Cypress College 2011-2012 End of the Year Report - News ...

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CompletionDIRECTION1Annual improvement of completion rates for degrees, certificates,diplomas, transfers, transfer-readiness requirements, and courses.Access is currently the greatest barrier to completion for students. The2011-2012 academic year began with 70 fewer courses available, a decrease of5% compared to the prior year. However, 15,889 students were enrolled at thefall census date — a decrease of 3%. To achieve this level of efficiency, thecollege was operating with a triple-digit fill rate. Fill rate, which compares thetotal number of students in classes to the scheduled number of available seats,is a standard productivity measure. In the spring, Cypress College enrolled15,251 students.Students opened the year pursuing more than 365 different majors. The topselections were: General Studies (2,065); Registered Nursing (1,443); LiberalArts/Studies (1,082); Business Administration (878); and Psychology (564).FACESGeology Professor Victoria Castle wasselected as Orange County’s communitycollege Teacher of the Year. Castlecame to Cypress College after workingin the geology industry for a numberof years — as a result, she brings tothe classroom a wealth of experiencethat she can share with the students. InMarch, she was selected as the campusteacher of the year, becoming the fourthmember of the Science, Engineeringand Mathematics Division to receivethe honor. Dorothy Stout from Geologyreceived it in 1996, and Cheryl Gibbyand Dave Petrie from Mathematics werehonored in 2002 and 2007, respectively.4The year culminated with Cypress College’s 45th Commencement ceremony.During the 2011-2012 academic year, 754 students earned associate’s degrees,and another 823 students earned occupational certificates. Eighty-onestudents graduated with high honors (a cumulative Grade-Point Average of3.75 or higher), and 447 students graduated with honors (a GPA of 3.30-3.74).Jennifer Caspellan was honored as the Outstanding Graduate, while PierreHabis was recognized as the Outstanding Alumnus. Actress Kirsten Vangsnessdelivered the commencement address.Also during the year: the college transferred 690 students to California StateUniversity campuses, and another 115 into the University of California system;the college Curriculum Committee processed 295 course revisions, reviewedand approved four new transfer degrees, 18 new certificates, and 11 new courses.Success rates were up for each of Cypress College’s 10 instructional divisions.Cypress College’s 45thCommencement, heldon May 29, 2012.Russ Bacarella, a Cypress CollegeAutomotive Technology instructor,coordinated a partnership with LoaraHigh School in which students fromboth campuses created a five-memberteam to participate in NASCAR’s HotRodders of Tomorrow competition. Theteam tore down and rebuilt a Chevy350 high-performance engine in therecord-breaking time of 20:54 to winthe national event. It was the secondconsecutive year Bacarella’s team wonthe contest.Elizabeth Wolf was one of severalForensics students who turned inoutstanding performances during thespeech and debate season. Sherepresented the college in two eventsat the national competition, as well asplacing in multiple events throughoutthe year.SUCCESSES❖ October’s Strategic Conversation provided participants from across the North Orange County Community College District with an opportunityto identify barriers that prevent students from reaching their goals. Participants also worked collaboratively to identify promising policies,practices, and strategies to overcome these roadblocks.❖ The English Success Center opened its doors for the first time, providing an opportunity for students to enhance their education and improvetheir chances of successfully completing English coursework at the college. The center is located on the first floor of the Library/LearningResource Center, and offers tutoring, directed learning activities and workshops. It is funded by the federal Title V grant, awarded to thecollege in October, 2010.❖ “CYPRESS VALLEY HIGH,” a short film made in collaboration with Cypress College students during a master workshop with artist in residenceKiel Johnson last year, made its world premier at the LA FILM + MUSIC WEEKEND 2012 in March. Johnson, an artist known for his work withcardboard, served as an “artist in residence” at Cypress College during the 2010-2011 academic year. He and faculty worked with students todesign cardboard robot costumes, which students then wore to act scenes for the film, which was shot in the college Gym.July 21, 2011The Cypress Chamber of Commercehosted its annual Festival Mixer atCypress College as part of the city’sFestival Week events.August 22, 2011Associated Students PresidentGabriel Rubio speaks to incomingfreshman at New Student WelcomeNight.
Achievement GapFACESPaul de Dios, Cypress College’s Deanof Counseling and Student Development,took on the challenge of addressingwhat is commonly known as the“Achievement Gap” — the disparitybetween the rate of enrollment ofindividual segments of the overallstudent body, and the rate of successfulcompletion of the same segment. DeDios has focused on issues beyondethnicity, exploring other factors,including economics.Dr. Richard Rams, the Dean of StudentSupport Services, has been a leadadvocate for efforts to close theachievement gap. His work includeseducating colleagues about data andbest practices related to the broaderpicture.Also heavily involved in the movementfor educational equity is Dr. GilContreras, whose primary role at thecollege is serving as the manager ofExtended Opportunity Programs andServices (EOPS). EOPS is a state- andcollege-funded program designed toassist students with economic, linguistic,and educational challenges to enroll inand succeed in higher education.With a concerted effort to providean educational experience worthy ofmilitary veterans’ service and bravery,Cypress College opened a Veteran’sResource Center and fostered an activeCypress College Veteran’s Organizationinto one of the campus’ strongest clubs.The program is coordinated on aday-to-day basis by Christy Davis.DIRECTION2Annual progress toward eliminating the documented achievementgap among race/ethnicity groups.Almost 70% of Cypress College students are from traditionally under-representedethnic groups. The percentages of African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics atCypress College continues to be higher than the percentages of Orange Countyresidents when compared to 2009 U.S. Census Population estimates. Alreadydesignated as a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, and a two-timeTitle V grant recipient, Cypress College’s Hispanic student population continuesto grow as well. In Fall 2007, 27% of enrolled students were Hispanic; today,Hispanics comprise the college’s single-largest ethnic group, making up 34%of the student body.Academic success — measured specifically in completion and transfer — doesnot come in proportions equal to the demographics of the college’s enrollment.For instance, African Americans comprise 5.6% of the overall student population;however, they make up only 4% of those students who complete/transfer successfully.Similarly, at 36% of the student body, Hispanics comprise 27.9% of thepopulation of students who are identified as successfully completing or transferring.This disparity in success — 1.6% for African Americans and 9% for Hispanics— is known as the “achievement gap.”Caucasians, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and the population of students whose ethnicbackground is unknown, all complete at higher proportions than they arerepresented in the overall student body.Two students enjoytheir achievementat CypressCollege’s 45thCommencementCeremony.5SUCCESSES❖ Two learning communities serve as models for closing the Achievement Gap at Cypress College: Puente and Legacy. Puente has been led byTherese Mosqueda Ponce since its inception. Recently, she was joined by Obed Silva. The program focuses on university transfer forparticipating students and includes components of instruction, counseling, mentorship, and special activities.❖ The second learning community, Legacy, has leadership from Joseph Melodia. In addition to the cohort-based coursework, the Black StudentUnion has recently become the Legacy Club — creating a stronger tie between coursework and camaraderie.❖ Goals were established by the Direction 2 Steering Committee. Among them is reducing the achievement gap among students by removingbarriers to success, specifically for at-risk students. The group will identify factors that contribute to differential rates of success and thendevelop and implement strategies to reduce the impact of these factors.❖ The committee will work to implement a process to identify and connect at-risk students and to connect them to appropriate campusresources. An inventory of campus resources will be completed in advance of the process being developed. An example of such services,includes the peer-mentoring components found in the Legacy Program and the Puente Program.September 13, 2011Fall 2011 Club Rush provided an opportunityfor students to learn about myriad organizationson campus. The Veterans club offeredthe opportunity to carry a soldier’s equipment.October 16, 2011Alumna Geri Jewell — perhaps best known forher ground-breaking role as Cousin Geri on theNBC sitcom “The Facts of Life” — returned tocampus for a presentation and book signing aspart of Disability Awareness Month.
Page 2 and 3: IntroductionI am honored and humble
Page 4 and 5: InstitutionalDirection 1: Instructi
Page 8 and 9: Basic Skills6DIRECTION3Annually imp
Page 10 and 11: Partnerships8DIRECTION5Develop and
Page 12 and 13: Campus LifeDr. Bob Simpson became C
Page 14 and 15: Economic Development12Cypress Colle

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