Accreditation - Hartnell College!!

Institutional Self Evaluation – 12-05-12
Marcus Ranch), building and renovating facilities for local non-profit organizations (e.g.,
Rancho Cielo, Sunset Center), and building affordable housing in a contract with the
Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc. (CHISPA), a
private non-profit affordable housing organization. The Hartnell College green construction
program is also involved with the instruction of court-mandated youth at Rancho Cielo
Youth Camp and to 16-24 year-old youth in a WIA (Workforce Investment Act) grant.
Furthermore, development of the curriculum for a sustainable design program is currently
underway. (I.B.10)
Another example of a broad-based goal-directed initiative is the Hartnell College Emergency
Operations Plan (I.B.11), shaped by a committee of two faculty, two staff and four
administrators. This group has revamped the previous plan, identified gaps and necessary
fixes, and followed through with a new plan. The latter includes all new facilities that were
not part of the previous plan, and also involved individuals with experience in emergency
preparedness. Given the preponderance of computer and informational technologies, the
vice-president of information technology (IT) was involved in this process that identified
communication and informational technology deficiencies.
Although the planning horizon for the 2008-11 Educational and Facilities Master Plan
expired in 2011, the work involved in creating that plan became the genesis of a series of
collegial initiatives. For instance, in 2009 in response to a systemwide budget reduction, the
faculty of Hartnell College evaluated the impact on the ability of the college to meet the
goals of the Educational and Facilities Master Plan. This led to a review of educational
priorities and to the elimination of 90 sections, and the inclusion of 30 new sections to
maintain congruence with the College mission and the 2008-11 Educational and Facilities
Master Plan. Similarly, given the additional budget cuts that community colleges suffered in
2012, the college complied with the mandated reductions in a bottom up approach, which
meant that faculty in each academic division worked with their respective dean to identify
priorities and areas where the budget could be cut. Similarly, administrative units established
priorities and arrived at a concerted decision on budget cuts.
At the program level, Hartnell‘s Program Planning and Assessment process requires the
identification of both program-level goals and measurable outcomes. This information is
used in the evaluation of needs for external financial or in kind support, which has led to a
series of successful grant proposals that have enabled the institution to expand its capabilities
and offerings beyond the means afforded by state apportionment. Grant-funded programs
have their own reporting requirements including accountability for outcomes. A stellar
example of a grant-driven project is the ongoing Title V Cooperative Project with Gavilan
College. In partnership with our neighboring college to the north, the project developed its
own set of goals for the use of Title V funds to conduct research for improving instruction
and student success. (I.B.12)
Self Evaluation
The 2008-11 Hartnell College Educational and Facilities Master Plan exemplifies
engagement on the part of the entire college to make long-range strategic resolutions. Goals
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