Student Voices Forum May 4, 2009 College of the Sequoias

1. Student Voices Forum May 4, 2009 College of the Sequoias

2. Founded in 1984, California Tomorrow is a non-profitresearch, technical assistance, training and advocacy organization specializing in the development of new modelsand strategies to bring about inclusion and equity ineducation.

3. Meeting Goals Administrators, staff, faculty and students hear and understand data driven by student research. Administrators, staff, faculty and students engage in a facilitated dialogue that allows them to raise questions about student data and what more they need to know. Administrators, staff, faculty and students explore next steps.

4. Pair and Share Please share your name and one aspiration you have in life

5. Survey Demographic Profile • 68% Latino • 40% of student respondents 19 and younger; 44% ages 20-24 • 54% female and 46% male • 42% English is not native language • 69% of students are first generation • 73% have either transfer or AA/AS and transfer as an educational goal • 83% attend COS full-time; students take an avg. of 12 units • 53% of students work; 12% work two jobs; students work an avg. of 23 hours a week and at a median hourly wage of $8.

6. What are Students’ Experiences in Meeting College Expenses? Source: Contra Costa Times

7. Compared to a year ago, has your financial situation:

8. Impact of Financial Crisis on Students’ Lives Percent of survey respondents

9. Impact of Financial Crisis on Students’ College Experience Percent of survey respondents 3 in 7students reported that they have struggled to pay for textbooks

10. Actions Students Take to Deal with Financial Challenges Percent of survey respondents

11. If you were unable to stay and complete your educational goals, what would be the most likely reason why? Nearly 6 in 10 students reported they would leave for financial reasons

12. How Do COS Students Prefer to Communicate?

13. How Do COS Students Prefer to Communicate?

14. Most students own a computer PERCENT OF COS STUDENTS WHO OWN A COMPUTER Laptop 47 Desktop 31 Both 7 Do not own 15

15. Survey results reveal1 in 7 students do not own a computer Profile of a student who does not own a computer • More likely to be: • Male • Student of color • English is not a first language • Not working • Spend less time online

16. Although most students own a computer, 1 in 5 students have either a dial-up internet connection or no internet connection at all

17. Number of hours students spend on the internet 1-2 hours 9 3-5 hours 42 6-10 hours 25 More than 10 hours 21 Do not use internet much 4

18. Most Students DO NOT use their COS E-mail accounts PERCENT OF COS STUDENTS WHO DO NOT USE COS EMAIL ACCOUNT Prefer to use another email 71 Do not use email much 17 Didn’t know about it 12

19. COS Students prefer to communicate through text messaging

20. Survey results reveal1 in 5 students do not use social networking PERCENT OF COS STUDENTS WHO USE SOCIAL NETWORKING MySpace 75 Facebook 3 Twitter 1 Don’t use 22 social networking

21. Survey respondents express a desire to connect with other students I would like to attend COS social events where I can meet other students 58% I would like to find out more about COS social organizations and clubs 56% I would like to participate in COS clubs and social organizations 40%

22. Do Students Have Enough Information? I am sure which courses I need for my certificate, Associate’s degree or for transfer 86% I know which courses give credit for my certificate, Associate’s degree or for transfer 83% I have enough information about requirements for my certificate, Associate’s degree or for transfer 68%

23. COS Students Who Have Never Seen an Advisor or Only Seen an Advisor Once (32%): Demographics: 28% White; 67% Latino; 44% under age 20; 56% female; 50% English is not a first language; 78% FT Students; -61% have not filled out a FAFSA -78% have never been to financial aid; 89% learned about financial aid through friends or family or high school guidance counselors -33% have never used skills labs; 22% used skills labs once -56% never used computer lab or used it once -93 % of students who indicate transfer as educational goal have never been to transfer assistance

24. World Café Assumptions The knowledge and wisdom which we require is already present and can be made accessible. When we connect with each other in creative ways, collective intelligence emerges.

25. World Café Agreements HONOR the contributions of others CONNECT our ideas with those of others LISTEN carefully for what emerges from the “center” NOTICE deeper patterns and questions

26. World Café Agreements CONTRIBUTE your thinking SPEAK your mind and heart LISTEN to understand and to learn INQUIRE by asking open questions

27. World Café Agreements LISTEN TOGETHER for insights, patterns and deeper questions Play, doodle, draw – writing on the tablecloths is encouraged HAVE FUN!

28. Round One • What is one thing that stood out to you? • What surprised or concerned you? Why?

29. Round Two • How does what you heard apply to your life or work? • What more would you want to know

30. Round Three • How would you go about getting additional data from students to find out more? • How might you use the information to improve the success of students at COS?

31. Wrap Up • What is emerging here? • If there was a single voice in the room, what would it be saying? • What deeper questions are emerging as a result of these conversations?

32. Wrap Up (continued) Do we notice any patterns and what do these patterns point to? How do they inform us? What do we do we now see and know as a result of these conversations? What can we commit to doing as next steps?