Effective Practices for Successful
Learning Communities
Anabel Perez
Counselor/Coordinator of Learning Communities
Lyssette Trejo-Espinoza
Counselor, Learning Communities
Mt. SAC: a College of Champions
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Located in Southern California
$149 million budget
Nearly 65,000 total students (annually)
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30,000 full time equivalent credit students
53% female, 47% male
Culturally diverse student population: 43%
Latino
27% Asian/Pacific Islander/Filipino
19% Caucasian
6% African American
.4% American Indian
2.7% Other
Average student age: 26
Entering Freshmen:
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40% English is not spoken at home
59% First generation college students
Who are the Bridge students?
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Higher percentage of
female students (64.7%)
to male students (35.3%)
20 years or younger
(94.5%)
Latino/Hispanic (83.9%)
Receive some form of
financial aid (77.4%)
First-generation college
student (99.8%)
100% are academically
under-prepared for
college
Basic Skills Placement Levels
Assessment of Written English
(AWE)
 Learning Assistance Services
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LERN 81: Basic writing skills
(review)
Math Placement
 Learning Assistance Services
 LERN 49: Basic Math skills
(review)
 Math Department
 Math 50: Pre-Algebra
 English writing
 Math 51: Elementary Algebra
 ENGL 67: Writing Fundamentals
 Math 71: Intermediate Algebra
(Paragraph to short essay)
 Math 110/130: Stats/College
 *ENGL 68: Prep for College
Algebra
Writing (Short essay)
 ENGL 1A: College Freshman
Composition
* Prerequisite: “Eligibility for English
68”
Placement Test Results
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97 percent of students place below Freshman Composition
(English 1A) – graduation/transfer level
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English 1A: 3%
English 68: 24% [eligibility level for 85% of curriculum]
English 67: 50%
LERN 81: 14%
ESL: 9%
85 percent of students place below transfer level math
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Math 71 (Intermediate Algebra): 16%
Math 51 (Elementary Algebra): 6%
Math 50 (Pre-Algebra): 22%
Math 49 (Math Skills Review): 34%
Math 48 (Basic Math Skills Review): 7%
The Summer Bridge Program
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Mt. SAC’s answer to access, diversity, and basic
skills
Mt. SAC’s first learning community
Summer program designed to transition students
from high school to college
6 week program
Classes, field trips, tutoring, parent orientation,
college orientation and registration assistance
The next generation: 3 New
Learning Community Models
Math Bridge
English Bridge
Pre-Algebra + Elementary Algebra +
College Study Skills
Development English Writing +
Reading +
College Success
Elementary Algebra + Intermediate
Algebra + College Study Skills
Pre-Nursing/ Health Bridge
English Bridge
Math Bridge
Chemistry + Anatomy + Counseling
Physiology + Microbiology + Counseling
Student Services/Counseling + Instruction
An Integrated Model
All students take one “Community Class”
together and then one paired/linked courses
Community
Class
Math Class
Intro. to College
Class
English
Class
Intro. to
College class
The Student Support System
Bridge Staff
Student Peers
Parents/Guardians
Supplemental
Instructors/Tutors
Student
Peer Advisors
Counselors
Faculty
Campus Collaboration
High School
Outreach
English/Math/Science
Departments
Admissions
Bridge
Program
Basic Skills
Initiative
Technical
Services
Assessment
Marketing
Marketing
Learning
Assistance
Counseling/
EOPS
Financial Aid
Orientation
Summer Bridge 2008
A Student’s Experience…..
“I have learned that I need to apply myself and
prove I have the potential. After slacking off
my first two years I have now come to realize
the time and dedication I must put in to achieve
higher grades.”
Excerpt from Midterm Evaluations – Math Academy, March 2002
Math Bridge – Fall 2008
Class Name
% Successful
Bridge Math 50
74.5
Non-Bridge Math 50
61.7
Bridge Math 51
64.6
Non-Bridge Math 51
50.3
Bridge Math 71
72.7
Non-Bridge Math 71
52.0
A Student’s Experience…..
“At this point, math does not
worry me anymore. I am more
confident about doing math
and it seems fun now. I
understand that math is an
important part of our lives.”
Excerpt from Midterm Evaluations – Math Academy, March 2002
English Bridge - Fall 2008
Class Name
% Successful
Bridge English 67
80.5
Non-Bridge English
67
Bridge English 68
63.7
Non-Bridge English
68
Bridge Read 90
Non-Bridge Read
90
66.7
80.4
75.0
59.0
Effective Practices
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Access resources you have at your campus
-Marketing
Involve students in your classes/campus
-Student Committees
Collaborate with another professor
-Interventions/Progress reports
Collaborate with other programs
-Financial Aid events
-High School Outreach
Seek graduate students/interns
Faculty Voices
“I’ve recommended the program to several professors.“
"Participating in LC’s has been one of the best experiences.“
“I’ve learned many new ideas for increasing student participation.”
"Being a part of this faculty community was great."
Presenters Contact Information
Mt. San Antonio College
(909) 594-5611
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Anabel Perez
Counselor/Coordinator of Learning Communities
ext. 5904, email: aperez@mtsac.edu
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Lyssette Trejo-Espinoza
Counselor, Learning Communities
Ext. 5376, email: ltrejo@mtsac.edu
Q&A