Area Report for Board of Trustees

Fall quarter 2023 is well underway. The Student Services division continues to focus on meeting students where they are and providing resources to support those students towards achieving their academic and career goals. Additionally, across the division, staff are identifying strategies to retain currently enrolled students and to onboard new students during winter quarter 2024. Highlighted in this month’s Student Services Board of Trustees (BOT) report are three specific strategies for supporting enrollment.

• The first strategy to support enrollment efforts includes outreach to and recruitment of international students, which is discussed under the International Student Programs section of the BOT report.
• A second focus to support enrollment efforts is the intentional emphasis on mental health and wellness of students, staff, and faculty, which is discussed under the Counseling Department section of the BOT report.
• CCIE and CLS have focused on providing co-curricular engagement opportunities for students, which range from participation in clubs serving as a student leader on the Associated Students of Highline College (ASHC). Trustees can find more details under the Student Life section of the BOT report.

One significant highlight this month is about the current IPEDS data, which notes that Highline College has significantly increased the number of students awarded financial aid in comparison to our peer institutions. Specific details about this increase are outlined below under Student Support and Funding Services-Financial Aid.

-Jamilyn Penn, Interim Vice President of Student Services

International Student Programs:

• Japan recruitment trip: The Director of International Student Programs visited our partner universities, high schools, agencies, and fairs to meet with school representatives, agents and prospective students. He also discussed ISP’s new scholarships, commission, and contracts.
• Vietnam recruitment trip: The recruitment trip included the following seminars at high schools, talks with parents and agencies, and promotion of the 2024 summer camp for ISP students.
• NEW student Scholarships we reviewed the applications for Fall 2023. This is a scholarship open to new international students attending Highline College. Twenty-five applicants were awarded for the Winter 2024 quarter.

Counseling (Core Themes 3 & 4)

• Staff presented at Highline College’s Professional Development Day
  • Counselors supported staff and faculty by using a vignette to manage personal reactions and to respond appropriately when supporting a distressed student.
• Counselors presented a webinar entitled “Tips to Finding a Therapist”
  • The webinar provided tips on navigating the challenges that arise when trying to find a therapist.
• Upcoming Mental Health Screening Day–open to students, staff, and faculty.
  • Assessments and follow-up with our therapists. Scheduling for students on-site. Refreshments and small stress tools provided!
  • Counselors made classroom visits in Nursing, ACHIEVE, and Public Speaking/Communications to connect with students, staff, and faculty and to answer questions about counseling, self-care and stress management.

Student Life:

Campus View Student Housing

Campus View is focusing on building community both on each floor, with the entire building, and with campus partners:

• Ping Pong Tournament
  • Building wide
  • October 6, 2023
  • 52 (33%) residents participated – both playing and spectating.
• Floors 2 and 4 both had passive educational events.
  • Floor 2 provided a bulletin board of campus resources.
  • Floor 4 had a “get to know your floor” bulletin board.
    • 20 residents participated in writing their name, where they are from, their major, and their social media on the board.
  • Floor 3 hosted a Vision Board making event
    • October 13, 2023
  • Campus View Fall Festival
    • October 20
    • Include arts and crafts, caramel apple bar, snacks, and games.

Center for Leadership and Service

• Clubs (Core Theme #2, Core Theme #3)

There are currently twenty-one recognized student clubs on campus. The Cybersecurity club is traveling to Illinois for a competition. Travel is funded through S&A. In November, the Club Roundtable will provide an opportunity for clubs to unite and to learn about each other’s goals, events, and programs.

• ASHC (Core Theme #1, Core Theme #2, Core Theme #3)

ASHC Council meetings started on October 4^th. Council meetings are held every other Wednesdays at 1:30pm-2:30pm in Mt. Skokomish. In the October 4^th ASHC Council meeting, the council approved four S&A Contingency Funds requests the following areas:

• Athletic Department,
• Conference for Latinx students (La Chola Conference),
• Student Conduct Student Leaders, and
• Cybersecurity Student Club travel

• Student Leader of the Month will be announced by ASHC in late October.
• Legislative Breakfast is going to be on November 29^th from 8:00am-10:30am. The goal of the session is to have 100 Highline College students attend the breakfast
• Global Student Ambassadors-GSA (Core Theme #2, Core Theme #3)

GSA will host a Halloween Event in collaboration with ISP on October 31^st. GSA will host Henna Tattoo Workshop as part of International Education Week on November 14^th.

• ThunderWeek (Core Theme #2, Core Theme #3)

ThunderWeek had an attendance of 700 students during the span of four days. Students participated in community building, learned about resources, and visited various parts of the College campus. Students are already engaged in planning ThunderWeek for winter quarter 2025.

Center for Cultural Inclusive Excellence

• LGBTQIA Week Oct 9-12, 7 programs, 196 individuals served (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.)
• DJW Nov 6-9, 4 programs planned (In partnership with Access Services, Disability Justice Week centralizes the intersectionality of the disability experience through a social justice framework.)

Student Support and Funding Services-Financial Aid:

• The latest IPEDS data indicates the Financial Aid Office has significantly increased the number of students awarded Financial Aid in comparison to our peer institutions since 2020-2021. In 2020-2021, only 35% of our degree/certificate seeking students received financial aid compared to our peer institutions (43%). Highline College’s latest IPEDS data indicates a 51% funding rate for the 2021-2022 academic year. Excluding Seattle Colleges (who have the Promise Scholarship Tuition-free program), Highline College funds students at a higher rate (51%) than any of our other peer institutions (42%).

Percent Awarded Financial Aid: Full-time, First-Time Enrolled degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Note: Seattle Colleges average around 74% funding rate. If Seattle Colleges are included, the total peer average is 52%.

Advising and Enrollment Services

• Academic Advisors from Pathway Advising, Entry Advising and Running Start gave a presentation on Appreciative Advising at Highline’s Four-Phase advising model for Professional Development Day. They were accompanied by Lynn Hermanson, Director of Faculty Advising, Jennifer Johnson, Director of Title III, and Jesse Knappenberger, Dean of Advising and Enrollment Services
• Student Services and Academic Affairs staff are partnering to host the WCHCR (Washington Council for High school-college relations) Fall Transfer Fair, Thursday Oct. 26th, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Building 2

Campus View Student Housing

Campus View staff are focusing on building community both on each floor, with the entire building, and with campus partners. Students and staff hosted a building-wide Ping Pong Tournament on October 6, 2023. 52 (33%) residents participated – both playing and spectating. Additionally, the following took place:

• Floors 2 and 4 both had passive educational events.
  • Floor 2 provided a bulletin board of campus resources
  • Floor 4 had a “get to know your floor” bulletin board
    • 20 residents participated in writing their name, where they are from, their major, and their social media on the board.
  • Floor 3 hosted a Vision Board making event
    • October 13, 2023
    • Campus View Fall Festival will be held on October 20^th. The event will include arts and crafts, caramel apple bar, snacks, and games.

Athletics

Fall season is ending. Both Men’s Soccer and Women’s Volleyball are in 1st place and are gearing up for the Playoffs. Student Programs & Athletics held an open house for students to meet our teams, explore intramural offerings, and participate in activities. Over 100 students attended the event. Women’s Tennis participated in an Exhibition match vs UPS (Division III School) The women dominated the Loggers winning the match 7-2.

Winter Sports (Women’s & Men’s Basketball) begin in a couple weeks.

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