Mt. San Antonio College

1. Mt. San Antonio College Patricia Maestro, Counselor/Coordinator, Summer Bridge Program Tom Mauch, Associated Dean, Counseling Matt Munro, Mathematic Instructor, Math Bridge Raul Rodriguez, Dean, Counseling

2. Mt. SAC: a College of Champions • Founded in 1946 • Among the largest of California's 109 community colleges • $132-million budget • Nearly 40,000 total students, averaging 24,000 credit, full-time students and 16,000 noncredit/community education students • 53% female, 47% male • Culturally diverse student population: 42% Latino, 26% Asian-Pacific Islander, 23% Caucasian, 6% African American, .5% American Indian, 2.5% Other • Average student age: 26

3. Where we were in 1997 Our students were: • scared • inexperienced • underprepared • unfamiliar Our College had: • a traditional approach to educating students • rigid basic skills prerequisites • students repeating the same class 3-4 times until they could pass

4. Where we wanted our Students to be • Increase success in basic skills competencies • Improve persistence and retention • Improve grades and pass rates • Enhance goal attainment • Improve self confidence and self efficacy

5. Conducted research -- student surveys, student focus groups, review of existing data/reports Identified eight causes/factors related to decreased student success at our college: What we did & What we found -Lack of information -Institutional structure -Campus climate -Lack of student preparedness -Lack of faculty preparedness -Students’ personal/economic concerns -Lack of study skills -Lack of self-appraisal, abilities and need for self-efficacy

6. Our Solution • A learning community model designed to increase students’ academic and personal success through the structuring of the learning environment. The model enables: • Students to take an active role in the teaching-learning • An integrated curricular approach • A learner-centered pedagogical techniques • Peer group learning experience • A network system of support

7. Student Services/Counseling + Instruction Integrated Model Learning Community Model All students take one “Community Class” together; then take other paired courses.

8. The “other” factors Parents

9. Summer Bridge 2007Class Schedule

10. Who are the Bridge students? • Higher percentage of female students (64.7%) to male students (35.3%) • 20 years or younger (94.5%) • Latino/Hispanic (83.9%) • Receive some form of financial aid (77.4%) • First-generation college student (99.8%) • 100% are academically under-prepared for college

11. Summer Bridge 2007

12. Through Their Voices • My experiences at ‘Bridge’ would be that even though I could have done it myself, nothing is wrong with getting help. The experience was wonderful and laid back that I enjoyed my opportunity to be a part of the program. Nothing wrong with that, eh? • The Bridge program does what its name says, it makes a ‘bridge’ between that great gap called High School and College, so instead of leaping and having a chance to fall and fail, try bridging the gap so you can walk safely across. • They help me, guided me, taught me to do better at college they not only gave me the support but also their friendship which for me was really fun and cool. I love the bridge program because they CARE about me and other students. • Excerpt from the Bridge Program Focus Groups: Summer 2005 • Barbara McNeice-Stallard, Director of Research & Institutional Effectiveness • Mt. San Antonio College, October 3, 2005

13. The next generation: 3 New Learning Community Models Math Bridge Pre-Algebra + Elementary Algebra + College Study Skills Elementary Algebra + Intermediate Algebra + College Study Skills English Bridge Development English Writing + Reading + College Success Pre-Nursing/ Health Bridge English Bridge Math Bridge Chemistry + Anatomy + Counseling Physiology + Microbiology + Counseling

14. Math Bridge • Students take both Beginning Algebra and Intermediate Algebra or Pre-algebra and Beginning Algebra in one semester. • Students enroll in a “Community Class” • Supplemental Instructors • Counseling support

15. Community Class • General self management skills • Specific math study skills • Supplemental math activities • Goal setting • Motivation • Developing relationships

16. Math Bridge Success

17. Long-term effects Sp. ’02 class

18. STUDENTS: Office of High School Outreach Early high school registration program Class schedule Class catalogue Associated Student’s college planner Alumni Parents FACULTY: Department Liaisons Faculty to Faculty Personal Contact New Faculty Orientation Student to Faculty Recognition Ceremonies Recruitment

19. Future plans • Increase number of LC offerings from current level of 28 links to 43 links within 2 years. • To expand from focus on developmental skills to include LC’s with a focus on Interdisciplinary curriculum. • Long-term goals include: • the acquisition of a dedicated facility for learning communities. • the number of offerings would be sufficient to make it possible for the majority of Mt. SAC students to participate in learning communities at some point in their educational career.

20. Key Ingredients of a successful learning community: • Centralized administrative structure • Strong learning outcomes and assessment • A Learning Community Steering Group • A Comprehensive Faculty Development Program • A Student Marketing Plan • A Formalized Faculty Recruitment Plan • Developed interdisciplinary curriculum

21. Thank you. Questions?

22. Presenters Contact information: Mt. San Antonio College:(909) 594-5611 • Patricia Maestro, Counselor/Coordinator, Summer Bridge Programext. 5392 or email: pmaestro@mtsac.edu • Matt Munro, Mathematic Instructor, Math Bridgeext. 4647 or email: mmunro@mtsac.edu • Tom Mauch, Associated Dean, Counselingext. 5378 or email: tmauch@mtsac.edu • Raul Rodriguez, Dean, Counselingext. 5917 or email: rrodriguez@mtsac.edu