What is the Foundational Skills Committee?
Los Angeles Valley College’s Foundational Skills Committee was established to address the California Community College Basic Skills Initiative (CCCBSI). The CCCBSI focuses on "the need to provide basic skills, and by extension English as a Second Language (ESL), education to students underprepared for college-level work, including those unable to pass the California High School Exit Exam; address the unmet needs of the California Community College System in the area of basic skills education as noted in the 2006 System Office Strategic Plan; and attend to the professional development needs of community college faculty as they seek to provide basic skills courses/programs in their efforts to ensure students succeed" (http://www.cccbsi.org/about_).
What’s been happening at LAVC?
For information regarding the 2009/2010 Foundational Skills Evaluation Report, please click on LAVC Action Plans.
Fall 2011-Spring 2012
- Launching of pilot program for accelerated math. Students take Math 110 in the fall and Math 115/125 in the spring alongside Personal Development one
- Continuation of dedicated counseling for foundational skills courses both credit and non credit
- Continuation of embedded tutoring for foundational skills courses
- Continuation of additional tutorial staffing for academic support labs
- Expand Student Success Jamboree for spring semester
- Continuation of PLATO software to assist students with foundational skills
- Launching of awareness campaign regarding the importance of preparation for the assessment test.
Fall 2010- Spring 2011
- Planning for pilot program for PACT (Pathways Academy for Completion and Transfer): Students enroll and complete foundational math and English courses in one year using a learning community model
- Continuation of dedicated counseling for foundational skills courses both credit and non credit
- Continuation of embedded tutoring for foundational skills courses
- Continuation of additional tutorial staffing for academic support labs
- Citizenship clinics and computer workshops offered through Continuing Education
- Summer bridge program for English courses offered through Calworks
- Continuation of PLATO software to assist students with foundational skills
- Continuation of ongoing professional development workshops related to foundational skills
Fall 2009 – Spring 2010
Launching of dedicated counseling for foundational skills courses
- Classroom Presentations
- Counseling Appointments
- Student Education Plans
Launching of embedded tutoring for foundational skills courses
- Pilot project with instructors in English, ESL, and Continuing Education courses
- Peer tutors spend three hours in the classroom and two hours outside of the classroom per week
Faculty Inquiry Groups/Curriculum Development Projects
- English Composition Committee Curriculum Alignment/Learning Identity Project for English 28
- Math Curriculum Development project in conjunction with district wide FACCTS project
Spring 2008 - Spring 2009:
Numerous projects identified in LAVC's action plans launched, including the following:
- Inclusion of Foundational Skills in the College Mission Statement
- Creation of Foundational Skills Advisory Committee
- Professional Development workshops with experts in the field to address curriculum and pedagogy
- Implementation of classroom assessment techniques using clickers
- Curriculum alignment with Continuing Education program
- CRLA accreditation for tutor training in the Writing Center
- Acquisition of specialized software to assist students with foundational skills
Foundational Skills Committee Mission Statement:
Los Angeles Valley College’s Foundational Skills Initiative provides a comprehensive and integrated college-wide approach giving students the necessary skills and support to successfully complete their classes and move through a cohesive sequence of college courses. With a combination of academic support, student services, and professional development for faculty, students will be better able to reach their educational goals, whether those be the attainment of certificates, AA degrees, transfer, career advancement, or self improvement
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Kristine Aslanyan
Lynne Brower
Deborah diCesare
Lisa DiDonato
Patrick Hunter
John Kawai Deborah Kaye
Patricia Palmer
Ellie Rabini
Scott Weigand
Phyllis Yasuda
Carole Yee
Al Zucker