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Welcome to the Basic Skills Initiative Project at Skyline College!



MISSION:  Develop and implement a plan for creating a comprehensive developmental education program that will facilitate the transition of students into and through degree, certificate, and transfer courses and programs.  

We have funding to implement the basic skills initiatives that we design.  We would like the decisions of what to design and implement to be faculty and staff driven, so we're asking for your input.  Here is the overall progression of the BSI Project:


Self-Assessment

Fall 07

Planning
Fall 07

Implementation
Spring 08

Report to State
Spring 08



                                                  
THE PEOPLE INVOLVED:  The BSI Project is being coordinated by Rachel Bell, Rick Hough, and Jacquie Escobar.  The BSI Steering Committee is Vicki Morrow, Regina Stanback-Stroud , Lori Adrian, Rick Wallace, Mike Williamson, Connie Beringer, Leslie Shelton, Cathy Hasson, Leigh Anne Sippel, and Andy Davis.  Widespread faculty and staff involvement is vital to the success of this project, so we would also like to include many others throughout the project and as we begin the initial self-assessment stage. 

THANK YOU GIFTS:  We are providing thank you gift certificates to the Serramonte Mall for those who participate in the self-assessment stage.  The self-assessment stage is centered on examining 26 effective practices, and we are forming one group for each effective practice, which would include a chair and two members, and we would distribute the gift certificates in the following way:

                          Chair of a effective practice group:                                Member of effective practice group:
                                      $120 gift certificate                                                          $100 gift certificate 

 


EFFECTIVE PRACTICE GROUPS:  Below you will find a list of the people who have been proposed to chair each effective practice.  The chair would be in charge of calling the meetings (there will only be 2-3) and of compiling and sharing the final information the group generates.  The chair will also select the two group members in his/her effective practice group, but those who are interested can also contact particular chairs to volunteer.  The BSI committee might also suggest some people who would be a good fit for your group.  We have also drafted a list of names of people who might be interested in the project, so let us know if you would like us to send this list to you. 

Each Effective Practice Group will focus on thoroughly and honestly answering 4 questions:

            As applicable, briefly describe how this practice occurs/exists at your institution:

            What evidence exists to support the efficacy of this practice?


            What barriers/limitations exist to implementing or enhancing this practice?


            How might this practice be advanced or expanded upon in the future?



BSI Effective Practice Group Timeline for Fall 2007 (Self-Assessment & Planning):


Confirm 3-person group

by Mon Oct 8th

Hold initial
group meeting
by Mon, Oct 22nd

Hold final group meeting and compile findings
by Mon, Nov 19th

Email answers to 4 questions & proposed actions in matrix form
by Mon, Nov 26th

Priorities/Action plan meeting (chairs required)
on Mon, Dec 3rd



SUPPORT FROM COORDINATORS:  Rachel Bell, Jacquie Escobar, and Rick Hough will serve as resource people to the Effective Practice Groups.  Visit the BSI Data and Resources page for information to use in examining your effective practice.  If you need more data, please contact us and we can make the requests to the proper person.  Also, if there is anything else you need or that would facilitate your Effective Practice Group work, please contact us.


LIST OF THE 26 EFFECTIVE PRACTICE GROUP MEMBERS:  Click here for a complete list of the 26 Effective Practice group members.  For information on the BSI project as well as details about each effective practice, see below:
               

You can download the complete Basic Skills Initiative Guide at:

  Basic Skills as a Foundation for Student Success in California Community Colleges 


To go to individual Effective Practice Self-Assessment sections, enter in the following page numbers in the guide:

                        Section A: Organizational and Administrative Practices (p. 106-112, matrix p. 113)
                        Section B: Program Components (p. 114-118, matrix p. 119)
                        Section C: Staff Development (p. 120-125, matrix p. 126)
                        Section D: Instructional Practices (p. 127-137, matrix p. 138)