Area Report for Board of Trustees

Thank you for your continuous support of Highline College students and programs. During the month of May, the Student Services Division continued advancing initiatives aligned with Highline College’s core themes of Access, Student Learning, Community Partnerships, and Culture and Capacity.

This month’s work reflects the continued commitment of Student Services to improving student access, persistence, and completion while responding to emerging challenges impacting higher education. Across the division, departments strengthened outreach efforts, expanded student support programming, improved operational processes, and celebrated student achievement.

Highlights this month include the submission of the TRIO Talent Search federal grant application, increased student satisfaction within Financial Aid Services, continued growth in counseling and advising utilization, strong regional outreach partnerships, and national recognition of Highline staff supporting transfer pathways.

As we move toward the end of the academic year, the division remains focused on fostering student belonging, reducing barriers, and strengthening institutional systems that support equitable student success and wrapping up another great academic year.

Submitted by Jose “Tony” Garcia, Interim VPSS 

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

• Financial Aid Services continues to demonstrate improvements in student satisfaction and service delivery. According to the Student Services Student Feedback Survey, students reported increased satisfaction across all major service categories, including response time, helpfulness, respect, and ability to address student needs. These improvements reflect the collective efforts of the Financial Aid team, the Financial Aid Advisory Committee, and campus partners working to implement more student-centered policies and practices.

• TRIO Talent Search successfully submitted its federal grant proposal for the 2026–2031 funding cycle. The division would like to recognize Dean Saechao, Dave O’Keeffe, Skyler Roth, and Tony Au for their leadership and work on the proposal. The college also appreciates the collaboration and partnership support from Highline Public Schools, Tukwila School District, College Success Foundation, and University of Washington GEAR UP.
• Women’s Programs WorkFirst Services received a significant increase in state funding for the upcoming fiscal year, further expanding support for students with financial need and student parents pursuing educational pathway
• Running Start, Outreach, and Advising teams continue expanding onboarding and enrollment support for prospective students through orientations, admission clinics, and registration support events across regional school district.

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

• Counseling Services will host its annual Week of Wellness during May, featuring mental health screenings, poetry and healing workshops, and wellness programming focused on student well-being and belonging.
• Advising Services continue to demonstrate strong student engagement and retention impact:
  • Pathway Advising data reflects approximately a 10 percent increase in retention for students utilizing advising services.
  • Pathway Registration Labs and graduation workshops continue supporting students navigating enrollment and degree completion processes.
  • Advising has also been selected by SBCTC to participate in a NASPA case study examining advising practices and student success initiatives.
• Winter 2026 graduation application activity increased significantly:
  • 340 students applied compared to 280 during Winter 2025
  • 825 students have applied for Spring 2026 graduation.
• Career and Transfer Services continue to support student readiness through workshops and career preparation events, including:
  • Resume and cover letter workshops
  • Mock interview preparation
  • Spring Career Fair
  •  University transfer engagement events

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

• Outreach and Recruitment teams continue expanding Highline College’s visibility and access partnerships through Thunder Lab Admission Clinics across Tukwila, Highline, and Federal Way School Districts.
• Highline Expo successfully welcomed 131 high school seniors to campus, supporting early college awareness and enrollment opportunities.
• TRIO Talent Search and Outreach Services continue collaborating on Tukwila Promise information sessions to strengthen college access pathways for local students and families.
• International Student Programs continued rebuilding international recruitment efforts through strategic outreach in China. Recruitment activities included partnership development and student engagement events across Beijing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. These efforts generated new recruitment partnerships and early application momentum for future enrollment cycles.
• Washington Governor’s University recognized Highline College staff member Czarina Refuerzo with the 2026 Transfer Champion Award for exceptional dedication to supporting transfer students and reducing barriers in higher education. This award also highlights the continued partnership between Highline College and WGU in advancing transfer student success.

Interim Vice President of Student Services, Tony Garcia