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Feb. 23, 2023: Student Services

Home/Area Reports, Division: Student Services, Meeting 02-23-23/Feb. 23, 2023: Student Services
2023-02-18T09:48:09+00:00 Print Page

Feb. 23, 2023: Student Services

Area Report for Board of Trustees

Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

  • In January 2023, Isabelle Wroblewski, Student Conduct Manager and Dean Ay Saechao presented at the 2023 National Association for Student Conduct Administrators conference. Titled “Building Trust and Community through BIT (Behavioral Intervention Team) Rebranding,” the presentation highlighted the development and growth of the CARE Team to foster greater campus collaboration to support students who are experiencing hardship, mental health, and wellness concerns.
  • To provide greater student support and increase student retention, Tony Au, Completion Coach & Retention Manager implemented a new student re-engagement strategy to contact students who have dropped one or more classes throughout the quarter. This hands-on and personal touch approach to student re-engagement has been well-received by students. Other student retention strategies will be implemented soon, including a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress report and Academic more strategic interventions and support that align with the Academic Standards policy.
  • Counselors made ten (10) classroom visits this month to provide psychoeducation and to share resources offered by the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center staff actively in partnership with CARE and regularly write letters of accommodation for students to receive ACCESS support services.
  • Running Start has updated its eligibility criteria from placement into ENGL& 101 required, to placement into a college level (100 level) and above class.  This will broaden access to many potential Running Start students and align Highline with state-wide Running Start standards for access. Running Start has also expanded certain criteria for the fee waiver program for low income students.
  • Entry Advising is piloting a Lobby Spotlight program on the 2nd floor of building 6 to showcase programs and services at Highline to new and prospective students.
  • International Student Programs (ISP) is exploring the development of a one-year, English as a Second Language program for international students, sometimes referred to as an IESL program. The aim of the IESL program will be to expand international student enrollment. The program will attract new international students who are looking to attend college, but who have not yet met the English proficiency requirement to enroll in college -level classes. ISP staff have received   inquiries from international students who want to attend an IESL program. Serving the needs of these students can create a pipeline to our college-level programs. International Student Program and Continuing Education, in collaboration with other departments, will determine the next steps required in developing the IESL program.

Core Theme 2: STUDENT LEARNING, Increase educational success, collaborate to improve

  • service will increase knowledge of the counseling center services and mental health needs regarding depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders.  This service has been successful in the past in destigmatizing mental health and increasing student participation in counseling.  The counseling center has reimagined the way this is offered and as adjusted to hosting this event for students quarterly.
  • Academic Standards – policy revision to focus on retaining and supporting students currently under review and on track for approval.  Academic Standards policy will be enforced starting Winter quarter 2023.
  • Career & Transfer Services organizing and conducting mock interviews with students during February and March to help them prepare for landing a great job.
  • Dean of Advising & Enrollment Services is collaborating with Assoc. Dean of Guided Pathways to enhance and refine use of AVISO to better coordinate and communicate about student support between the 4 Phase Advising model, ensuring students have seamless support from Entry Advising to Pathway Advising to Faculty Advising and finally completion and beyond (career & transfer).
  • Veteran’s Services launching “Drop Zone”.  An informal weekly gathering for any and all Veterans on campus to socialize, share information and access support.  Goals are to provide relevant information to Veteran students and build community.

Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued , visible relationship with communities we serve

  • The Financial Aid Department hosted an open house on February 1, 2023. Faculty and staff were invited to meet the fully-staffed financial aid team and to see the newly redesigned financial aid office, where students can schedule appointments, via AVISO, to receive 1:1 assistance with FAFSA, WASFA, BankMobile, Payment Plans, and document submissions. Processing updates:
    • The average processing time for financial aid applications is now 60 days, down from 120 days.
    • At the start of winter quarter, the average wait time for students to receive assistance with financial-aid related concerns was approximately 15 minutes, with the majority of students served within 30 minutes. This is a marked improvement from past quarters, where students could wait upwards of 1-2 hours for assistance.
  • The Highline Community Pantry is now open on Wednesdays from 11am – 1pm and Thursdays from 1pm – 4pm. The pantry opened its doors on Wednesday the first week of Winter quarter.
  • The counseling center is hosting three workshops this month.  (1) How to find a therapist, (2) Tarot and Self-love/exploration (3) Mental Health Screening Workshop.
  • EDI is foundational to our work in the counseling center.  The Center for Dialogue and Resolution in Tacoma, Washington now has a representative in a counseling consulting group with a Highline Counselor.  This relationship/consultation will allow for further integration of the EDI framework into the department. In response to the increased needs of neuro-divergent students at Highline College, the Counseling Center completed an initial consultation with Paradox Collective.  Paradox Collective specializes in providing mental health psychoeducation groups to neuro-divergent young adults. Counselors will be partnering for training and as a referral source.
  • Running Start and Entry Advising are collaboration with colleagues in Highline’s High School re-engagement program to host local High School counselors on campus Tuesday February 7 for an appreciation breakfast to highlight various opportunities for high school students and answer questions from high school counselors so they are better prepared to guide their students to Highline.
  • CLS hosted a Clubs Fair on January 12, 2023 under the leadership of Cassie Gerahty. Twenty (20) clubs participated, engaging the students in extracurricular and cocurricular opportunities to create meaningful connections and apply classroom learning outside of the classroom. One hundred (100) students attended, joining new clubs and forming new relationships
  • During Legislative Advocacy Day, on February 2, 2023, ASHC officers visited the state Capital where they met with 5 legislators to talk about the cost of textbooks as a barrier to access and requested that legislators support proposed legislation on textbook affordability.
  • CCIE hosted the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week under the leadership of Edwina Fui with the theme Living MLK: Moving Beyond Surviving to Thriving. Over 300 students and staff participated in person or online. Six (6) programs were offered to engage the community on various topics in relation to survival and imagining wellness. The opening keynote was Dr. Paige Gardner, who imparted a message on leading for self and others. Another event was called, Legacy: Who was MLK? This event was hosted by the Global Student Ambassadors with the goal of providing foundational knowledge t to international students about the history and importance of Dr. King and his work as a civil rights leader. Other events included Dr. Robert Jenses sharing lessons from the past about an uncertain future and social justice as an ecological crisis. There was a panel highlighting community pillars and the impact of local businesses on community growth, unity, and resilience. Finally, there was a performance by iBuild Bridges Foundation.
    • 2023 MLK Week Planning Committee: Aaron Modica, Bob Scribner, Cassie Geraghty, Dr. Darryl Brice, Geomarc Panelo, Jodi White, Krystal Welch, Linda Brown, Monica Twork, Rita Manalastas, Stella Nyambura and Edwina Fui (Chair).
  • Upcoming programming includes the following:

Division Honors and Achievements

  • Joshua Magallanes and Daryllyn Harris were recommended for tenure this month. The Tenure Review Committee (TRC) also recommended that Erin Hooyober continue the tenure process.
  • Nicole Wilson was interviewed by the Seattle Medium News, where she provided suggestions for addressing and attending to grief.
  • Women’s and Men’s Basketball is starting their second round of league play. Women’s Softball, Golf and Tennis have begun preparing for their Spring seasons. Athletics is currently working on a budget request for the 2023-24 school year.
  • For Fall Quarter 2022, Campus View student housing was at 100% occupancy. Staff hosted twelve (12) programs for students. During Winter Quarter, to date, the occupancy rate at Campus View is 97%. Two new resident assistance joined the staff, and there were four (4) programs planned for students in January.

Report submitted on Feb. 14, 2023 by Interim Vice President of Student Services, Dr. Jamilyn Penn