Area Report for Board of Trustees

The division of Student Services operates on 3 Core Functions: Access, Supporting Student Success, and Engagement with a focus on equity.

The goals of student services for the 2020-2021:

• Goal 1: Strategic Enrollment
• Goal 2: Service Delivery Excellence
• Goal 3: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Student Access, Retention and Success

Student Services is is proud to present to you our first ever Student Services Blog! November’s edition of the blog is centered on student wellness and staying connected. It includes important dates and a host of events, activities and resources. The goal of the Blog is to emulate the on-campus efforts of sharing information with students, which was done via posters, flyers, flat screen slides and our efforts through word of mouth.

Advising, Career and Student Employment (CASE), High School Programs and Running Start

Advising offered Pathway Advising Days 10/26, 10/27, 10/29. In collaboration with the Program Manager for Faculty Advising, offered interactive presentations for students in alignment with Highline Pathways to learn about the registration process, online services, connecting to advising, faculty advising, and related information.

In collaboration with the Program Manager for Faculty Advising, the Advising Center hosted its Faculty Course Preview on October 28. This program provided a venue for faculty to share information and promote upcoming courses and programs with advisors, faculty, and others for Winter 2021.

Transfer Center partnered with a number of stakeholders to provide a broad menu of virtual/remote transfer events this fall:

• Partnered with the Washington Council and PNACAC to plan a fall, state-wide Transfer Fair during National Transfer Student Week (Oct. 19th – 23rd);
• Partnered with 2-year and 4-year institutions (specifically UW-Tacoma and Central Washington University – “How Different Associate Degrees Transfer”) to provide a series of Transfer Knowledge Workshops (10/6-10/8 and 11/2-11/4)
• Partnered with the Academic Success Centers, Financial Aid, MESA, TRIO, Tutoring, and Umoja to host a weekly series of Friday transfer 101 workshops

The office of Academic Standards

Is offering a “Keys to Highline” event on November 18, at 2:00 p.m. This workshop is aimed at students needing support after suspension or probation. It’s based around understanding your strengths, connecting to people on campus/building relationships, and understanding resources/behavior to be a successful student (open to all, not just students impacted by Academic Standards.)

The Career and Student Employment Center (CASE)

CASE is continuing the drive through/walk-up process for new student employees to submit required documentation and begin employment. The process adheres to health and safety guidelines while facilitating our strong student employment program in anticipation of Fall campus employment needs.

Campus View 

Campus View has 20 residents and 5 Resident Assistant student leaders who are providing ongoing peer led programming that are following the most recent proclamation by Governor Inslee and CDC guidelines.

Counseling

Counseling has significantly increased its outreach presence to counteract the negative mental health impacts of COVID, election anxiety, and racial trauma. The department has increased advertising of our services via campus email and social media, and provided the following new student programming:

• 10/7: International Student Wellness Check-In
• Every Tuesday at 7pm: Mindfulness, Relaxation, and Reflection Practices led by one of the Faculty Counselors
• 10/28: Fall Counseling Seminars: Anxiety and the World Around Us, and Coping with Depression and Holidays

The motto of the department has been to “meet students where they are” by providing department representation at campus-wide events. The department collaborated with both LGBTAIQ and Disability Justice Weeks and at least one Faculty Counselor attended each event.

In response to the stress, anxiety, and trauma of the election season, the counseling department will offer the following day-after the election events on 11/4:

The department will partner with the President’s Office to host a “Supportive Check-In Time” for students at noon.

• Umoja Black Mental Health Check-in as part of the Umoja Wake Up Series
• La Conferencia de Highline College election debrief

Enrollment and Registration

Registration & Records: Winter 2021 Class Schedule is now live, Registration Access Times are live.

Admissions completed 153 general residency reviews and 79 CARES funding residency reviews for fall quarter. Admissions processed 1,269 general admissions applications for September and 813 applications for October. Admissions reviewed 203 applications for the Winter 2021 Registered Nursing cohort selection.

• Advising: Group Advising Sessions Pre-Nursing and Veterans: 11/2, 11/3 and 11/4
• Winter 2021 New Student Orientations will begin November 3rd.

International Student Programs

The fall quarter International Student Transfer Fair is taking place the week of October 26-30th. Over 100 universities from across the U.S. will be attending the fair to give our international students admissions information and answer questions. In addition, international student programs will be conduction a needs assessment of communication and services related to international student success and accessibility.  The purpose is to gauge how we can best serve our students through a remote and online format during COVID.

Student Support and Funding Services

Associate Dean Allen Jr. and Dean Saechao are in the process of forming a Financial Aid Advisory Board to provide council and assistance in continuous improvement efforts to enhance departmental operations and processes. The first meet is expected to occur in November with recurring quarterly meetings.

Financial Aid resumed workshops and information sessions to assist current and prospective students in the completion of the FAFSA/WAFSA and related Highline College Financial Aid forms.

TRiO and the Undocumented Student Taskforce will be hosting the third annual “Highline College Paying for College Day”. The event will brings together both current and prospective students to connect with campus resources on the different ways to pay for college including FAFSA/WAFSA, scholarships and grants. It is scheduled for Saturday, November 7 virtually from 11am-1pm.

Women’s Programs/WorkFirst participated in the annual Park Ride Along event that took place on October 17th to raise breast cancer awareness.

Student Life

ThunderWeek 2020 partnered with the Community Pantry Drive-Thru, providing more than 100 swag bags that included custom Highline College face covering/masks, hand sanitizer, tote bags, along with their pantry items. Center for Leadership & Service (CLS) & Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence (CCIE) had 350+ students, staff, and faculty in attendance throughout the 12 virtual events, including more than 70 students and faculty advisors at our Clubs Mixer.

CCIE hosted Highline College’s 10th Annual LGBTQIA Week, Monday October 12- Thursday, October 16, 2020 in partnership with CLS, LGBTQIA Task Force, Central Washington University-Des Moines, and Learning and Teaching Center. The commemorative week hosted 6 virtual programs including a keynote address by nationally acclaimed poet Yosimar Reyes and a panel discussion by LGBTQIA youth and scholars from Tacoma, WA’s Oasis Youth Center. LGBTQIA Week is a programming series of educational events and activities exploring LGBTQIA identity and social justice issues; in addition, celebrates and remembers the history of the gay rights movement and is held in October to recognize National Coming Out Day.

CCIE in partnership with Access Services hosted Highline College’s inaugural Disability Justice Week (DJW), October 19- October 22, 2020. Disability Justice Week centralizes the intersectionality of the disability experience through a social justice framework. DJW included four virtual events including an opening program featuring Highline College’s Active Minds, a student organization dedicated to addressing and shifting conversations regarding mental health.

The Inter-Cultural Center (ICC) launched its Fall 2020 facilitated dialogue programming series on October 28 with Why Be A Voter? Lives Depend On It. All programs are led by our ICC Peer Facilitators.

Associated Students of Highline College (ASHC) have recognized 7 Clubs in October and anticipate recognizing more in November.

A notable October club highlight was the collaboration between Active Minds Club and CCIE for the opening of Disability Justice Week.

The Services & Activities Fee Budget Committee applications are open and ASHC plans to have a student leader appointed by November 17th, 2020. Budget manager training for S&A is continuing this year via Zoom.

Athletics

Athletics is providing small group workouts for Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and Tennis with an approved safety plan and guidelines from NWAC.

Professional development

Student Services division participated in Professional Development Day October 23.

Counseling

Josh Magallanes presented Leading with Love at Professional Development Day. Nicole Hoyes Wilson presented on a SAIT/Counseling/Conduct/Title IX panel at Professional Development Day.

In collaboration with the Counseling Center, the President’s Office will host a  “Supportive Check-In Time” for Faculty and Staff as a time to be in community after the election on the 11/4.

Student Life

CLS announces Malaelupe Samifua as the Interim International Engagement Leadership Advisor. Malaelupe is no stranger to Highline having worked and supported our students during his time with AANAPISI. Malaelupe has been a key partner in helping us retain and support our students while assisting in building inclusive student experiences for our learning communities. Malaelupe will be bringing his combination of knowledge, skills, and experience to CLS to help us support not only our international students but examining how we engage all of our students in the global community. In his role, he will be supporting our Global Student Ambassadors, AANAPISI Ambassadors, and Puente Ambassadors creating student led programming.

Report submitted Nov. 02, 2020 by Vice President Aaron Reader