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COMPRESSED CALENDAR FOCUS GROUPS What Do We Need to Know?. Las Positas College December, 2007. Agenda for Compressed Calendar Focus Groups. A. Compressed Calendar Review Information & Resources (15 mins) B. Open Q&A (10 mins) C. Resources – What can we learn
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COMPRESSED CALENDAR FOCUS GROUPSWhat Do We Need to Know? Las Positas College December, 2007
Agenda for Compressed Calendar Focus Groups A. Compressed Calendar Review Information & Resources (15 mins) B. Open Q&A (10 mins) C. Resources – What can we learn from others? (15 mins) D. Impact Models – How to complete (15-20 mins) E. Wrap-Up – Next Steps (5 mins)
Why a Compressed Calendar (CC)? • Focus on Students • Access and Enrollment • Fiscal Stability • Student Retention • Student Success
Studies Available on Websites: • LPC Grapevine: http://grapevine.laspositascollege.edu/academicservices/compressedCalendar.php • District Website: http://info/edservices/CLPCCDIntranet-EducationServices.php
What does CC really mean? • Total contact hours remain the same (still adheres to the 175 day mandate) • No additional hours tacked on to the curriculum • The curriculum is not re-written • Class periods are longer (by 5 minutes each session for class meeting 2X/week)
What does CC really mean? (cont.) Total term is shorter in duration (from 17.5 weeks to 16 weeks) • Additional time prior to opening in fall and spring to give students access to student services (assessment, financial aid; staff time for lab set ups, maintenance. • Special sessions (winter) are still possible but is a college choice
How long would this new structure be in effect? • This would be a permanent structure, but … • The dates for the 3 or 4* session calendar would be subject to modification. *3 sessions: Fall, Spring, Summer; 4 sessions: Fall, Winter 6 wk, Spring, Summer 6 or 8 wks.)
Why would LPC want to convert to a Compressed Calendar? • It is believed to be in thebestinterest of the students to promote student success and access. • Enables students to advance their studies with shorter semesters, and the possibility of a winter session. • 16 Week semester more closely aligns with many UC and CSU formats – facilitating transfer.
Why would LPC want to convert to a Compressed Calendar? (cont.) For faculty and administrators: Adding “breaks” between semesters and summer/winter sessions provides more time to: • Process grades • Complete prerequisite checking • Bring closure to previous term activities before the start of new term
Why would LPC want to convert to a Compressed Calendar? (cont.) Compressed Calendar systems are: • Consistent with a growing trend among California community colleges • Half of California community colleges have successfully converted to compressed calendars
What are the possible challenges of a CC? • Adjusting to the schedule changes may be difficult for students who are used to taking classes in certain time blocks. • Examples: Some evening classes will start later, this may be a problem for some students.
What are the possible challenges of a CC? (cont.) • Students will spend a little more time each week in classes than before. • It will take work from Faculty and Staff to ensure that admission, registration, records management, and student service delivery processes are adjusted to accommodate the new schedule.
Possible Student Concerns: • Will students have to take classes each term? • No, to maintain continuing student status a student must only attend fall and spring semesters. • Attending summer and winter terms would be optional.
Possible Student Concerns (cont.) • Because terms are shorter, would students be in classes longer? • Classes would be only slightly longer per week. • In one semester classes would meet for the same total hours. • Example: a 3 unit class in CC would meet for 3 hours + 10 minutes per week.
Proposed Calendar Implementation • Decide on the calendar configuration: • 16 wk Without intersession OR • 16 wk With intersession • If CC is adopted: • set up an assessment of its success after one year • Decide how we comply with the 175 day rule
CC Research Sources • District Intranet: http://info/edservices/CLPCCDIntranet-EducationServices.php
CC Research Sources (cont.) • LPC Academic Services Intranet: http://grapevine.laspositascollege.edu/academicservices/compressedCalendar.php (Please contact Laurel Jones if you have other recommended sources]
What role do you play in the process? • Be informed • Read the studies • Call colleagues in your discipline at other CC colleges • Share your input with your Dean, Senates, Divisions, etc.
How will we make this decision? • Utilizing research and data of effective practices at other colleges • Gathering input from the impact sheets • Dialogue and listening to staff, faculty and students • All focused on what is best for student success.