Student-Centered Instruction and Services
Language and Communication and Physical Sciences and Technology Villages' Embedded Counselors
- Goal 4: English and math completion
- To create a Guided Pathways Village support plan for classroom teaching aimed at English and math completion, we propose hiring or finding, and integrating subject-expert counselors into both the Language and Communication (LC) and Physical Sciences and Technology (PST) Villages. This initiative works to provide essential face-to-face support for underserved students struggling in math and English while fostering a supportive environment during village office hours.
- Underserved and first-generation students often face cultural barriers that may deter them from seeking help, particularly in administrative buildings, which can seem intimidating. By embedding these expert counselors within the LC and PST Villages, which serve as both academic support and community spaces, we will increase the likelihood of these students seeking help thereby enhancing their success rates.
Lead: Kim Palmore
Key Resource Needs:
- Reassigned time or additional hours for existing MPS/EPS counselors
- Dedicated office space in LC and PST Villages
- Technology for seamless counselor transitions between locations
- Professional development resources for counselors and faculty
- Scheduling and record-keeping systems that integrate with existing tools
- Marketing materials and outreach resources
- Research support for ongoing assessment and evaluation
Advantages of Using Existing MPS/EPS Counselors
- Leverages existing expertise in supporting English and math students
- Reduces hiring and onboarding time
- Builds on established relationships with faculty and departments
- Utilizes counselors already familiar with curriculum and student challenges
- Creates natural collaboration between specialized programs and villages
- Potentially reduces overall implementation costs
Potential Challenges and Mitigations
- Challenge: Stretched counselor capacity across multiple programs
- Mitigation: Careful workload analysis and potential supplemental staffing during peak periods
- Challenge: Complex reporting structures between programs and villages
- Mitigation: Clear agreements, regular coordination meetings, and shared leadership model
- Challenge: Physical transition between program spaces and village locations
- Mitigation: Dedicated technology solutions and careful scheduling to minimize transitions
- Challenge: Different service traditions between MPS/EPS programs and villages
- Mitigation: Intentional integration planning and cultural alignment activities
Plan Timeline
Winter 2024
Collect research
Status: Completed
Spring 2024
discuss research
Status: Completed
Fall 2024
determine direction
Status: Completed
Winter 2025
Complete plan
Status: Completed
Spring 2025
- Initial Assessment and Planning
- Form planning committee with representatives from MPS/EPS programs, LC Village, PST Village, and Student Services
- Conduct needs assessment to identify specific student support gaps in English and math
- Review current MPS/EPS counselor workloads, schedules, and service models
- Map existing counselor expertise to village needs and identify potential realignments
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Hold focus groups with underserved students to understand barriers and needs
- Consult with English and math faculty about observed student challenges
- Meet with MPS/EPS counselors to discuss integration with village structures
- Present initial plan to Academic Senate and relevant committees
- Resource and Space Planning
- Assess space needs for MPS/EPS counselors within the villages
- Identify potential office spaces within LC and PST Villages
- Develop resource-sharing agreements between existing programs and villages
- Calculate additional funding needs for expanded counselor hours or reassigned time
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Program Coordinators, Village Coordinators, Dean of Counseling
Status:
Fall 2025
- Program Integration Structure Development
- Create formal partnership agreements between MPS/EPS programs and villages
- Develop scheduling model for counselor time division between programs and villages
- Establish clear reporting structures that respect both program and village needs
- Define success metrics that align with both MPS/EPS and village objectives
- Service Model Adaptation
- Modify existing MPS/EPS service models to fit village contexts
- Create integration plan with existing student support services
- Establish communication protocols between counselors and village faculty
- Design systems for tracking student usage and outcomes across both settings
- Professional Development Planning
- Identify training needs for MPS/EPS counselors to work effectively in village settings
- Design cross-training between counselors and village faculty
- Develop collaborative intervention strategies for struggling students
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Program Coordinators, Village Coordinators, Professional Development Committee
Status:
Winter 2026
- Counselor Transition and Training
- Finalize counselor assignments and schedules between MPS/EPS and villages
- Provide comprehensive training on village-specific contexts and student needs
- Facilitate relationship-building between counselors and village faculty
- Establish mentoring pairs between counselors and key faculty members
- Space Preparation and Technology Setup
- Prepare dedicated spaces within villages for MPS/EPS counselors
- Implement scheduling and record-keeping systems that integrate with existing tools
- Set up technology for seamless counselor transitions between locations
- Create signage and wayfinding to help students locate counselors
- Marketing and Outreach Development
- Create marketing materials highlighting the new integrated service model
- Develop targeted outreach strategy for underserved student populations
- Prepare materials for classroom presentations and faculty orientation
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Counselors, Village Coordinators, IT Department, Marketing Department
Status:
Spring 2026
- Pilot Implementation
- Launch initial embedded counselor services in both villages using MPS/EPS counselors
- Implement targeted outreach to underserved students
- Begin scheduling classroom visits to introduce counselors
- Establish weekly check-in process to monitor implementation challenges
- Service Refinement
- Hold bi-weekly coordination meetings between MPS/EPS programs and villages
- Address any emerging challenges or barriers to service delivery
- Adjust counselor schedules and approaches based on initial student response
- Develop solutions for identified gaps in service coverage
- Data Collection Implementation
- Begin collecting data on student usage patterns and initial outcomes
- Create feedback mechanisms for students, faculty, and counselors
- Establish baseline measurements for future assessment
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Counselors, Village Coordinators, Institutional Research
Status:
Fall 2026
- Full Implementation
- Scale up to full embedded counselor services in both villages
- Expand counselor availability based on usage patterns from pilot phase
- Implement refined service model based on Spring 2026 feedback
- Establish regular counselor-led workshops and support groups
- Cross-Program Collaboration Enhancement
- Develop collaborative projects between MPS/EPS programs and villages
- Create shared resources and intervention strategies
- Establish regular cross-program meetings for continuous improvement
- Faculty Partnership Development
- Implement faculty-counselor partnership model for high-need courses
- Provide professional development for faculty on effective collaboration
- Create co-facilitated support sessions for challenging course content
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Counselors, Village Coordinators, Faculty Professional Development
Status:
Winter 2027
- Mid-Point Assessment and Enhancement
- Conduct comprehensive assessment of integrated model effectiveness
- Gather feedback from students, faculty, and counselors
- Analyze initial data on student usage and impact on completion rates
- Identify areas for improvement and implement changes
- Service Model Expansion
- Develop specialized support interventions for high-failure-rate courses
- Create targeted outreach programs for specific underserved populations
- Implement innovative approaches based on assessment findings
- Resource Evaluation and Planning
- Assess resource adequacy and identify additional needs
- Develop budget proposals for any expansion needs
- Plan for sustainable integration of MPS/EPS counselors in villages
Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Program Coordinators, Institutional Research, Budget Office
Status:
Spring 2027
- Program Refinement
- Implement improvements based on mid-point assessment
- Adjust counselor assignments and schedules for optimal service delivery
- Enhance integration between counseling services and academic support
- Develop advanced intervention strategies for complex student needs
- Community Connection Development
- Establish partnerships with community organizations serving underrepresented students
- Create referral pathways between community organizations and embedded counselors
- Host community events highlighting student success stories and available support
- Sustainability Planning
- Develop long-term staffing and resource allocation model
- Create succession planning for program leadership
- Draft permanent program policies and procedures
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, MPS/EPS Program Coordinators, Community Partnerships Coordinator, College Leadership
Status:
Fall 2027
- Program Institutionalization
- Formalize permanent integration of MPS/EPS counselors into village structures
- Secure ongoing funding arrangements for shared counselor positions
- Establish permanent assessment and review cycles
- Finalize all program policies and procedures
- Comprehensive Impact Analysis
- Analyze data on English and math completion rates since implementation
- Assess effectiveness for different student populations
- Document improvements in student persistence and success
- Prepare final implementation report with recommendations
- Future Innovation Planning
- Develop 3-5 year vision for program evolution
- Create innovation roadmap for future service enhancements
- Establish model for potential expansion to other villages
- Responsible Parties: Kim Palmore, College Leadership, Institutional Research, MPS/EPS Program Coordinators
Status: