CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO


Findings and Planning Recommendations
For Linkages Between Non-Credit English as a Second Language,
Transitional Studies, City College Programs and Outside Agencies


English as a Second Language and Transitional Studies
Planning Task Force
Master Plan Committee
June1998

PLANNING TASK FORCE
LINKAGES BETWEEN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, TRANSITIONAL
STUDIES AND OTHER CITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS

Part One: Executive Summary

In order for City College of San Francisco to fulfill its mission of providing students with the necessary career education and skills to successfully participate in the workplace and global economy, the College needs to provide students with reasonable access to non-credit programs. It is also important and often necessary for the College to facilitate the transfer into vocational or other programs for students who have completed non-credit instruction in basic skills and life skills. These pathways must be clearly marked and supported by the College if students are to develop and reach educational and vocational goals.

In light of this, in the Fall of 1996, the City College of San Francisco Master Plan Committee (MPC) approved a resolution establishing the Planning Task Force, to be comprised of faculty and administrators with additional contributions from students and the community. The MPC recognized the need to begin the process of building a comprehensive education plan for the non-credit programs, beginning with English as a Second Language (ESL) and Transitional Studies (TS).  The mission of the Planning Task Force was to prepare a plan that would address the establishment and strengthening of linkages between non-credit programs, especially those in ESL and TS, and also with other CCSF programs as well as other institutions and organizations in the City and County of San Francisco.

In order to determine areas of concern and to develop an action plan for each area, the Planning Task Force employed several methods of inquiry:

1. Linkage Between ESL and Transitional Studies
2. Linkage Between ESL, Transitional Studies and non-credit vocational classes and programs. Business programs and
    classes were examined as a model for linkages to other vocational programs.
3. Linkages between ESL/Transitional Studies and other non-credit programs
4. Linkages between ESL/Transitional Studies and institutions and organizations outside CCSF
5. Linkage between ESL, Transitional Studies and credit classes

As an outcome of this research, the Planning Task Force identified four areas of concern and established goals to improve the institutional effectiveness in each area:
 
 
Area of Concern 
Findings 
Goals 
1.  Availability of accurate public information about non-credit programs
 
Major gaps exist in the provision of timely and useful information to students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.  1.  Increase student, staff, faculty, administration and community awareness of available college programs, courses, departments and services.
2.  Student access to non-credit programs
 

 

Students continue to experience difficulty in accessing appropriate classes and programs, a situation exacerbated by the inconsistency of procedures across the various CCSF campuses. 2.  Improve access of ESL and TS students into appropriate programs at CCSF and in the community at large. 
 
3. Linkages among non-credit programs at CCSF
 
 
 
 
 

 

In examining the issue of linkages between non-credit ESL, TS and outside agencies or programs, the Planning Task Force found that there are currently few, if any, organized program models or vehicles at CCSF that focus on creating and maintaining these linkages and that existing linkages are not well known or utilized by faculty and students. 3.  Establish linkages among CCSF programs and outsides agencies, and provide adequate resources to maintain them.
 
 
 

 

4. Lack of  reliable data and accountability 

 

 There have been a limited number of surveys of faculty and students in non-credit programs, and very little systematic research of the impact of programs upon students.  4.  Conduct systematic research to evaluate non-credit programs 

 

All data suggest that for recommendations in this report to be effective, ESL and TS Departments, Counseling, and other student services must establish better cooperation, problem solving, and collaboration.  The tasks necessary to facilitate student access, assessment, enrollment, retention, and completion require planning for alternative methods of delivery as well as identification of those who can best deliver these services.

The Task Force recognizes that there are some issues raised by the CCSF Non-Credit Issues Committee which contribute to the challenge of providing excellent non-credit education and could hamper full and effective implementation of this plan.  These include part-time employment, workload and pay issues.

The rest of this report consists of Part Two, a review of available information on non-credit ESL and TS students and their educational goals, completion rates, and satisfaction with CCSF programs and services; Part Three, a discussion of areas of concern in the CCSF non-credit program; and Part Four, the goals, objectives and actions proposed by the Planning Task Force.


Part Two: Non-Credit ESL and Transitional Studies Students

These studies document CCSF students' educational goals, completion rates and satisfaction with programs. The student focus groups also gathered information on students' knowledge and opinions of CCSF programs and services. These studies indicate that a significant number of non-credit ESL and TS students are interested in and have goals beyond completion of the ESL and TS programs, but results of focus groups indicate that students are having difficulty meeting these goals because they aren't aware of other opportunities at CCSF and find access to other programs difficult and confusing. In addition, although articulation between credit and non-credit CCSF programs has been strengthened, these studies indicate that more needs to be done to increase success of students moving into the credit program.
 


The graph which follows shows that of the students sampled for this survey, 24 percent are attending to improve basic skills, while a significant percentage(29%) are interested in job skills and vocational certificates, and 11 percent expressed a desire to go on to higher education.

Responses to this same ESL Satisfaction Survey also indicate that 2.95% of the students surveyed are concurrently taking credit ESL.

Student Satisfaction Survey of Credit ESL Students
(Document available at Office of  Research, Planning & Grants or ESL Offices)
During the same period of time, a similar Student Satisfaction Survey was administered to a sample of 450 Credit ESL students. This was done as part of the program review process.  Of these sample students, 29 percent indicate that they have taken a non-credit ESL class. Of this sample, 9 percent have taken one class, 7 percent have taken two classes, and 6.5 percent have taken 5 or more classes.

ESL Study of Articulation Between Non Credit/Credit Programs
(Document available at Office of  Research, Planning & Grants or ESL Offices)
A study in 1992, which investigated the rate of articulation between the non-credit and credit programs, tracked a group of Level 600 students and their movement from non-credit to credit ESL.   This study found that the majority (55%) of the Level 600 students surveyed indicated that they would like to take credit classes, but that they were encountering obstacles. Changes in the test delivery system and other systemic changes were made as a result of this study.
 

ESL Research Studies-Credit Course Completion
(Document available at Office of Research, Planning & Grants or ESL Offices)
A study, completed for the ESL Department in 1995, took a look  at student success by focusing on successful course completion rates for each credit ESL course over two fall semesters.  One section of the study examined students who came from non-credit ESL. New credit ESL students who came from non-credit ESL had a higher than average
overall course completion rate in Fall '93 and Fall '94.

However, a longitudinal credit study completed for the college of all students who took the ESL Placement Test at CCSF in Spring 1993 offers a different picture of the success of non-credit students in credit courses.   This study followed all students who took the Credit ESL Placement Test in 1993, examined their class records from Spring 1993 to Spring 1996 to see how they did in the credit ESL sequence of courses.   Former non-credit ESL students tended not to have completed ESL 82 (highest course in the ESL sequence).  Another indicator of higher risk of not completing or still being in progress in ESL courses after three years is initial placement in ESL 22, 32 or 42 (basic skills courses).  Over half (51%) of non-credit ESL students who take the credit placement test initially place in these non-degree applicable courses.

Transitional Studies Student Satisfaction Survey
(Document available at Office of  Research, Planning & Grants or TS Offices)
This graph, taken from the data collection of the program review process, demonstrates that while over one-third of the sampled students are in the program to improve basic skills, a significant percentage are interested in higher education (43%) or vocational oriented programs (17%).

CalWorks Data
(Document available at Office of  Research, Planning & Grants or ESL or TS Offices)
The new California Welfare to Work plan is called CalWorks  (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids). Clients who were formerly on AFDC are now called TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families) recipients. This new state program creates a priority for developing linkages between non-credit ESL and TS, as well as from TS and non-credit ESL to credit and vocational programs. CCSF will be receiving federal and state funding to provide education, training and support for TANF students who are referred to the college by the Department of Human Services (DHS). A profile of TANF students indicated that of the 2,316 identified TANF recipients enrolled in Spring, 1997, a significant percentage (73%) were enrolled only in non-credit, 23 percent enrolled in credit only and 4 percent enrolled in both. The courses most often taken for these non-credit students are; 68 percent in ESL, 17 percent in TS, 16 percent in Business, 7 percent in Child Development and 2 percent in DSP&S.  These students are predominately female (73%). John Adams, Alemany and Phelan serve approximately 400 non-credit TANF students each, with Chinatown/ North Beach, Downtown, Mission and Southeast campuses serving about 100-200 each.
 

Student Focus Groups
Information from Non-credit ESL and TS Students

One of the missions of the Task Force was to gather information from ESL and TS students on their knowledge and opinions of CCSF programs and services.  Focus Groups were held at John Adams, Downtown, Mission, Alemany, Southeast and the Learning Center at Gough Street. Approximately 100 students participated in these focus meetings. A process for selecting student participants and the agenda was established by the Task Force, following a model used previously in Chinatown/North Beach. Instructors and students were provided with a standard list of questions for classroom discussion. Following discussion, students were elected or volunteered to attend the Focus Meetings.

Sample Discussion Questions
(Document available at Office of  Research, Planning & Grants or ESL or TS Offices)

How well-informed are they about CCSF, campuses and programs ?
How did they find out about and register for current classes?
What are future educational interests?  Do they know how to access the classes and programs they need to meet their goals?
What skills and requirements are needed to meet future goals?
Do they have suggestions for improving linkages from current classes to other classes and programs at CCSF?

Commonalties

1. Students generally have very little knowledge of programs at other campuses and even of some of the other programs at their own campus. As an example, students at all other campuses believe that John Adams was only for GED. They select a campus mostly because of location and by word of mouth.

2. They would like to know more about other programs, particularly about vocational programs and how to get help in obtaining employment. Non-credit students feel that this assistance is available only for credit students.

3. They would like consistency of requirements across campuses for similar courses as well as more standard intake processes. They would like to be able to transfer between campuses and programs without having to travel all over the city and deal with new lines and registration procedures.

4. Bulletin boards and flyers are generally ignored as there are too many of them, they are often not timely, and are not focused, e.g. contain everything from important information about classes to notices about things for sale. Flyers and schedules are not easy to read for many with low basic skills and limited English.

5. In most instances, students had problems with the intake process at their campus. They expressed dissatisfaction with having to leave jobs and find baby sitters to come back two or three times to register for a class.

6. Campus orientations are usually offered only once a semester and those who are unable to attend would like instructors routinely to provide information. In fact, most wanted instructors to spend some class time disseminating campus and CCSF information, helping them to meet educational and vocational goals.

7. Students discussed problems that are unique to their campuses. They usually do not know to whom to talk or where to go for assistance in resolving campus issues about cleanliness or safety. While Student Councils are in place at some campuses, they are sometimes more about social events than real campus problems.

8. Students universally wanted to continue this process of having regularly scheduled focus meetings.

9. Students were generally complimentary about the quality of instruction and especially appreciate the free classes.


Part Three:  Areas of Concern

Area of Concern One:
Availability of Accurate Public Information about Non-Credit CCSF Programs

A. Existing Sources of Information Available to the Public

B. Existing Sources of Information Available to Current CCSF Students Summary of Findings and Recommendations  The Planning Task Force felt that, overall, these existing sources of information were inconsistently available and accessible, and generally insufficient to the task of providing the members of the College and the community at large with accurate and timely information about non-credit programs and services. The Planning Task Force recommends that the College develop strategies and systems to provide accurate information to faculty, staff, students and the community, and, in addition, to incorporate this information into ESL and TS curriculum. Improvement in this area is the necessary first step in providing support to students in their efforts to plan their careers at City College and beyond.
 
Goal One: Increase student, staff, faculty, administration and community awareness of
                 available college programs, courses, departments and services.

Area of Concern Two:
Student Access to Non-Credit Programs

A.  Student Concerns
Student Satisfaction Survey data show that 29 percent of ESL and 17 percent of TS students surveyed expressed an interest in going on to a vocational class or program.

Students in all Focus Groups expressed the need to understand expectations and standards for entry into non-credit vocational programs throughout CCSF. Processes for enrollment were also a problem for most students as they are different at each campus.

Vocational faculty interviewed expressed interest in students’ having the  basic language and communication skills needed to complete their classes and obtain employment.

Thus, one  vocational program, the Business Program was selected by the Task Force to study access issues in depth because of the interest in this program by large numbers of ESL and TS students. The Downtown Campus was the focus of the study in Spring 1997; smaller programs at John Adams and Chinatown/North Beach were studied in Fall 1997.

B.  Enrollment Process and Admissions Requirements for Business Classes at Downtown Campus
(Document available at Office of  Research, Planning & Grants or ESL or TS Offices)
Currently, students wishing to enroll in non-credit Business classes at the Downtown Campus must wait in line on registration day.  Because of this first-come first-served policy, there is little control of the level of proficiency in English or basic skills of the students. There are usually 700 openings at each four week cycle. A clerk handles all students and there is no waiting list.  Those who have waited in line are notified as to whether or not they are in the class and do not always see a counselor. (They may make an appointment, if desired.)

ESL Levels 7/8 have been recommended for entry into most Business classes, but the non-credit Business Dept. instructors do not know the language or basic skill background of their students, or if they come from ESL, TS or a Bridge class.  The instructors report that they lose a large number of their students before completion of a class because of language or basic skill deficiencies, or perhaps because of the enrollment process. Business course offering information is distributed with flyers which have been difficult for students to read.

C.  Enrollment Process and Admissions Requirements for Business Classes at Chinatown/North Beach Campus
Chinatown/North Beach provides non-credit Business and Computer classes. Business classes such as Introduction to Personal Computers are offered with typing skill requirements only.  Enrollment is on a first-come first-served basis.  Students sign up on the first day class meets.  The first 40 students who sign up are admitted to the class. The counselors try to screen ESL students and steer them to appropriate classes for their level.

D.  Enrollment Process and Admissions Requirements for Business Classes at John Adams Campus
John Adams Campus has an intake process which includes assessment of prospective students by the Counseling Department. One entry requirement for their vocational programs is a baseline score of 225 on a CASAS Test. Those who do not qualify are referred by counselors to TS or ESL classes. As instructors determine that a student is more proficient, the student may be referred to the Business classes.  The Business Department Coordinator at John Adams concurs with this process of setting and maintaining basic standards and believes that it increases students' chances for success in the courses and in the workplace.

E.  Summary of Findings and Recommendations
The Planning Task Force found that many Level 7/8 ESL students at all CCSF campuses are interested in changing from upper level ESL, where some have been taking classes for several semesters.  These students are ready for business-oriented and professional growth-oriented instruction. As a result of the Task Force meetings, the ESL Department has begun to make ESL instructors more aware of Business programs so that they can assist students in selecting appropriate classes.

Students at all campuses requested more consistency of requirements across campuses and more standard intake processes. The Planning Task Force agrees that these changes would improve the quality of service provided to CCSF non-credit students and would increase their chances for success in reaching vocational goals. The Planning Task Force recommends that the College establish consistent intake/registration processes and prerequisite skill levels for similar courses at all campuses. The College also needs to take steps to improve the preparation of ESL and TS students for entry level enrollment in other non-credit programs, and then facilitate that enrollment process.
 
 
Goal Two. Improve access of ESL and TS students into appropriate programs at City
                 College and in the community at large 

Area of Concern Three: Linkages among Non-Credit Programs

A.    Linkage between ESL and TS
Instructors and coordinators from both departments had not established an on-going working model for linking their programs. The Task Force was an opportunity for many to work together and understand the levels and programs available.

B. Linkage between ESL and TS and non-credit vocational classes and programs.
Both ESL and TS Departments express the need to establish stronger linkages between their programs and the variety of vocational offerings available to their students. C.  Business Program Linkages D. Linkage between ESL and TS and other non-credit programs.

One of the Task Force goals was to examine the access and information needed to link ESL and TS students to programs such as Consumer Education and Older Adults Departments. Previously there has been no regular interaction between these departments.
 

E. Linkages between ESL and Transitional Studies and institutions and organizations outside CCSF.
For people who do not know anyone at City College, or do not have a working relationship established, CCSF is a large and complex organization.  Outside agency personnel do not know whom to contact for class information or student referrals.  Calls are frequently transferred several times before reaching someone who can answer a question.  Callers often receive inconsistent information from City College staff and referring a student is sometimes difficult.  The process requires a great deal of time and perseverance. Information on program/course requirements, prerequisites, course work and enrollment procedures is not easily obtained. Information on the availability of various programs is also important in making referrals.  Those outside agencies who have established long-term relationships with individual staff persons at City College are relatively satisfied with access to services.

For some agencies wishing to develop joint projects, CCSF appears not to have a planning process to evaluate a proposal by an outside agency. A clear process which identifies advantages and disadvantages for both parties is needed as well as communication that promotes mutual understanding and cooperation.

Obstacles for encouraging outside agencies to work with CCSF include the inflexibility of the two-semester instructional year, rigid curriculum, and faculty scheduling restrictions.  Delays by CCSF in starting projects can sometimes create serious program implementation problems.

One model that has worked is the Transitional Studies Homeless/At Risk Transitional Students Program (HARTS). This program has served homeless and at risk populations for over five years and provides important linkages to essential college and community services and educational advising for potential or enrolled students who are referred by community based organizations, college counseling, and concerned faculty.
 

F. Linkage between non-credit ESL, TS and credit programs.
Data on ESL and TS students (pages 3-6 of this report) demonstrate the issues surrounding linkages between the non-credit and credit programs. The data from these studies as well as from the Student Focus Groups indicate a general lack of understanding of the levels, requirements and offerings available in the credit and non-credit programs. The College could investigate the possibility of adding  more Transitional Studies support classes in mathematics and communication into already existing programs to ensure the movement and success of non-traditional students into job preparatory classes and programs.
  G.  Summary of Findings and Recommendations
Although the communication among the concerned CCSF departments, programs and services has improved slightly as a result of the work of the Planning Task Force, the Task Force found that existing linkages are inadequate and inadequately maintained to provide students with the instructional and other support necessary for smooth transitions between programs.  The College needs to continue to improve communication among its own programs and services and with outside agencies, investigating and creating new collaborative models.
 
 
Goal Three: Establish linkages among CCSF programs and outsides agencies, and provide
                   adequate resources to maintain them. 

Area of Concern Four:
Lack of Reliable Data and Accountability

The College will need to develop uniform means of measuring student goal attainment and evaluate the effectiveness of the actions recommended in this report on an on-going basis.
 
 
Goal Four: Conduct  systematic research to evaluate non-credit programs 


LIST OF RESEARCH PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS
Available in Research and Planning Office

1. ESL Department Outcomes desired from Planning Task Force
2. Transitional Studies Department Outcomes desired from Planning Task Force
3. Transitional Studies  -Faculty Questionnaire Spring 1997
4. ESL Non-Credit Student Satisfaction Survey
5. ESL Non-Credit Student Satisfaction Survey  Response Frequencies, Responses by
Campus Spring 1997
6. Credit ESL Student Satisfaction Survey: Response Frequencies, Spring 1997
7. CCSF Credit ESL Course Completion-Report 956-01  August 1995
8. Non-Credit to Credit Articulation:  The City College of  San Francisco Model.
Seymour, Scholnick, Gibson. 1995
9. Transitional Studies Program Review - Student Satisfaction Survey,  1997
10. CalWorks Data - Profile of CCSF Students Who Are TANF Recipients.  City
Currents, December 1997
11. Transitional Studies Programs and Locations  Pamphlet
12. ESL Programs at CCSF Levels Feb. 1997
13. Vocational ESL (VESL) and Non-Credit ESL Levels
14. Chinatown/North Beach VESL office Training Program
15. VESL Projects for 1997-98 Descriptions
16. Non-Credit VESL Linkage Project
17. Vocational Education Program Guide, CCSF, November 1996.
18. Adult Vocational Interest Survey for ESL Students (ADVISE)
 Career Link, CCSF, 1997.
19. ESL Bridge Course outline for Introductions to Microcomputers, Fall 1994
20. Business Department Downtown Campus Schedule and Recommendations
21. Business Department John Adams Campus. Applications and  Requirements
22. Non-Credit Business and Computer Classes at Chinatown/North Beach,  Fall 1997
23. CCSF Consumer Education Information,  1997
24. The Older Adults Department of CCSF Description and Schedule of Classes 1997
25. Career Connection, Winter 1996
26. Student Focus Group Questions for Class Discussion,  1997
 

During the next five years, the College must address the application of technology to instruction and student services. Educating students in the 21st century will require access to a much more comprehensive set of technological tools including the Internet, multi-media technologies, and state-of-the-art computers. Yet, all campuses currently lack relatively basic information tools and equipment, such as easy access to fax machines and  computers.  The overall result is that students are being underserved.

For faculty, staff and administrators, information technology should mean on-line access to student records resulting in better customer service and more efficient departmental management.  A line item for technology in departmental budgets may facilitate more effective planning for and distribution of technological capacity.

Three Objectives
CCSF’s education technology plan entitled Creating Opportunities: Using Information Technology in Education identifies three primary objectives for the college to pursue.  They are,

A: Build a Collegewide Technology Infrastructure to Make Technology Accessible to Students, Faculty and Staff
B: Increase Opportunities for Students, Faculty and Staff to Use Information Technology for Educational and
Administrative Functions
C: Create a System for Planning, Evaluation and Continuing Funding of Technology

A: Build the Physical Infrastructure for Technology

Strategies/Actions
A1:   Install a secure, college-wide communications network infrastructure, including video cabling as appropriate, between buildings and campuses as well as offices and classrooms
A2:   Provide technical support for offices, labs, and classrooms, including a fully-staffed help desk, on-site support in labs and traveling support for classrooms
A3:   Expand access to information technology for students by investing in “state-of-the-art” end user computers and related equipment in labs and classrooms
A4:   Expand access to information technology for all faculty and classified staff, including the creation of a Technology Learning Center for staff development and training

B: Increase Opportunities for Technology Use

Strategies/Actions
B1: Implement a systematic staff development program for faculty and staff
B2: Train students in the use of computers and other information technology
B3: Improve and enhance the delivery of student services as enumerated in Objective D

C: Create a System to Plan for, Evaluate and Fund Technology

Strategies/Actions
C1: Continue and strengthen education technology by creating an Education Technology Office and a Teaching and Learning Technology Round Table comprised of students, faculty, classified staff and administrators to discuss and recommend college policies related to application of information technology to teaching and learning
C2: Establish and maintain funding for information technology; the college should explore the feasibility of supporting a modification of state law which would allow the college to establish a student technology fee.
C3: Establish annual and ongoing planning and evaluation system through schools and departments
C4: Develop guidelines on critical legal and usage issues related to information technology and disseminate to the CCSF community
C5: Develop a hardware acquisitions plan which standardizes purchases whenever possible and plans for cyclical upgrades and replacements
C6: Develop a software acquisitions plan to standardize software purchases and subsequent upgrades of the selected software.  Develop a list of software that will be “official” software for which CCSF will provide extensive technical support.  (More modest support will be available for unofficial software.)
C7: Make standardized computer and software packages available at discount to students and disseminate purchasing information to students
C8: Examine distance education options and determine long-term goals and expand where appropriate based upon student and faculty needs and preferences.

D: Improve Student Services

Strategies/Actions
D1: Provide on-line data to improve college decision-making
D2: Enhance information access to students through information kiosks, web sites, multi-media orientations
D3: Develop additional enrollment options for students through the application of technology
D4: Develop electronic counseling support systems
D5: Improve interactivity of counseling support services among campuses by establishing common data systems
D6: Develop systems to support distance orientation and on-line counseling
D7: Support data collection and processing to evaluate counseling services delivery system
D8: Review the feasibility and desirability of creating a shorter, more responsive computerized testing process to reduce test anxiety for new students
D9: Shorten the award processing time to financial aid applicants using an improved data system
 


FACILITIES



 

SUPPORTIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Faculty TF Classified TF 
2 administrators 2 administrators
2 classified staff  6 classified staff 
2 students 2 students
3 AFT reps 3 faculty 
3 Academic Senate reps 
2 DCC reps 
Total:  14  Total:  13 

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING AND BUDGETING SYSTEM





PART IV
MANAGING FOR RESULTS:
STRATEGIC PLAN MANAGEMENT
AND IMPLEMENTATION


LEADING THE CHANGE PROCESS

    Quality Service
    Executive Vice Chancellor
    Continuous Program Innoviation
    Provost
    Technology
    Provost and Chief Operating Officer
    Facilities
    Chief Operating Officer
    Supportive Working Environment
    Executive Vice Chancellor
    Resource Development
    Chief Operating Officer and Director of Development
    Planning and Budgeting Integration
    Chief Operating Officer, Director of Research and Planning


PART V
MANAGING THE CHANGE PROCESS