Achieving the Dream 2012 Strategy Institute February 29, 2012
The HealthscienceLC Advantage
Presented by Mary Puccini, MS, RD Nutrition Instructor, (mary.puccini@hccs.edu)
Maria Straus, Ph.D Director Learning Initiatives (maria.straus@hccs.edu)
What: Chancellor Innovation Fund Award (9/1/10 to 9/1/11) used to develop LCs
for students going into the health sciences professions to prepare them for
rigorous and competitive 2 and 4-yr programs.
Who: Houston Community College (HCC) students who were college-ready and
interested in careers in health science professions, emphasizing nursing, but not
restricted to nurses—no developmental courses included
Where: HCC Central Campus with collaboration with Biology, Chemistry, English,
Philosophy, and Math departments
1. English Composition 1301 (A)/General Biology 1406 (B)
2. BIOL 1322 (Nutrition) (C) /Introductory Psychology 2301 (D) ( both DE format)
3. Math 1314 (College Algebra) (E) / General Chemistry 1411 (F)
4. English Composition 1302 (G) / Philosophy (Bioethics) 2306 (H)
5. Biology 2401 (Anatomy and Physiology I) (I) / Psychology through the Lifespan
2314 (J)
6. Biology 2402 (Anatomy and Physiology II) (K)/ Biology 2420 (Microbiology) (L)
Recommended Pairings: Keep: AB, EF, GH; Change others to: CL, DI, JK
When: Fall 2010 used for faculty development training preparation, LCs take
place Spring and Fall of 2011
Why:
 Students in nursing needed to pass the HESI exam for acceptance into the
nursing program and after needed to have the critical thinking/analysis
skills to be successful in the program.
 Students have difficulty with gate keeper course of Anatomy and
Physiology I. Pairing this course with another may increase success rate
and retention in that course.
 Students who participate in LC may have advantage over an equally
qualified applicant when applying to professional school.
How:
For Faculty:
 Faculty development workshops/gatherings are offered which inform
faculty on best practices in LCs and share experiences.
 Repository of resources—books, articles, websites, syllabi, assignments—
as both a physical library and virtual library (shared directory).
 Ongoing communication with end-users—faculty at 2 and 4-yr institutions
who will inform us of curricular trouble spots, ex. Homeostasis. What do
students need to know deeply and be able to do in order to handle
unscripted situations in their profession?
For students:
 Take paired courses with common content. Use information from both
disciplines for integrated assignments that will involve critical
thinking/analysis skills and address curricular trouble spots.
 A dedicated counselor assigned to the LC to meet with students in class
and individually to ensure students receive consistent and current advice.
 Preparation course for TEAS (an entrance exam similar to the HESI) that
will concentrate on the areas where students are weakest.
 An LC advisor to the Science club to invite speakers in to showcase
different careers in health.
Implementation:
 Create a program web site and obtain a “vanity” URL: hccs.edu/healthscienceLC
 Create posters, brochures, class project posters, video
 Talk to students waiting for financial aid or counseling
Recruitment Challenges at HCC:
 Students are required to see a counselor only once; thereafter they can register
online themselves. LC pop-up message on the registration page needed.
 Students are out of sync with the pairings if they haven’t started from the
beginning of the program.