership?
(No additional application needed.)
Pilot Project Proposal Outline
Narrative - The narrative section of the proposal should answer the following questions and
should not exceed 8 single-spaced pages. Please use the outline below.
Outcomes - What are your intended outcomes for student learning, faculty
development, and institutional change? How will you achieve them? Which high-impact
practice(s) will you focus on and how will they be incorporated into GE courses?
Assessment - How will you assess your results? How will you know if you have been
successful? (Consider traditional indicators of student success such as persistence and
GPA, gains in student learning, and student perceptions of the value of GE.)
Partnership - How will the community college and state university work together? Who
will be involved at each institution?
Team members – Identify the names and positions of key team members, including
team leaders from each institution.
Capacity – Upon what past and current work does this project build? What institutional
strengths, resources, and experiences will help support your work? What challenges are
you likely to face, and how will you overcome them?
Scalability and sustainability - What is the potential of your proposed project to be
adopted by a range of other CCC or CSU campuses? Will it be sustainable without
ongoing grant support? What changes in policy and/or practice might be needed? What
challenges would have to be overcome?
Timeline – The timeline should cover January, 2012, through September, 2013.
Budget: The total budget may not exceed $85,000 (direct costs) plus up to $5000 indirect costs
($2500 maximum indirect costs per year). Please itemize direct project costs in the following
categories:
Personnel (such as staff involved with project management, student assistants).
Benefits
Professional services (such as stipends for instructors involved with planning and
evaluation, consultants)
Supplies (such as materials, food for meetings)
Travel (such as local travel and travel to conferences not organized by Compass)
Other
Indirect costs (up to 10% of the first $25,000 per year; maximum $2500 per year)
NOTE: Costs normally covered by the institution, such as instructional time, institutional
research support, facilities use, etc., will not be supported.
Networking Partnership Application
Give Students a Compass, Phase II
Deadline to Submit Proposal – December 2, 2011
CSU Campus Submitting Proposal:
Community College Partner Campus(es):
Project Director Contact/Title/Phone/E-mail:
High-Impact Practice(s) within the lower-division GE curriculum that will be explored:
Abstract (150 words maximum)
Networking Partnership Proposal Outline
Narrative - The narrative section of the proposal should answer the following questions and
should not exceed 3 single-spaced pages. Please use the outline below. No budget or timeline
is required.
Rationale – Why do you want to participate in this initiative? What do you hope to
gain? What high-impact practice(s) do you want to explore?
Partnership - How will the community college and state university work together? Who
will be involved at each institution?
Team members – Identify the names and positions of key team members, including
team leaders from each institution.
Capacity to Contribute - What institutional strengths, resources, and experiences will
you bring to our statewide learning community?
Required Signatures
Deadline to Receive All Signatures – December 9, 2011
California State University
Campus Name:
Project Director
Name:
Title:
Signature/Date: (This signature certifies your agreement to participate.)
Provost/Chief Academic Officer
Name:
Title:
Signature/Date: (This signature certifies approval of the proposal.)
For pilot project proposals only; not required for networking partnership proposals.
Faculty member in key role in shared governance process that approves curriculum (Senate or
key committee chair)
Name:
Title:
Signature/Date: (This signature certifies that someone in the governance approval
process is aware of the proposed project.)”
California Community College
(If multiple institutions are involved, each one must complete a separate page)
Campus name:
Project co-director (Community College) (This signature certifies your agreement to
participate).
Name:
Title:
Signature/Date: (This signature certifies your agreement to participate.)
Vice President for Instruction/Chief Academic Officer
Name:
Title:
Signature/Date: (This signature certifies approval of the proposal.)
For pilot project proposals only; not required for networking partnership proposals.
Faculty leader from a group that approves curriculum (Senate or key committee chair)
Name:
Title:
Signature/Date: (This signature certifies that someone in the governance approval
process is aware of the proposed project.)