Area Report for Board of Trustees

Student Services staff have remained committed to delivering exceptional and equitable wraparound services while addressing the need for collaboration and partnerships across the college community.

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

• The Winter Quarter COVID-19 Financial Relief Fund Application, funded by the US Department of Education Higher Education Relief Fund Act (HEERF) was published in February. Through this effort, four hundred students will be funded $1,000 dollars to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and promote student success.
• The Counseling team hosted their quarterly mental health screening day.  The counseling team was able to support and serve over 25 students.  Several of the students scheduled appointments for counseling sessions at the event.
• The Center for Leadership & Services and the Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence has hosted a variety of events and workshops geared toward providing an inclusive and equitable educational experience to students, including Service & Mentorship Engagement, Being Women: Celebrating Identity & Leadership, Ubuntu: A Conversation on the African Experience, and the Climate Change event.
• International Student Programs has 18 confirmed Summer Adventure Camp participants, and once documents are completed and visas are approved, they may be a total of 22 participants for 2023!
• Financial Aid Staff is meeting with High School Counselors from Fife to West Seattle to offer FAFSA/WASFA workshops and other financial aid related services to our pipeline schools.
• Financial Aid has invited 9 pipeline high schools, or an estimated 1,750 students, to a May 4^th evening event to help high school students complete the FAFSA/WASFA for next academic year.
• Entry Advising is partnering with Workforce Education Services (WES) to host several workshops for incoming students to apply for funding in support of summer and fall enrollment.
• The WorkFirst & Women’s Programs office is seeing student caseloads approaching pre-pandemic levels. They are seeing a steady increase of students seeking and apply for WorkFirst tuition assistance.

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

• Student Support and Funding Services are excited to announce the implementation of the Student Services Data Dashboard, which collects and compiles student satisfaction data regarding services and resources utilized within the Student Services division. This data board is one of very few that exist within Student Services divisions across the country. Student Services is proud to pioneer the effort for continuous improvement and service delivery excellence.
• Counseling visited over 10 classrooms and reached over 200 students to provide Outreach and Psychoeducation on the topics of stress and stress management.
• The Counseling Center hosted an event for students, “Tarot for Self-Love.”  The workshop focused on ways to increase trust in self-intuition and the use of imagery in self-awareness and exploration. Approximately 20 students, staff members, and faculty members attended this event.
• Running Start is hosting multiple information sessions for students and their families as we lead up to Fall 2023 enrollment

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

• The Counseling Center participated in the Sacajawea Middle School visit.  Two faculty counselors hosted two workshops informing students of ways to identify and manage stress and anxiety.
• The Counseling Center partnered with Olympic College to provide a workshop to students and community members that focused on how to find a therapist and engage in therapy.
• Running Start and Entry Advising participated in this year’s High School Counselor Breakfast hosted by Highline’s High School Re-Engagement Program.  The event was strongly attended and laid the foundation for collaborating to help local high school students successfully enroll at Highline.
• Dean of Advising & Enrollment Services in partnership with the Dean of Guided Pathways and Director of Faculty Advising collaboration hosted multiple Aviso training sessions for staff to learn to use the tool to support students, communicate with faculty advisors and create academic plans.
• More students are finding employment through the WorkFirst & Women’s Programs department with 20% of the cohort employed in WorkFirst Work-Study positions. Staff are working closely with student employees to create meaningful relationships and mentorships.
• Running Start collaborated with Entry Advising to host a Placement/Entry Advising session at CHOICE Academy for prospective Running Start students.

Division Honors and Achievements

• Tenure was granted to Joshua Magallanes and Daryllyn Harris with the Counseling Center, and Erin Hooeyboer received approval to continue on the tenure track!
• The number of student clubs has increased to 29
• Campus View Student Housing as a fully staffed and trained RA team!
• International Student Programs is gearing up for their End of Year Celebration being held on June 14 at 12pm. This event will be offered in-person as well as virtually for out-of-country participation.
• Career & Transfer Center successfully hosted the Student Employee of the Year event on Thursday April 20th.  Twelve students were nominated and each were honored at the event. Hye-Yoon Choi won the Student Employee of the Year Award. She currently works in the Print Shop at Highline and will soon graduate with her BAS in Integrated Design from our college. Her graphic design work can be seen all over campus – especially on the 5^th flood of Building 25 and in the Fireside Bistro in Building 8.
• Alycia Williams presented at the 26th Annual Unity through Diversity Week, her program focuses on Leadership, Love and Community.
• Running Start welcomed a new staff member, Samantha Bartlett, to the team! She is the new Program Coordinator.

Report submitted by Interim Vice President of Student Services, Dr. Jamilyn Penn