City College of San Francisco - California Competes

THEME VI
CCSF is well regarded for integrating extensive noncredit programs into several departments. The College
has also developed several modes of instruction directed toward serving student populations with unique
needs. Examples include the Vocational ESL Immersion Program, the Welcome Back Program, Project
Shine, and the Working Adults Degree Program. In recognition of this work, the institution received in
2004 the MetLife Community College Excellence Award specifically for reaching out to first-generation,
immigrant, low-income and working adults through the ESL Department and community-based programs
developed by the institution. Moreover, the College recently received two grants from the National Science
Foundation, totaling $1.1 million, to develop the On-Ramp to Biotech and Bridge to Biotech programs,
intended for underrepresented and limited-English residents of San Francisco County.
The College continues to prioritize its efforts to achieve a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of the
communities it serves, to incorporate multicultural perspectives into the curricula and teaching strategies,
and to offer programs and services that will provide needed assistance to at-risk students. The College is
clearly committed to creating a diverse environment that will increase equity in student achievement and
success. In fulfilling this commitment, the College recognizes that the law in the areas of hiring/employment
practices as well as curriculum and student services is evolving, and it is committed to the foregoing
programs and practices only to the extent permitted by applicable law.
IV. Conclusion & Future Directions
This essay is, in many respects, a litany of parallel and overlapping evaluations, surveys, review processes,
initiatives, services, and professional development projects—which, in effect, is the intention. The activities
described here only begin to scratch the surface of the volume of inquiry and innovation that takes
place at the College in pursuit of excellence. The College has the honesty and confidence to raise issues
of concern about the inclusiveness of governance, the respect for multicultural diversity, the equity of
student achievement, and the maintenance of academic standards; and CCSF is fortunate to have the
resources of data, research capacity, and institution-wide participation to investigate these issues and
develop solutions. The following recommendations, incorporated within this essay and the standards
reports, encompass issues that the College should address as priorities in its ongoing commitment to
strengthening the integrity of our institution.
With respect to policies, practices, and procedures, this essay highlights the need to implement a
structured process for reviewing and updating the District (Board) Policy Manual and for publishing
and implementing policy changes. To ensure that the College continues to include all constituencies
in problem solving and decision making, it should foster a higher level of engagement of students on
Shared Governance committees and in the Shared Governance System evaluation process. In the
area of communications, the College should undertake a variety of initiatives, including: creating a
new CCSF website that is “modern, accessible, updated and integrated” (per the Communications
Committee recommendation); providing better management and oversight of CCSF website content
and architecture, perhaps through a new position (Web Content Master) and by establishing guidelines
for content, design, and navigation; and expanding EAtv/Channel 27 programming and access.
Finally, to promote diversity, the College should better publicize and implement faculty recruitment
programs and strategies such as the “Grow Your Own” program and identify additional means to
intensify its support of an increasingly diverse teaching faculty.
342 CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO