Minutes 04/14/1998

An executive session convened at 5:30 p.m., pursuant to A.R.S. ¤38-431.02, notice having duly given.

A work session of the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board was scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. at the District Support Services Center, 2411 West 14th Street, Tempe, Arizona.

Present

Governing Board
Ed Contreras, President
Linda B. Rosenthal, Secretary
Gene Eastin, Member
Donald R. Campbell, Member
Nancy Stein, Member



Administration
Paul A. Elsner
William Waechter
Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr.
Rufus Glasper
John Schroeder for Ron Bleed
Janice Bradshaw
Mary Vanis for Larry Christiansen
John Cordova
Irwin Noyes for Art DeCabooter
Stan Grossman
Homero Lopez
Linda Thor
Alberto Sanchez for Tessa Martinez Pollack
Arnette Ward



Absent

State Board Nick Balich

Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Ed Contreras.

Executive Session
President Contreras called for a motion convening an executive session, notice having been previously given.


MOTION No. 8748
Gene Eastin moved that an executive session be convened. Motion carried 5-0.

The meeting recessed at 5:31 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 6:30 p.m.


Work Session Discussion on Monitoring the End Outcomes for Elementary and Secondary Schools

Ed Contreras welcomed the group and introduced Mary Day who went over the agenda for the evening.
Mary provided an overview of a slide presentation of material regarding the End - Outcomes for Elementary and Secondary Schools: will have the opportunity to participate in cooperative partnerships with Maricopa Colleges, designed for successful retention and matriculation of their students. Data was provided regarding population growth and demographic shifts, public school enrollment, high school graduation rates, childhood poverty, who comes to Maricopa colleges, and performance of students who enter Maricopa community colleges. Data included:

• Maricopa County is the fastest growing county in the United States
  
• Arizona is projected to have 116,000 new students between now and 2015.
  
• 55,000 more students are projected for community colleges in the state and Maricopa would have 33,000 more students.
  • More Hispanic students
  • More full-time students
  • Younger students
  
  
• 62% increase in high school students is projected
  
• Of the children in Arizona who reach 12th grade, about 23% do not graduate
  
• In Arizona, the decision was made that 80% of the students should graduate from high school, but only 29% of the high schools were able to reach this goal
  
• Since 1983, graduation rates have declined in this country and Arizona rates more poorly than most states, ranking 44th

Mary discussed Educational Testing Services projections for students in colleges by the year 2015. Of students in Arizona in kindergarten, 35% are Hispanic. These students would enter college in the year 2010. ETS projects that only 22% of these students will go on to college. In her material on poverty and its effects, Mary discussed that although the median price for a home in Arizona has risen to $168,000, there is a growing rate of poverty in children. Arizona has the 4th or 5th highest rate of children in poverty in the United States. The level of poverty or income plays a larger role than ethnicity when looking at enrollment data of who does and does not go on to college. There is a wide funding difference in public schools ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 or $12,000 per child. Since 1990 there has been a decrease of approximately 9% in funding in public schools and Arizona ranks about 45th in the nation. Approximately 40 - 45% of students come to MCCCD following graduation from high school.

Data indicated that for the first time, the enrollment is flat in MCCCD, which atypical with the population growth. In the next ten years, significant numbers of faculty will be eligible to retire when there is a projection of a possible significant increase in enrollment. This is an issue that needs to be seriously examined. Mary discussed testing data. There are more students who test into honors English than one English developmental course. Approximately 30% of students do not take mathematics their first year and only 8% of students test into college algebra or college calculus. Data provided in the slide presentation is provided as a part of the meeting materials for these minutes.

Following the presentation, Mary asked that the participants break into small groups to hold informal discussions on the End - Outcomes for Students: Graduates from degree programs will demonstrate competency in communication (reading, writing, speaking, listening), the humanities, critical thinking, problem solving, and computing. The small group leaders shared with their groups what is occurring on their campuses regarding institutional effectiveness. The second part of the small group discussion was held for participants to recommend priority Ends for monitoring for 1998-99. Report out of the groups on that issue is as follows:

Group One
Recommended Ends for Monitoring in 1998-99:

People of Maricopa County

• Have accessible, affordable life-long, quality education and employment training opportunities in a safe environment

Outcomes for Students

• Have access to comprehensive programs and services to support their learning/educational and employment goals in a safe environment
  
• Have accessible and affordable current educational programs
  
• Combine "access" outcomes
  
• Have input into the MCCCD education process

Refine the Outcome for Students regarding competencies in the next year and monitor that progress

Continue to monitor the Ends identified for 1997-98


Group Two
Recommended Ends for Monitoring in 1998-99:

• Keep the present Ends for several years until a way to measure has been established and then perform measurement
  
• Build new End statement based on college mission, vision and goals. Important that the District End statements be a macrocosm of the college statements.
  
• Provide support to Mary Day's unit.
  
• Emulate or imitate models such as Pima's. (Brochure was distributed to the group)
  
• Encourage college presidents to commit resources. Important for college buy-in and support.

It was noted that the District no longer has "goals." The goals have been replaced by the Ends.


Group Three
Recommended Ends for Monitoring in 1998-99:

Outcomes for Students - competencies

• Need to better define learning outcomes
  
• Need to distinguish between ends and outcomes - need districtwide definitions
  • student performance
  • process

Are there demonstrable assessments as well as measurable assessments?

College and personal goals based upon constituencies' desires

Need baseline measurements


Mr. Contreras asked that in-depth thinking and homework be done prior to the next work session in order to come up satisfactory ends and direction for the next year. He strongly encouraged attendance at the meeting by those who desire to make an impact on this District



Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.



Linda Rosenthal
Secretary