Effective Practices for Successful

Learning Communities

Anabel Perez

Counselor/Coordinator of Learning Communities

Lyssette Trejo-Espinoza

Counselor, Learning Communities

Mt. SAC: a College of Mt. SAC: a College of ChampionsChampions

Located in Southern California Located in Southern California $149 million budget $149 million budget Nearly 65,000 total students Nearly 65,000 total students

(annually)(annually) 30,000 full time equivalent credit 30,000 full time equivalent credit

studentsstudents 53% female, 47% male 53% female, 47% male Culturally diverse student Culturally diverse student

population: 43% Latinopopulation: 43% Latino27% Asian/Pacific Islander/Filipino27% Asian/Pacific Islander/Filipino19% Caucasian19% Caucasian6% African American6% African American.4% American Indian.4% American Indian2.7% Other 2.7% Other

Average student age: 26 Average student age: 26 Entering Freshmen: Entering Freshmen:

40% English is not spoken at home40% English is not spoken at home 59% First generation college 59% First generation college

studentsstudents

                       

Who are the Bridge Who are the Bridge students?students?

Higher percentage of Higher percentage of female students (64.7%) female students (64.7%) to male students (35.3%)to male students (35.3%)

20 years or younger 20 years or younger (94.5%)(94.5%)

Latino/Hispanic (83.9%)Latino/Hispanic (83.9%) Receive some form of Receive some form of

financial aid (77.4%)financial aid (77.4%) First-generation college First-generation college

student (99.8%)student (99.8%) 100% are academically 100% are academically

under-prepared for under-prepared for collegecollege

Assessment of Written Assessment of Written English (AWE)English (AWE)

Learning Assistance Learning Assistance ServicesServices LERN 81LERN 81:: Basic writing Basic writing

skills (review)skills (review) English writingEnglish writing

ENGL 67:ENGL 67: Writing Writing Fundamentals (Paragraph to Fundamentals (Paragraph to short essay)short essay)

*ENGL 68*ENGL 68:: Prep for College Prep for College Writing (Short essay)Writing (Short essay)

ENGL 1AENGL 1A:: College Freshman College Freshman Composition Composition

** Prerequisite: Prerequisite: “Eligibility for “Eligibility for English 68”English 68”

Basic Skills Placement Basic Skills Placement LevelsLevels

Math PlacementLearning Assistance

ServicesLERN 49: Basic Math

skills (review)Math Department

Math 50: Pre-AlgebraMath 51: Elementary

AlgebraMath 71: Intermediate

Algebra Math 110/130:

Stats/College Algebra

Placement Test ResultsPlacement Test Results

97 percent of students place below Freshman 97 percent of students place below Freshman Composition (English 1A) – graduation/transfer level Composition (English 1A) – graduation/transfer level English 1A: 3%English 1A: 3% English 68: 24% [English 68: 24% [eligibility level for 85% of curriculumeligibility level for 85% of curriculum]] English 67: 50%English 67: 50% LERN 81: 14%LERN 81: 14% ESL: 9%ESL: 9%

85 percent of students place below transfer level 85 percent of students place below transfer level mathmath Math 71 (Intermediate Algebra): 16%Math 71 (Intermediate Algebra): 16% Math 51 (Elementary Algebra): 6%Math 51 (Elementary Algebra): 6% Math 50 (Pre-Algebra): 22%Math 50 (Pre-Algebra): 22% Math 49 (Math Skills Review): 34%Math 49 (Math Skills Review): 34% Math 48 (Basic Math Skills Review): 7%Math 48 (Basic Math Skills Review): 7%

The Summer Bridge The Summer Bridge ProgramProgram

Mt. SAC’s answer to access, diversity, and basic skillsMt. SAC’s answer to access, diversity, and basic skills Mt. SAC’s first learning community Mt. SAC’s first learning community Summer program designed to transition students Summer program designed to transition students

from high school to collegefrom high school to college 6 week program6 week program Classes, field trips, tutoring, parent orientation, Classes, field trips, tutoring, parent orientation,

college orientation and registration assistancecollege orientation and registration assistance

The next generation: 3 New The next generation: 3 New Learning Community Learning Community

ModelsModelsMath Bridge

Pre-Algebra + Elementary Algebra + College Study Skills

Elementary Algebra + Intermediate Algebra + College Study Skills

Pre-Nursing/ Health Bridge

English Bridge

Math Bridge

Chemistry + Anatomy + Counseling

Physiology + Microbiology + Counseling

English Bridge

Development English Writing + Reading +

College Success

Student Services/Counseling + Student Services/Counseling + Instruction Instruction

AnAn Integrated ModelIntegrated ModelAll students take one “Community Class”

together and then one paired/linked courses

Intro. to CollegeClass

Community Class

English Class

Intro. to College class

Math Class

The Student Support The Student Support SystemSystem

Bridge Staff

Peer Advisors

Supplemental Instructors/Tutors

Faculty

CounselorsStudent

Student PeersParents/Guardians

Campus CollaborationCampus CollaborationHigh School

Outreach

EOPS

LearningAssistance

Financial Aid

Assessment

BridgeProgram

English/Math/ScienceDepartments

Admissions

Basic Skills Initiative

Counseling/

Orientation

Technical Services

MarketingMarketing

Summer Bridge 2008Summer Bridge 2008

A Student’s A Student’s Experience…..Experience…..

““I have learned that I need to apply I have learned that I need to apply myself and prove I have the myself and prove I have the potential. After slacking off my first potential. After slacking off my first two years I have now come to realize two years I have now come to realize the time and dedication I must put in the time and dedication I must put in to achieve higher grades.”to achieve higher grades.”

Excerpt from Midterm Evaluations – Math Academy, March 2002

Math Bridge – Fall 2008Math Bridge – Fall 2008Class Name Class Name % Successful % Successful

Bridge Math 50Bridge Math 50 74.574.5

Non-Bridge Math 50Non-Bridge Math 50 61.761.7

Bridge Math 51Bridge Math 51 64.664.6

Non-Bridge Math 51 Non-Bridge Math 51 50.350.3

Bridge Math 71Bridge Math 71 72.772.7

Non-Bridge Math 71Non-Bridge Math 71 52.052.0

““At this point, math At this point, math does not worry me does not worry me anymore. I am more anymore. I am more confident about doing confident about doing math and it seems fun math and it seems fun now. I understand that now. I understand that math is an important math is an important part of our lives.” part of our lives.”

Excerpt from Midterm Evaluations – Math Academy, March 2002

A Student’s Experience…..

English Bridge - Fall 2008English Bridge - Fall 2008 Class Name Class Name % Successful % Successful

Bridge English 67Bridge English 67 80.580.5

Non-Bridge English Non-Bridge English 6767

63.763.7

Bridge English 68Bridge English 68 80.480.4

Non-Bridge English Non-Bridge English 68 68

66.766.7

Bridge Read 90Bridge Read 90 75.075.0

Non-Bridge Read Non-Bridge Read 9090

59.059.0

Effective PracticesEffective Practices Access resources you have at your campusAccess resources you have at your campus

--MarketingMarketing Involve students in your classes/campusInvolve students in your classes/campus

--Student CommitteesStudent Committees Collaborate with another professorCollaborate with another professor

--Interventions/Progress reportsInterventions/Progress reports Collaborate with other programsCollaborate with other programs

--Financial Aid eventsFinancial Aid events

-High School Outreach-High School Outreach Seek graduate students/internsSeek graduate students/interns

Faculty VoicesFaculty Voices“I’ve recommended the program to several professors.“

"Participating in LC’s has been one of the best experiences.““I’ve learned many new ideas for increasing student participation.”

"Being a part of this faculty community was great."

Presenters Contact Presenters Contact InformationInformation

Mt. San Antonio CollegeMt. San Antonio College(909) 594-5611(909) 594-5611

Anabel PerezAnabel PerezCounselor/Coordinator of Learning Communities Counselor/Coordinator of Learning Communities ext. 5904, email: ext. 5904, email: aperez@mtsac.eduaperez@mtsac.edu

Lyssette Trejo-EspinozaLyssette Trejo-Espinoza Counselor, Learning CommunitiesCounselor, Learning Communities Ext. 5376, email: Ext. 5376, email: ltrejo@mtsac.edultrejo@mtsac.edu

Q & AQ & A