04/08/2023 1

THE DIOP STORY; Once Upon a Time …

Teresa Aldredge, Counselor/ProfessorDiop Scholars ProgramCosumnes River College

Umoja CommunityVice Chair, Program Development

Basic Skills Regional WorkshopSacramento, CA

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Los Rios Community College District (LRCCD) Los Rios Community College District is a two-year public college district

serving the greater Sacramento region. 

Our district includes four campuses: American River Cosumnes River Folsom Lake Sacramento City

Los Rios also has major centers in Placerville,  Davis, West Sacramento, downtown Sacramento, Natomas and Rancho Cordova; and special services for business and industry

The District's 2400 square mile service area includes Sacramento and El Dorado counties and parts of Yolo, Placer and Solano counties. Over 88,000 students are enrolled in our colleges.

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Student Enrollment and Percentage of African-American Students per campus  (Fall 2008)

American River CollegeNumber of students served:

34,804

% of African

American students: 10.2

Cosumnes River CollegeNumber of

students served: 14,802

% of African

American students: 14.6

Folsom Lake CollegeNumber of

students served: 9,008

% of African

American students: 2.2

Sacramento City CollegeNumber of

students served: 25,788

% of African

American students: 14.4

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Semester Outcome Measure of All African-American Students in Los Rios Community College DistrictAverage GPA and Success Rates

African AmericanStudents

Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008

Average GPASuccess Rate

Average GPA Success Rate

Average GPA Success Rate

ARC 2.1352.9%

2.0551.4%

2.1254.5%

CRC 2.0047.6%

2.0047.0%

2.0750.7%

FLC 2.4652.2%

2.2149.2%

2.3357.5%

SCC 2.0647.1%

2.0345.5%

2.1152.1%

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The Dreaded DataCosumnes River College

African American

Persistence Rates

51.7%

Success Rates

47.0%

Average GPA

2.00

Units Att/Completed

8.1 / 4.5

All CRC Students

Persistence Rates

58.0%

Success Rates

62.3%

Average GPA

2.53

Units Att/Completed

8.6 / 5.9

Fall 2007

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DIOP SCHOLARS

Senegalese word meaning “scholar”

DIOP Scholars is an academic learning community created to increase the retention, persistence and overall academic success rate of African American students at Cosumnes River College, CRC.

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DIOP SCHOLARS 2005 - 2006

A Community of Learners

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DIOP SCHOLARSA Community of Learners

DIOP Scholars is a year long program that supports a cohort of students seeking to transfer or earn an associate degree.

Diop Scholars is a learning community in which a cohort of students enroll in two core courses per semester

Diop Scholars places emphasis on learning in community and developing interdependent relationships

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DIOP SCHOLARS

FALLBuilding Foundations 3

unitsCollege Writing 4

unitsWriting Lab .5

units

7.5 units

SPRINGCollege Comp (1A)3 unitsWriting Lab .5 unitsCollege Success 3 unitCommunications 3 units

9.5 units

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Diop Scholars DataCosumnes River College

African American

Persistence Rates

51.7%

Success Rates

47.0%

Average GPA

2.00

Units Att/Completed

8.1 / 4.5

Diop Scholars

Persistence Rates

78.6%

Success Rates

61.6%

Average GPA

1.95

Units Att/Completed

13.04 / 9.02

Fall 2007

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UNIQUE DIOP FEATURES

African-centered pedagogy approaches and Practices Pedagogy steeped in African ways of knowing and

doing Nasaka Sunsum “touching the spirit” Sankofa principle ~ “go back and get it” Intrusive counseling techniques Literature, readings - African American writers Discussion, topics relevant to African American

experience Sense of community , responsibility, and commitment

to the self, classmates & African American community

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Unique Diop Features (con’t)Academic Enrichment Plan Cultural Enlightenment: Attend three

cultural events including at least one of a different culture

Leadership Development: Participate in two events

Community Service: Participate in one community service event

Social Connection: As a group attend one event

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“THE DANCE” Asa Hillard

True education occurs when there is a divine dance

between the teacher and the student.True education is

caught in that instant that becomes a moment

that turns into a path of perfection.That touches the spirit of the student

and opens up the passion for knowledge and inspires the student to love learning.

We invite our students to dance with us!

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“Each One Teach One”African Wisdom

What do you do when students don’t pass the first level of classes?

How do you evaluate your program? How do you institutionalize your program? What do you do if faculty quit? What do you do help the broader population

of students?

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PROGRAM CHANGES

Maximize enrollment in courses Infuse co-curricular activities into curriculum Incorporate a Council of Elders Create seamless flow between content and

context of Diop classes Seek additional release time for faculty to

attend other Diop classes Strengthen student to student & faculty to

faculty community Allow sufficient time for program coordination

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Sankofa

“It is no taboo to go back and fetch it if you have forgotten.” African Wisdom

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UMOJA V “Claiming Community”

Wyndham Hotel, San Jose, California

November 5—7, 2009

A Conference for All Educators

Hosted by Evergreen Valley College AFFIRM Program, San Jose/Evergreen Community College District

Pre-Conference Workshops

Thursday—November 5, 2009

More information at: http://voyager.dvc.edu/umoja