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

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

• Advising, Transfer, Career Services continues to help students in our Advising zoom lobby. For the month of December, an average of 20-25 students (appointments and walk-ins) per day are meeting with Advisors.
• CASE Center wrapped up the Fall quarter with assisting 30 students in mock interviews, in collaboration with HEAL 239, BSTECH 239 and HOST 239. As of December 28th we have 128 student employees.
• The Transfer Center is preparing to co-host transfer application assistance workshops during Winter quarter.
• Running Start focused on outreach to students who were registered for Fall, but had not yet registered for Winter quarter. Each quarter Running Start students must submit a quarterly WA State enrollment verification form signed by their high school counselor authorizing them to enroll. Our team sends multiple reminders to students encouraging them to submit their forms as early as possible.

Campus View

• The end of Fall Quarter 2020 the occupancy rate was 10% or 16 beds, which does not include 5 Resident Assistant beds. It is uncertain what the Winter Quarter 2021 occupancy rate will be, however the recent partnership with the Foundation in the creation of the Campus View Housing Scholarship has received numerous inquiries. Campus View Student Housing is currently offering a scholarship in the amount of $750.00 for current and new residents for both Winter Quarter and Spring Quarter. To take advantage of this, students will need to complete an application and be approved to live in Campus View. The $750 will be automatically applied to the students housing balance, reducing the total amount due by $750. This scholarship is available while funding lasts.
• In addition to promotional postcards mailed to new students, a Yelp page has been created for Campus View Student Housing.

Counseling

• The Counseling office has received a notably increased number of reports of student mental health concerns from faculty this quarter. This has come in the form of faculty referring students to counseling, faculty consultation requests, SAIT mental health related reports, and from the Faculty Senate.
• The weekly Tuesday evening Mindfulness, Relaxation, and Reflection Practices zoom series has grown in popularity this quarter. By request, the series will continue during Winter quarter and will expand to include guest faculty facilitators.

Enrollment and Registration

• The transition between quarters is one of the busiest periods for Enrollment Services as we close out one quarter and prepare for the next. Fall grades posted December 23rd. Fall graduation applications are being reviewed with 98 students earning Fall degrees as of the 28th with more in the queue to review. Each quarter, Enrollment Services leadership reviews requests from students for an exception to policy due to a hardship. These requests typically consist of a request to withdraw after the deadline has passed. Our team works with students to make this process as easy as possible and help support them in helping them find ways to have the least impact to their student record when an unplanned hardship occurs.
• In preparation for Winter, staff also process incoming transcript evaluations, and add/drop requests. December 28th was the Winter tuition deadline. All students were emailed a reminder to check their account balance, make payment, sign up for the payment plan or connect with their funding source to verify their funding status. Students with a balance will be notified of an extension to January 5th.
• Enrollment Services, Academic Affairs, and ctcLink Business Systems Analyst Jill Hammitt completed the first part of building Academic Advisement Reports (AAR) with approx. 91 degrees created in the ctcLink production environment. Transfer Credit Rules were also created with 6 colleges completed in the ctcLink production environment. These Transfer Credit rules will streamline the transfer credit evaluation process over the legacy system.
• We are continuing to enroll students for the Winter quarter through the Open Enrollment period. Registration totals est. 6,753 as of 12/25/20 (subject to change). Winter quarter begins January 11, 2021.
• Admissions processed 881 admissions applications in November and 697 admissions applications in December. Admissions completed 79 CARES funding residency reviews for fall quarter, and continues to collaborate with Financial Aid and ELCAP to update students’ records for CARES funding eligibility. Students selected for the Winter 2021 cohort RN program were notified. Admissions processed official transcript orders with fall grades posted.

 International Student Programs

• Two firsts- The College has accepted its first Papuan BAS student into the Youth Development Program, and its first Achieve student from Malawi into the AS in Computer Science for Winter quarter 2021.
• Will Leadingham presented at the Nationally-recognized AIRC Conference. Presentation topic was It’s Sink or Swim. But how do we stay afloat without a budget? A look into utilizing our time and free resources to keep our institution’s international enrollment above water.

Student Support and Funding Services

• Women’s Programs/WorkFirst Services received a $1,000 donation from Fitchitt Benedict and Clark CPAs. Funds from the donation were used to award WorkFirst student-parents with gift cards to Fred Meyers to help them through the holiday season.
• The Office of Community Standards is currently in planning and development of new resources to assist students as it pertains to academic integrity. Our new Student Conduct Manager, Izzy Wroblewski now is providing office hours to assist and coach students with academic challenges. This is a proactive step as research suggests students are more likely to cheat if they are stressed and lack academic support. Other preventative and proactive strategies in the future include workshops and presentations regarding the campus resources, the student conduct code and SAIT (Student Assessment Information Team); and ongoing communication with students through social media and quarterly newsletters.
• Ay Saechao, Dean of Student Support and Retention Services is currently leading a grant writing team to apply for the TRiO Talent Search grant. If awarded, the grant would provide the college 1.38 million dollars to establish and staff a college access program at Highline School District target schools, Mt. Rainier and Pacific Middle school. The grant RFP was recently released with a submission deadline of February 26th 2021. The grant writing effort is a collaborative including support from Highline School District, numerous Highline College departments, and support from local organizations such as the College Success Foundation and the Puget Sound College and Career Network.
• Mariela Barriga distributed the last of the Safeway vouchers and the meat that was purchased with the additional funds from the King County Food Assistant Grant. Total Safeway vouchers distributed 1,259 in the amount of $125,900. Throughout fall quarter the following groups of students were contacted in regards to every give away: Workforce; Workfirst/WP; RETP; campus view; ISP; student athletes; ACHIEVE; Veterans; HS21+; ESL; ExCEL; GED; Running Start; TRiO; MESA; Umoja, Puente, ANNAPISI; Student Leadership Listserv; WISH; ESOL; HC social media posting; “youth reengagement.”

Student Life

• During Fall Quarter 2020, The Center for Leadership & Service and Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence served over 250 students who opted in to participate in the CONNECT Program. The CONNECT Program is a community of students engaged in leadership opportunities across Highline College building skills and confidence while making connections with other students and campus resources. The 2020-2021 academic year offers Thunderbird Thursdays, leadership workshops offered on the first Thursday of each month. Students who participate in at least five (5) workshops will earn a leadership certificate and be recognized as a CONNECT Program leadership certificate earners at the end-of-year Final Say program.
• The Center for Leadership & Service and Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence welcome new and returning students to Highline College through our ThunderWeek Winter Welcome January 11-15, 2021. The theme, “Connect to Possibilities” intends to cultivate a feeling of welcome and belonging, build community among peers, connect students to involvement and leadership opportunities, and encourage pride in being a Highline student. Additionally, the theme encompasses the digital world we’re all occupying now while encouraging connections with each other and focusing on what’s still possible this year at Highline. The full schedule can be viewed online. At each event, students will have the opportunity to sign up to receive ThunderWeek swag (including Highline face masks, academic planners, hand sanitizer, sticky note books, and tote bags) sent via mail.
• The Center for Leadership & Service and Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence invite students to register for our annual Winter Leadership Retreat February 11-12, 2021! The theme of the 2021 Winter Leadership Retreat (WLR) is un[PLUG]in: Plug In to Unplug. We invite students from all different leadership paths, from experienced student leaders to those who may not even see themselves as a leader yet, to participate in this retreat. Although WLR will be held in a virtual environment in 2021, the retreat will provide opportunities for students to reflect on their own leadership journeys while connecting with a community of student leaders at Highline. The deadline for priority registration is January 15th, 2021 and the application is available at: bit.ly/WLR21. This retreat is free for all registered Highline students.
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Week will be held Monday, January 18- Friday, January 22, 2020. The theme this year is Democracy for Whom? Examining MLKs 3 Evils, featuring 5 events. MLK Week is a signature CCIE programming series that focuses on exploring and celebrating the teachings and legacy of Rev. Dr. King, Jr. through keynote speakers, workshops, and professional development.
• The Associated Student of Highline College (ASHC) announced the Services and Activities (S&A) Fee Committee Chair, Samantha Sebring, will open the 2021.2022 S&A budget cycle with the student led committee starting January 2021. Samantha will provide an encouraging approach to this year’s review, framed within the context of an environment of declining enrollment and revenue. Committee Chair Sebring will continue the previous year’s committee focus of analyzing budget proposals for sustainability and consider key questions such as: Is an equitable and student-centered use of funds? Is this allowed as outlined within our ASHC Financial Code under fund usage?

Veteran’s Services

• Veterans services continues to maintain the Drop Zone (virtual zoom lobby) from 0900 to 1400 M-F and by appointment as needed. Veteran Services recently finished certifying the 2020-2021 catalogue with the state approving agency and are awaiting the VA approval which is anticipated. In the last quarter veteran services added two new student volunteers and is seeking two additional for Winter quarter.

Professional development

Campus View

• The Resident Assistants (RAs) are receiving continued training and development. Most recently a leadership styles workshop was offered by Center for Leadership and Service and Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence. Planning is in progress with the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct and the Counseling Center.

Counseling

• In response to the increased number of reports from faculty regarding student mental health, the counseling department created the Faculty and Staff Resource Guide for Students in Emotional Distress. The document outlines how to recognize and respond to students in emotional distress, how, when and where to refer students, and includes hyperlinks to campus and community resources including 24 hour crisis lines. The link to the guide can be found here: Faculty & Staff Guide
• In addition, the counseling department provided a zoom training for faculty on December 10th on how to recognize and respond to students in distress while also attending to one’s own emotional health and boundaries.

International Student Programs

• ISP had attended the quarterly Association of Washington International Student Affairs conference, AWISA, that connects Washington’s international educators. AWISA meetings provide a quarterly opportunity for professional development, networking, and project collaboration; its members share the common goal of promoting international education.
• AWISA meetings feature sessions on a wide range of topics including international student recruitment, international student and scholar regulations, study abroad programming, ESL instruction, planning on-campus activities, and more.

Staff

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

• Patrick Fernandez has been appointed as Program Manager of Career Services after a a competitive, open selection process. Patrick served in the interim role for one year, and previously served as an academic advisor in the Advising Center for three years. Patrick is co-chairing a workgroup for Guided Pathways focusing on the intake process and ways to effectively incorporate career exploration into the new student experience.

Counseling

• Nicole Wilson served as a panelist and trainer for the Washington Student Achievement Council: K12 to Postsecondary Transition workgroup of high school and college counselors and administrators statewide on December 9th. The topic of the training was clear and accessible virtual mental health supports for high school and incoming college students with an anti-racist focus.
• ESHB 1355, passed in the 2019 legislative session, resulted in the creation of a task force focused on counselors in the Washington community and technical college (CTC) system. This task force was made up of legislators, CTC counselors, CTC Presidents and Vice Presidents, a CTC student, and a member of the State Board. Nicole Wilson was one of four CTC counselors statewide to serve on this task force. The HB1355 Task Force on CTC Counselors Final Report was submitted on November 30th. The report outlined four areas: minimum standards required for counselors, best practices for counseling services in the CTC system, staffing ratios of counselors and students, and whether legislation is needed to address these issues.

Student Support and Funding Services

• We are excited to share that Isabelle (Izzy) Wroblewski started her role as the college Student Conduct Manager on December 1st. Izzy is a Michigan native who found her way to the Pacific Northwest through her graduate program at Seattle University where she earned her Master of Arts in Student Development Administration. She brings a wealth of experience from her work in residential life and student conduct at Cal State Channel Islands. Izzy will serve as the college Student Conduct Officer to administer the Student Conduct Code, and chair SAIT (Student Assessment Information Team).

Report submitted on behalf of Vice President Aaron Reader, by Loyal Allen Jr, Associate Dean of Funding Services, on January 05, 2021.