COLLEGE COUNCIL

RECORD OF MEETING

April 6, 2007, Manzanita Conference Room

Present: Nancy Bull, Coni Chavez (recorder), Dave Chesnut, Dennis Gervin, Elbert James (ASCC Club Representative), Jayme Johnson (ASCC President), Gary Mendenhall, Connie Mical, Rick Rivera, Katherine Schultz, Joan Smith, Larry Steuben, Gene Womble

Not Present: Doralyn Foletti, Rose Hefley, Doug Lau

1. Approval of the minutes for the March 2, 2007 meeting of the College Council

It was moved, seconded (Katherine Schultz/Nancy Bull) and passed that the minutes of the March 2, 2007 meeting be approved.

2. Columbia College Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Core Values

Using numerous Columbia College documents and integrating the philosophies and verbiage contained therein, the College Council, at their March 2, 2007 meeting reviewed and revised the College’s Mission Statement and Vision Statement and developed a set of Core Values. It was moved, seconded (Connie Mical/Nancy Bull) and passed that these documents be adopted as amended below. The Mission Statement and Vision Statement will be forwarded to the YCCD Board of Trustees for their consideration at the May YCCD Board meeting.

Columbia College Mission Statement

Columbia College is a dynamic institution of learners and creative thinkers dedicated to high standards of student success. We prepare students to be fully engaged in an evolving world by offering comprehensive and high quality programs and services. Columbia College is committed to a culture of improvement through measuring student learning across the institution. We strive for excellence, foster a spirit of professionalism and celebrate diversity.

Columbia College Vision Statement

We envision ourselves as an exceptional institution of higher education.

Columbia College will continue to provide comprehensive, exemplary educational programs and services which respond to the individual learning needs of its students and the collective economic and cultural needs of its diverse communities.

Columbia College will be a center for transformational learning promoted through critical and creative thinking that is open to change and personal growth; civic, environmental, and global awareness and engagement; and individual and collective responsibility. We will promote a culture of support for student learning across the institution that adopts a holistic approach.

Columbia College will use leading edge technologies and showcase facilities to enhance teaching and learning. Our vision will be realized through outstanding employees who adhere to high standards of excellence while working in partnership with those we serve.

We envision developing a passion for lifelong learning.

Columbia College Core Values

The Columbia College community is committed to following a set of enduring Core Values wherein the development of Columbia College meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These Core Values will guide the institution through changing times and shape our Vision, Mission and Goals.

Academic Excellence and Success: We value the commitment to quality and support continuous improvement through student learning outcomes. We are committed to providing a comprehensive curriculum and services that support and foster a culture of academic wellness for all of our students.

Innovation, Professional Development, and Commonality: We value creativity, risk-taking, and vision. We value others, ourselves, and our students as unique individuals and embrace the commonalities and the differences that promote the best of who we are.

Transformational Learning: We value and promote critical and creative thinking. We value learning as a lifelong process of change in the pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

Vital Community and Access: We value and believe it is essential to assist the broader community in gaining access to higher education and achieving success in their chosen endeavors. Columbia College values its role in the community and is dedicated to strengthening and enriching the quality of life of all those we serve.

Environmental Sustainability: We value our living planet. We accept responsibility and adopt practices to protect the environment for future generations and share these values with others.

Civic Awareness: We value civic and global awareness. We promote the understanding and betterment of our planet by engaging our community.

Shared Decision Making: We value shared decision making that provides each of us the opportunity to participate in building consensus. We value individual and collective responsibility and accountability.

Positive Environment: We value the preservation of the unique environment of Columbia College which is welcoming, pleasing, and safe.

Collegiality and Professionalism: We value kindness and respect in all our interactions. We support, promote and demonstrate understanding, civility, cooperation and mutual respect among all of its employees, students, and community members.

Institutional Wellness: We value an environment and culture that supports health in which institutional policies, programs, curricula, services and collaborative work with the community promotes and supports health and wellness.

3. College Planning

After considerable discussion, the College Council approved by consensus the following working drafts of the Columbia College Goals and Strategies, Guiding Principles for Columbia College Comprehensive Planning and Columbia College Comprehensive Planning Process flow chart. In addition to the Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Core Values, these documents will be used to inform the writing of the Educational Master Plan over the coming summer months.

DRAFT Columbia College Goals and Strategies

Goal 1 - Student Success

Columbia College is the first choice for our community residents and is recognized for its flexible, superior services that promote student success by providing access to learning in an accommodating and responsive environment.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Create a user friendly, efficient, non-redundant set of administrative systems and support services to assist students from their initial inquiry through completion of their academic programs.

2. Advance one-stop shop service delivery method. Design the delivery of programs and services to best meet the needs of students.

3. Refine the matriculation process for new students, based upon research data and best practices, e.g., use of on-line orientation.

4. Develop a systematic method for assessing and evaluating the following on a regular basis:

a. Student interests and regional needs so that the College maintains responsive programs and services.

b. Academic programs and learning resources to be certain that course content is current, that the most successful pedagogical techniques are used and that the desired learning outcomes are achieved.

c. Services to students to be certain that services are effective and valuable to students in achieving their goals.

d. Student competencies and evaluation methodologies through appropriate committees.

5. Develop specific plans to invigorate, assess and improve basic skills support to our students.

6. Develop a student retention plan that expands Academic Wellness activities; that includes retention targets and is based on evidence and best practices.

Goal 2 - Educational Programs and Services

Columbia College provides comprehensive, exemplary educational programs and services which respond to the individual learning needs of its students and the collective economic and cultural needs of its diverse communities.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Develop a strategic plan that outlines the educational programs and services for students at the Calaveras and Oakdale off-campus sites.

2. Expand distance education course offerings, programs, services and support.

3. Identify, research, analyze and implement student learning outcomes to provide a culture of evidence that serves as a foundation for student learning outcome development, assessment and institutionalization.

Goal 3 - Campus Climate

Columbia College is dedicated to tolerance and mutual respect that is reflected in its inclusiveness of all students and staff, high morale, teamwork, and representative governance.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Extend collaboration between staff and departments to benefit students and the community.

2. Develop and support a robust student life program.

3. Support the Civic Engagement Project to bring important issues and balanced viewpoints to the campus to enhance the critical thinking processes of our students.

Goal 4 - Quality Staff

Columbia College provides a positive work environment that is successful in attracting and retaining highly professional and diverse staff.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Provide training for instructors and staff that illustrates new possibilities for incorporating innovative technology into instructional programs and support services.

2. Provide a mentor program for all new employees.

3. Seek funds to further professional development activities.

4. Foster collaboration among faculty, staff, and students by providing opportunities to meet and discuss ideas.

5. Design a process to recruit and retain qualified candidates.

Goal 5 - Technology

Columbia College uses state of the art technology and technological support to provide students with innovative instruction and staff with high quality training and an efficient work environment.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Review and prioritize the Summary of Recommendations as delineated in the Technology Plan. These can be found on the web at: http://columbia.yosemite.cc.ca.us/TechnologyPlan/TechnologyPlan.htm#Recommendations

2. Expand distance education course offerings, programs, services and support.

3. Provide training for instructors and staff that illustrates new possibilities for incorporating innovative technology into instructional programs and support services.

4. Provide technology tools and training that will support the College’s efforts to create, measure and meet identified Student Learning Outcomes.

5. Incorporate the latest technologies designed for students with disabilities and ensure that all technologies used meet Federal and State accessibility guidelines.

Goal 6 - Community Leadership

Columbia College promotes civic responsibility and involvement of its students and staff, contributes to the cultural and social vitality of its service area, and provides leadership to its communities.

Strategy to Achieve the Goal

1. Provide lectures, discussions, films, displays and other programs that cultivate awareness among the community on issues of local, national and international importance.

2. Enrich the cultural environment of the community with music, art, dance, film and other programs of cultural significance.

3. Support the Civic Engagement Project to bring important issues and balanced viewpoints to the campus and community to enhance the critical thinking processes of our students.

Goal 7 - Partnerships

Columbia College seeks and nurtures partnerships with educational, governmental, business, industry, and non-profit agencies to the benefit of our students and our communities.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

In concert with all stakeholders:

1. Create a strategy for identifying the educational and service needs of each distinct community the college serves. Strategy will address each key population (i.e. seniors, high school students, incumbent workers, employers etc.) and both credit and community education deliveries.

2. Conduct a needs, gaps and solutions analysis associated with the College’s recent experience with the development of the two sites for Calaveras County and Oakdale.

3. Strengthen connections with business and community leaders (i.e.; Workforce Investment Board, Economic Development Corporations, Chambers of Commerce, etc), government entities, local businesses, as well as non-profit agencies for symposiums, topics of community interest, and educational topics.

4. Identify and deploy resources to develop a plan with relevant curriculum for Baker Station.

5. Expand outreach to high schools through the guidance counselors, participation in high school career fairs, participation in community events where Columbia College information can be disseminated.

Goal 8 - Institutional Effectiveness

Columbia College uses its participatory environment to integrate needs assessment, program review, systematic planning, and outcomes measurement that lead to an effective institution.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Identify and prioritize research issues necessary to support a culture of evidence.

2. Identify, research, analyze and implement student learning outcomes to provide a culture of evidence that serves as a foundation to support the Mission and Vision of the College.

3. Develop, through a process of shared governance, an effective program review process that is directly tied to the Educational Master Plan and resource allocation.

4. Implement a college-wide program review process that fosters continual improvement and student learning.

Goal 9 - Facilities

Columbia College is committed to the development and maintenance of functional, accessible and safe facilities and grounds that are aesthetically pleasing and in harmony with the environment.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Review and update the Facility Master Plan (FMP) to have clear ties to the Educational Master Plan (EMP). Implement the FMP and Campus Master Plan to improve student learning and work environments.

2. Improve the accessibility of all college facilities with particular attention in improving the quality of campus pathways and ramps.

3. Advocate for increasing staffing levels and equipment to adequately support the facility needs of the College.

4. Develop college-wide environmental sustainability standards for building and facility projects.

5. Conduct a review of the College’s safety and security operations. Develop a strategic plan to meet the College’s current and future security and safety needs.

Goal 10: Fiscal Resources

Columbia College optimizes its resources through creative and prudent fiscal management providing a stable, flexible funding base.

Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1. Work with the District to develop a collaborative process to ensure the transparent and equitable allocation of financial resources and implement a process to communicate budget issues on an ongoing basis.

2. Design a system for continually assessing how resources—human, fiscal, and physical—align with the Mission of the College and make the necessary adjustments.

3. Pursue funding alternatives for FMP projects’ facility and operational costs.

4. Develop the Columbia College Foundation to increase the number and amount of donations to the College.

5. Develop a support system for external funding.

Guiding Principles for Columbia College Comprehensive Planning

The Columbia College comprehensive planning process was guided by the following principles:

Ø The Columbia College Council served as the oversight body for the development and coordination of strategic institutional planning—including the Educational Master Plan.

Ø The planning process was conducted through consensus building and followed the Principles of Collegial Governance.

Ø College Council members shared documents with their constituency groups at large—allowing for as much campus interaction as possible and creating a venue to provide for greater Columbia College representation.

Ø The planning process was built upon—without duplication, work already done in planning.

Ø It was an open, collaborative process of high quality, though mindful of the need to complete a draft plan by August 1, 2007.

Ø The process followed best practice models, as defined by College Council.

Ø It reflected a positive orientation to planning, viewing critical issues as opportunities to create distinction by integrating institutional strengths and Core Values with needs, emerging trends and external forces.