Area Report for Board of Trustees
Student Services Leadership
Director of Advising and High School Programs, Jen Scanlon has been accepted as Highline’s representative to the 2018-2019 cohort of the Washington Executive Leadership Academy (WELA.) This year-long program is designed to prepare leaders in community and technical colleges for future executive level positions. Ms. Scanlon will be mentored by two successful leaders in the college system, as well as participate in online and in-person intensives. Jen will assume additional responsibilities at Highline as Associate Dean for Advising and Student Success effective July 1.
On July 7, Ay Saechao, Associate Dean for Student Development, Retention and Conduct will serve as commencement speaker for the 2018 Graduation Celebration of the Iu-Mienh Association of Oregon. The event celebrates Mienh graduates who recently earned secondary, post-secondary, graduate or professional degrees from the state of Oregon.
Multicultural Affairs Director, Doris Martinez and Faculty Counselor, Nicole Hoyes-Wilson were invited to present a workshop at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in New Orleans on May 29-June 2. Their workshop, entitled Sister Circle for Healing and Remembrance is one of Highline’s Intercultural Center signature programs.
Student Success & Retention
New Student Orientation: Since May, over 1,500 new students have registered for a New Student Orientation session. Because orientation is required before students can register their first quarter, advisors aim to inform prospective students of the financial obligations of attendance, and the process for seeking aid prior to registering for classes. The goal is to reduce the number of registration drops for non-payment, and increase student awareness of the importance of building financial literacy skills, including how to access resources. This is the first year questions regarding awareness of college costs and assistance have been included in the orientation process.
Eleven New Student Orientation sessions have been held on Highline’s campus for students entering summer and fall, with attendance in each session at approximately 200 students, plus additional family and friends. Faculty and staff volunteers from across campus have helped welcome this large cohort of new students, assisting in the computer labs with online registration.
Running Start: Eight hundred twenty-five students who are entering the Running Start program have scheduled an orientation session.
Career & Student Employment: Student Employment launched a new procedure to prepare student employees to be successful in their on-campus positions. This student employee orientation provides training and information on office etiquette, professionalism, customer service, work study regulations, ethics and the importance of FERPA. Three hundred student employees (out of over 500) have completed the training.
Report submitted by Vice President Toni Castro.