Action Project

Institution: Moraine Valley Community College
Submitted: Feb. 26, 2005
Timeline:
Planned project kickoff date:
Target completion date:
Actual completion date:
A. Give this Action Project a short title in 10 words or fewer:

Student Learning, Student Development, Student Success

 
B. Describe this Action Project's goal in 100 words or fewer:

Moraine Valley has engaged in significant efforts and dedicated resources to support student success and learner-centeredness. The college’s common denominators are: 1) how does what we do affect student success, and 2) how do we know?  In Phase 1 of this project, the college will establish a common definition of student success and develop a plan that identifies tasks that will result in improved student success.  In Phase 2, the plan will be implemented and impact on student success will be measured.  The goal is for all departments and systems to work collaboratively, focused on student success.

C. Identify the single AQIP Category which the Action Project will most affect or impact:

Primary Category: Helping Students Learn

D. Describe briefly your institution's reasons for taking on this Action Project now — why the project and its goals are high among your current priorities:

As a result of the college’s strategic planning process, undertaken three years ago, multiple Strategic Action Teams were charged with activities focused on enhancing student success.  In July 2004, a summary of these teams’ accomplishments and activities yet to be completed was presented college wide.  In addition, a strategic planning retreat was held in September 2004 to review and update the strategic plan.  The college will use input from the July 2004 summary, the September 2004 retreat, and other sources to identify and implement additional activities to enhance student success, including heightened college wide awareness of this focus.

E. List the organizational areas — institutional departments, programs, divisions, or units — most affected by or involved in this Action Project:

Student development division, Academic affairs division.

F. Name and describe briefly the key organizational process(es) that you expect this Action Project to change or improve:

Student services: recruitment, admissions, placement testing, advising, orientation, disability services, retention and others. Academic services/support:  developmental education, instructional design, assessment of student learning, alternative instructional delivery, and others. Professional development and staff recognition.

G. Explain the rationale for the length of time planned for this Action Project (from kickoff to target completion):

Reports on action team progress will be provided at least once each semester to the following campus groups:  Executive Leadership Team (president, vice presidents and CFO), Administrative Council, President’s Advisory Council.  In addition, collegewide updates will be disseminated via Valley View staff newsletter and MV eNews electronic newsletter.

H. Describe how you plan to monitor how successfully your efforts on this Action Project are progressing:

Phase 1 includes:
•  Report on task force’s review processes and resulting recommendations is disseminated by October 2005.
•  Definition of student success is disseminated and understood collegewide by November 2005.  
Phase 2 includes:
•  Implementation Plan - including task group charges, specific activities and tasks, timelines, short- and long-term outcomes and budget implications is initiated by February 2006.

I. Describe the overall outcome measures or indicators that will tell you whether this Action Project has been a success or failure in achieving its goals:

Outcome 1 – Phase 1 completed. Definition finalized and phase 2 plan developed.  
Outcome 2 – Phase 2 plan is implemented.
Outcome 3 – Student success outcome measures are reported.

J. Other information (e.g., publicity, sponsor or champion, etc.):

Organization and implementation plan for Phase 2 of Action Project is completed by February 2006. Implementation plan will provide timelines and outcomes. Phase 2 implementation is begun by March 2006.  Strategic Action Teams and college departments are charged with specific activities and tasks, including measuring effectiveness and ongoing communication. Reports of Phase 2 implementation outcomes are provided at least once each semester by responsible Strategic Action Teams and college departments.

Last Action Project Update: Sept. 14, 2006
A. Describe the past year's accomplishments and the current status of this Action Project.
After the college submitted this action project, we further refined it by focusing our efforts on three specific initiatives. Teams were identified to work on these three priorities: 1) improving retention and success in online learning, 2) maximizing student access to education, and 3) improving success and retention in developmental education-limited English proficient (LEP) students.

Online Learning – 1) examined internal and external data and identified stakeholders, 2) conducted an online student survey and held focus groups with fulltime faculty and technology support staff, 3) analyzed and prioritized data to identify the critical issues impacting on the most stakeholders, 4) three recommendations approved by the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). A. staffing revisions. B. program improvements to increase student retention, and C. pursue online degree/certificate.

Maximizing Access – 1) collected and analyzed internal data,  2) coordinated team’s work with other related college initiatives (technology planning and academic scheduling),  3) prioritized resources needed for scheduling/classroom utilization,  4) developed scheduling/classroom utilization plan, including methods for determining future trends and problems.

Developmental Ed/LEP – 1) defined and identified major categories of LEP students, 2) reviewed internal data: demographic reports and current programs/services, and 3) completed a plan including next steps involved in addressing the success of LEP students.
B. Describe how the institution involved people in the work on this Action Project.
Each of these teams included representatives from across the college.  Teams were made up of individuals that have direct input into the specific issues being dealt with as well as others, all of whom have an interest in furthering student success. All teams collected data from internal and external stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, review of literature and individual contact to collect input.
C. Describe your planned next steps for this Action Project.
Online Learning – 1) Based on ELT’s approval, job descriptions for proposed positions developed and advertised, and 2) Positions will join new Online College Support Team which will reevaluate, prioritize and implement the recommendations included in the plan developed by the original team. Recommendations: A: online degree/certificate and B: improve online programs to increase student retention.

Maximizing Access – 1) The plan, to be presented to ELT in October 2006, recommends forming a Strategic Committee: Projection and Trends to Maximize Student Access to Education.  This committee will meet twice annually to identify, recommend, review and evaluate comprehensive scheduling patterns based on student and community needs. 2) Potential topics include: a) Update master technology plan; b) Recommend course rotation schedules for online course offerings; and c) Explore special population marketing efforts.

Developmental Education/LEP – 1) Approval of the plan, presented to ELT in September 2006, 2) identify implementation team of appropriate internal stakeholders, 3) establish consistent communication between Academic Affairs and Student Development, 4) complete the internal analysis of processes using the template of questions established by the original team, 5) research programs at targeted community colleges and area high schools, 6) gather student feedback about current programs and services, and 7) complete gap analysis.
D. Describe any effective practice(s) that resulted from your work on this Action Project.
Online Learning – When Moraine Valley chose Online Learning as an AQIP project, the stakeholders (students, faculty, and staff) viewed this as an institutional commitment to improvement.  This resulted in a large number of faculty being motivated to participate in developing the plan for improvements in online learning.

Maximizing Access – One of the outstanding best practices recommended by the team is to reform the Technology Team into a cross-functional technology team. This team will focus on more than just computer technology by also determining the impact on scheduling/ room utilization.

Developmental Education/LEP - We have developed a template of questions that can be used to analyze the programs and services provided to targeted groups of students.  It is our goal to use these same questions to structure the future analysis of programs and services targeted to a variety of subgroups of developmental education students (African-American males, high school students transitioning to college, etc).
E. What challenges, if any, are you still facing in regards to this Action Project?
Online Learning – With technology constantly changing, keeping our online college’s plan current, responsive to a new and varying student body, and equipped with the cutting edge technologies required to make our courses effective will always be a challenge.

Maximizing Access – Challenges identified included: 1) there are a large number of factors that influence scheduling and utilization of rooms, 2) there is a conflict between the concepts of scheduling of classes and rooms for students’ preferences/student success vs. scheduling for the best utilization of building space, and 3) there needs to be clarification concerning where scheduling/utilization concerns and problems are directed at the college, i.e. who owns the rooms/buildings/duties of assigning rooms.

Developmental Education/LEP - The challenge that we face in this project is identifying and engaging the appropriate stakeholders.
F. If you would like to discuss the possibility of AQIP providing you help to stimulate progress on this action project, explain your need(s) here and tell us who to contact and when?