Basic skills are those foundation skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and English as a Second Language, as well as learning skills and study skills, which are necessary for students to succeed in college-level work?  Share your thoughts, we like to hear from you...

Lessons Learned from the Basic Skills Initiative (2006 to 2009)

While we have learned a great deal from the Basic Skills Initiative (BSI) and basic skills data (which indicate room for improvement, sometimes overwhelming need for improvement within specific student populations), one thing is clear: the California Community College System has not failed in addressing student needs. Rather the overwhelming demographic shifts, the enormous diversity within those demographics, the major academic gaps in new students and the increasing needs for a skilled workforce have simply outstripped our resource capacity. READ MORE....... http://www.cccbsi.org/ 
POST SEPTEMBER 2012

This is a suggest for the Palo Verde College basic skills program. As a senior student, I would like to suggest that we need a better system for teaching the older student about computer knowledge. This era is moving faster than the older student can adapt. I also hate the Hawks Learning System, as a student with learning disabilities, it is hard for me to succeeded with my math requirements. the teacher and counselor do what they can but they need more help, more face-to-face teaching.

Terry Milburn #101325

BSI: A Collaborative Project Driven by the System’s Strategic Plan

The Basic Skills Initiative (BSI) was a grant funded initiative from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) which began in 2006 as part of the strategic planning process. The goal of the BSI was to improving student access and success. The Strategic Plan guides California Community Colleges as they serve over 2.9 million students annually at 110 colleges. The BSI was a part of Strategic Plan Goal Area 2- Student Success and Readiness (http://strategicplan.cccco.edu/).  The project addressed credit and noncredit basic skills as well as adult education and programs designed to help underprepared students. 

A two-pronged approach by BSI created an environment for unprecedented accomplishments in Basic Skills. One prong of this plan allocated colleges supplemental funding to specifically address basic skills needs. This funding was guided by locally developed action plans documenting usage of the funding. The outcomes of the BSI are tracked using the Accountability Report for Community Colleges (ARCC), specifically the ARCC Basic Skills report.

The other prong took the shape of a Professional Development Grant which was designed to address training needs for faculty and staff in basic skills, and English as a Second Language (ESL). A brief review of the timeline and accomplishments are included in the graphic attached.

The Basic Skills Professional Development Grant provided statewide training and support to address the professional development needs of community college administrators, faculty, and staff in the areas of basic skills and ESL instruction in both credit and noncredit instruction.

For more information, please log on to the following website and learn all about the initiative....at

http://www.cccbsi.org/about

BSI Meeting Fall 2012

Call to Order -

I.                   Approval of Minutes May 24^th , 2012

II.                Additions or changes to Agenda

III.             Chair – Report

1.       “State of BSI at PVC” – update financial/operations/key achievements

2.      Preparation of the upcoming report due October 10^th, 2012

3.      Key projects to be undertaken in Fall/Spring 2012 – 2013

IV.             Discussion

1.      Math –   Planning and changes – Sandra/Biju

2.      Reading – Planning and changes – Teh-Min

3.      English –  Planning and changes – Sioux

4.      Counseling –  Planning and changes – Peter/Victor

5.      Supplemental Skills - Planning and changes - Biju

V.                Next meeting – September 27^th, 2012 @ 3:00 pm CL 223 – Chemistry Lab

Basic Skills Initiative (BSI) Taking a New Lead for Palo Verde College Students..

                                          1.       Biju Raman attended a conference in Sacramento regarding BSI coordinators Conference.  The conference discussed:

·         BSI will have money for another two years.  The amount that BSI will receive is $90,000 per year. 

·         We have to show improvement in student learning outcomes/assessments otherwise they will have the authority to withhold some or most of the money.

·         The chancellor’s office has prepared a new BSI cohort tracking tool.  

·         The main purpose of the conference was to help coordinators become familiar with the new tracking tool. 

·         The information on the report we submit to the chancellor’s office will be linked with the funding to the student learning assessment improvements.  The improvements can be as low as 1% a year; they do not want to see any regressions.  However, if they see any regression, they will hold back some of the money based on the reports that are being submitted. 

                                          2.            Biju Raman attended the 3csn conference on Friday, May 18, 2012 at Victor Valley College.  

                                          3.            BSI budget – Opening balance will be around 15-20% which is what is recommended by the chancellor’s office.  Next semester we are planning to:

·         enhance the learning communities

·         Hire someone to track the cohort of students going through the learning communities

·         Students from MAT 80 and MAT 82 need someone to guide them in class. 

·         Students need to be encouraged to work with one another and build upon each other’s strengths.

·         Promote the learning communities.

·         Biju Raman welcomes other suggestions through email, and be able to draw an action plan with the committee members input. 

·         Encourage professors to help BSI to develop activities with in their syllabus that promote the cohort for these students.  Biju Raman stated that BSI funds can be used as stipends for professors.

Peter Martinez made the motion and it was seconded by Victor Hernandez to offer a stipend of $100.00 for Basic Skills and BSI activities.  All members in favor, motion carried.

                                          4.            Teh-min Brown attended to a 3csn (California Community College Success Network) conference on March 24, 2012 in Escondido CA.  Incurred some expenses totaling $138.38.  Biju Raman would like to use BSI money to refund Teh-min Brown expenses for attending the 3csn conference

I.                   Discussion

1.      Math –   Planning and changes

·   Paying tutors would be the best way to have reliable tutors in class and be able to help reading and math students.  Biju Raman requested a list from the committee of students that might be good candidates to tutor these courses.  

Peter Martinez made the motion and it was seconded by Victor Hernandez to support BSI students by hiring tutors for the BSI reading and math courses.  All members in favor, motion carried.

  

2.      Reading – Planning and changes

·         Teh-Min received a scholarship for the reading apprenticeship program.  She is currently taking a reading course which is part of the scholarship. 

3.      English –  Planning and changes

·         No discussion

4.      Counseling –  Planning and changes

·         Peter Martinez reported that there are plans to have College night which will be held May 15, 2012 between 4:30PM-7:30PM.  College night will have activities, presentations, and services. 

5.      Supplemental Skills - Planning and changes

·         No discussion

6.      BSI Website

·         Peter Martinez presented updates on the BSI website.

II.                Next meeting – April 26^th, 2012

Flex Day Presentation by Ms. Laura Hope- Feb 3, 2012

Here is the take on one faculty member's take on a recent presenter's presentation, " Despite the fact that the claim of some recent "crisis," in student basic skills has no basis in real data at least as far as English is concerned, and is very likely best understood (as Mike Rose and many others have been explaining since the 1980s) as an artifact created by a) the integration of American schools, b) the expansion of educational access beyond an elite few, and c) recent economic problems, and politicians trying to make hay by blaming liberals for lowered standards, the reality is that these demands are going to be with us for a while."

What's your take?  Share your thoughts and comments on the BSI blogger.....

I’d like to invite everyone to our new site “living the vision at Palo Verde College to participate in planning for next year's activities for the basic skills grant.

Our funding is expected to continue for the academic year. Our 2011-2012 will be among many items be as follow:

1. Develop and maintain highly coordinated schedule of classes resolving conflicts: Associated cost and additional responsibilities provided by curriculum committee, budget committee, academic senate, CTA, BSI, etc. 
2. Research costs billed to BSI
3. Counseling services
4. Tutorial services for Needles and the main campus
5. Regional conferences and activities
6. New curricula training and activities -
7. Basic Skills classes
8. Writing lab
9. Increased supplemental instruction in math and English

Please comment on any of the items as well as additional needs that you forecast for 2012-2013.

Posted by Peter Martinez

ü  Career Exploration Resources

ü  Additional Perspectives on Student Mental Health

ü  Workshop Activities for the term

ü  4 year institution campus visits to Palo Verde College

ü  Educational Field Trips

ü  Course Repetition

ü  Degree Audits

ü  Petition to Graduate

ü  Course Overload

ü  Student Learning Outcomes

ü  Distance Learning

ü  Enrollment Management

ü  Campus Technology