Student Services

by Nancy Browne, Olga Diaz, Dillon Emerick, Pearl Ly, Kendyl Magnuson, Patrick O’Brien, Star Rivera-Lacey

TECHNOLOGICAL PROJECTS

Several technology projects are taking place to strengthen student service delivery. Palomar College joined 36 other colleges in California to pilot the use of Starfish Early Alert & Degree Planner. Starfish is a student success tool used by more than 200 institutions across the country to support students throughout their college experience. Starfish Early Alert allows us to help students meet their career and educational goals by referring them to key campuses resources and keeping them up to date regarding their class progress. Starfish Degree Planner allows students to plan the courses they need to complete a degree or certificate at Palomar. The training of approximately 60+ full and part-time counselors began in February 2019 with the goal of completing the training by the beginning of fall ‘19 semester.

NEW GRANT

Student Services was recently awarded a Strong Workforce Program Grant to support outreach and on-boarding practices. Funding from this grant will support our ongoing efforts to improve business practices and technology functions under a Guided Pathways model.

IDENTIFYING STUDENT-CENTERED NEEDS

Student Services team identified campus services and locations that require streamlining a path towards student-centered services as a focus because currently many services are located all over campus and difficult for students to find. Students feedback is important in helping the GP Team identify areas of improvement and an email was sent out to all student employees inviting them to the GP meetings.

Career Integration

by Rosie Antonecchia, Glyn Bongolan,  Rita Campos-Griggs, Elena Chirkova-Sikora, Margie Fritch, Karan Huskey, Nichol Roe, Chris Sinnott)

NEW FULL-TIME STAFF FOR STUDENT JOB PLACEMENT

Ongoing categorical funding has also been received from the Regional Strong Workforce Program (SWP) to hire a full-time case manager for the function of job placement at each of the ten community colleges. Palomar College hired Bruce Reaves as the Strong Workforce Job Developer beginning January 2, 2019. The Job Developer will work closely with the new Work-Based Learning Coordinators, Career Center, Cooperative Education and Service Learning staff to create integrated processes that make it easy for all students to receive assistance in securing job placement.

Long term goals are the creation of official practices regarding Work-Based Learning activities and the integration of career education into campus culture, with career exploration and development for all students starting at the very beginning of their educational programs.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AND SERVICE LEARNING ARE NOW CO-LOCATED!

Work-Based Learning refers to a continuum of experiences that support career awareness, career exploration, and career preparation, through engagement with employers and real work opportunities. The two largest Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs at Palomar College, Cooperative Education and Service Learning, have been centralized into the same physical location on campus in the P building. Moving these two offices together creates a single place for students to access information regarding project-based and work-based opportunities like internships, community service projects, and more! Additionally, two years of funding was made available to all 10 community colleges from the San Diego Regional Strong Workforce Program (SWP) funds to reassign two faculty members as Work-Based Learning coordinators. These coordinators will work with faculty and staff to establish policies, processes and practices that promote more Work-Based Learning activities campus wide. Doing so will provide all students with opportunities that support and deepen classroom learning and facilitate employment. Palomar College has reassigned faculty members Rita Campo Griggs and Chris Sinnott in these roles starting Spring 2019.