COMPRESSED CALENDAR

FOCUS GROUPS

What Do We Need to Know?

Las Positas CollegeDecember, 2007

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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)

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Why a Compressed Calendar

(CC)?•Focus on Students

–Access and Enrollment–Fiscal Stability–Student Retention–Student Success

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Studies Available on Websites:

• LPC Grapevine: http://grapevine.laspositascollege.edu/academicservices/compressedCalendar.php

• District Website: http://info/edservices/CLPCCDIntranet-EducationServices.php

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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)

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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

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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.)

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Why would LPC want to convert to a Compressed

Calendar?• It is believed to be in the best

interest 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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Example of an Impact Model – Administrator

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Example of an Impact Model – Faculty

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Example of an Impact Model – Faculty (cont.)

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Example of an Impact Model – Classified

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CC Research Sources

•District Intranet:http://info/edservices/CLPCCDIntranet-EducationServices.php

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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]

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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.

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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.