California State University, Long Beachs Beach Learning Community

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California State University, Long Beachs Beach
Learning Community

• AASCU - Boston
• July 2008

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Background Freshmen Academic Profile

• Between 2005-2007, an average of 76.6 of the
  Entering Freshmen needed to start with
• WS 1 Writing Skills
• MAPB 1 Algebra and Geometry or
• MAPB 7/11 Basic/Intermediate Algebra.

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Background Freshmen Academic Profile

• Placement in English
• Approximately 55 need Pre-Bacc
  English/Writing Skills class.
• Placement in Mathematics
• Approximately 64 need Pre-Bacc
  mathematics class.
• Of these 37 will need MAPB 1.

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Beach Learning Communitys Goal

• Improve the retention and success of entering
  freshmen needing to start with both MAPB 1 and WS
  1 courses.
• Incorporate leadership skills in program so
  participants will ably serve as tomorrows
  community leaders.

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Approaches Used

• Develop a Learning Community for these students.
• Incorporate Academic Support Services to assist
  students, where appropriate.
• Monitor the Progress of Students in the Learning
  Community.
• Provide Appropriate Interventions, as needed, and
  Leadership Opportunities.
• Provide Faculty Development for participating
  faculty.

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Approach Learning Community

• Students were enrolled in the same Writing
  Skills 1,
• MAPB 1,
• UNIV 100,
• COMM course, and
• GE course (with a S/I section).
• Distribute a monthly electronic newsletter.

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Approach Learning Community (contd)

• Hosted Orientation Program at start of Fall 2007
  Semester for participating students and their
  families.
• Hosted a Celebration of Success Program for
  participating students at the start of the Spring
  Semester.
• Host a second Celebration of Success Program in
  May to recognize participating students and their
  families.

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Approach Academic Support Services

• Participation and involvement of the following
• Student Services Student Life and Development,
  Educational Opportunities Program, Counseling and
  Psychological Services, Career Development
  Center, Student Transition Retention Services,
  SOAR, etc.

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Approach Academic Support Services

• Participation and involvement of the following
  (contd)
• Academic Affairs Colleges, Academic Advising
  Ctr., Learning Assistance Ctr., Prebaccalaureate
  Advising Support Svc., University 100, Library
  and Academic Technology Services, Faculty Ctr.
  For Professional Development, Hispanic Serving
  Institution Grant, etc.

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Approach Academic Support Services

• Participation and involvement of the following
• Administration and Finance Financial Aid,
  Enrollment Services, Institutional Research and
  Assessment, Student Information Systems, etc.
• Auxillary Groups Forty-Niner Shops.

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Approach Monitoring Student Progress

• Prebaccalaureate Advising Support Services (PASS)
  maintain contact with participating students
  and faculty and answering questions of concern.
• Participating Faculty information/ requests
  provided to PASS to followup with students.
• Tutoring in Writing Skills and Math.

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Approach Appropriate Interventions

• Provided, as appropriate, to assist
  students/faculty with specific concerns.
• All University offices are available to contact
  in seeking solutions to concerns.

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Approach Faculty Development

• Hosting of Faculty Development Workshops for
  faculty to access and share best practices for
  courses.
• Provide guidance for faculty unfamiliar with
  available services and assistance.
• Collecting information/suggestions on ways
  programs can be enhanced.

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Data on Student Performance in Elementary
Algebra/Geometry

• Fall 2005 62.2 earned Credit (537).
• Fall 2006 59.9 earned Credit (519).
• Fall 2007 68.7 earned Credit (623)
• BLC Cohort 77.2 earned Credit (145).
• Non-BLC Cohort 66.1 earned
• Credit (478).

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Preliminary Data for 2007 BLC Cohort

• 72 Successfully completed both WS 1 and MAPB
  1.
• 16 Completed WS 1 only.
• 5 Completed MAPB 1 only.
• Or
• 88 Successfully completed WS 1.
• 77 Successfully completed MAPB 1.

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Preliminary Data

• Performance in Fall 2007 MAPB 1
• Non-BLC Sections 64 CR.
• Non-BLC Students but in BLC Section
  68 CR.
• BLC Students in BLC Sections 77
  CR.

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Contact Information

• Dr. David Dowell, Vice Provost-Academic Affairs
• ddowell_at_csulb.edu
• Dr. Henry Fung, Associate Dean-College of Natural
• Sciences and Mathematic hcfung_at_csulb.edu
• Dr. Mark Wiley, Associate Dean-College
• of Liberal Arts mwiley_at_csulb.edu
• Dr. Simon Kim, Professor-Educational Psychology,
• Administration, and Counseling
  skim6_at_csulb.edu
• Dr. Mary Ann Takemoto, Associate Vice President-
• Student Services mtakemot_at_csulb.edu