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ACCE "Train"ing

1/3/2018

Every year, the ACCE officers travel to the destination of the upcoming conference for a board meeting. This gives us a chance to take a look at the conference site, do some planning, and get a sense of how the conference will play out. We journeyed to Jack London Square in Oakland in August to do just that, and I was intrigued by how close by the local Amtrak station sits. Weary of security lines at airports and knowing how peaceful the train journey can be, coupled with the short walk from the station to the hotel, made me think about taking the train from southern California to the ACCE conference in February.

Round trip tickets from Los Angeles Union Station to Oakland Jack London Square station can cost as little as $104 for a non-refundable ticket, or $125 for a refundable ticket. Though that’s not necessarily a whole lot cheaper than flying, the journey is spacious and relaxing. Legroom is ample, wi-fi is available, and there are decent food and beverage options. In the end, when you add up the costs of flying as well as parking at the airport or rideshare costs to and from, you can save a few dollars with the train.

The best part, however, is the view. The route goes up the California coastline, many parts of the journey right along the coast. Honestly, if you haven’t done this journey before, it’s worth doing once.

All this said, there are some considerations. You will be on an eleven hour journey from Los Angeles to Oakland, certainly longer than driving or flying. Rarely, there are delays or setbacks with train travel, so you have to be adventurous and prepare to be flexible. But if you’re up for doing something different and have one day for travel, it’s worth at least a thought!

Looking forward to seeing you at the conference no matter how you get there!

John Makevich
Dean of Community & Continuing Education
College of the Canyons

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A Post-Workshop Note from ACCE President, Frances DeNisco

11/10/2017

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Thank you all for a great, productive week statewide!

I was privileged to see and speak with many of you this week, and I just want to remark that the dedication and work that all of you do as professionals continues to inspire me. The ability to meet with my Community Education colleagues is invaluable to me as a one person program. I know our colleagues in continuing education feel the same about having that time to check in and be amongst a group of people who understand.

The momentum we have been able to generate in the past several years on behalf of our students statewide is remarkable, and I look forward to seeing you all in Oakland in February to discuss ways to see that the momentum continues.

Thank you to the Board of ACCE, the Chancellor’s Office and Mt. San Antonio college for all of your work on behalf of professionals in the state who seek real change for their students. Thank you to our presenters: Kirstin Corbin, Chantee Guiney, Neil Kelly, Ashley Walker, Michael Quiaoit, Stephanie Paramore, Michael Ngo and of course our Board members who presented as well.

Frances DeNisco
ACCE President

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November 2017 Drive-in Workshops Announced

9/27/2017

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Welcome ACCE Members/Colleagues!

We have planned and are participating in a record number of events and activities on behalf of you, our community and continuing education colleagues this year.

Community Education professionals are revising of the Guidelines for Community Services, a document originally written with ACCE's help in 2012. Our Continuing Education colleagues tirelessly advocate at the policy level for our students, and are participating in a growing number of educational policy-making opportunities at the state level.

Please keep these dates on your calendar, and register today. Topics at the Drive-in workshops will reach you via the listservs and website shortly.

Our theme this year accurately reflects who we are in support of our students: Agents of Change.

Upcoming workshops:
Bond, ACCE Bond: Community of Practice in Continuing and Community Education

Northern Workshop
Monday, November 6, 2017
CCCCO
1102 Q Street
Sacramento, CA 95911
Register online.

Southern Workshop
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Mt. San Antonio College
1100 N. Grand Ave.
Walnut, CA 91789
Register online.

And don’t forget our Annual Conference, coming up in Jack London Square, Oakland, at the Waterfront Hotel, February 7 through 9, 2018. Details will be available soon!

We are an all-volunteer organization working in support of Community and Continuing Education statewide, and we appreciate your support.

On a personal note, thank you for the opportunity to serve as president of this organization in support of our students. I look forward to a great year of working with you as an agent of change for our students in their lives.

Sincerely,
Frances DeNisco, President, ACCE

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A Note from ACCE President, Liza Becker (Spring 2017)

4/18/2017

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Each term has its own sense of excitement for me. Summer term is my favorite – a time to tie up loose ends and generate fresh ideas for the new academic year. Fall term is full of hope for implementing new plans and aiming for those benchmarked outcomes. Winter is a time for re-strategizing, re-calibrating, and re-aligning the (enthusiastic) goals set in summer or early fall. Spring is simply action time! It is time to revisit our plans and “close the loop.”

I hope you too are feeling re-energized and prepared to tackle the myriad of tasks on your list. One thing to keep in mind is that we are here, as ACCE colleagues, to support each other and provide resources needed for our students and our programs. A great venue for this is always the ACCE spring conference, and this year was no exception. We were able to cover a broad spectrum of topics ranging from legislative and Chancellor’s Office updates, to communicative strategies in dealing with micro aggression in the workplace, and sharing our model programs that can be adapted for our own colleges. Kudos to the entire ACCE Board, and especially to Carla, Cindy, Jan, Madelyn, and Rosie for setting up such an awesome program! You’ve set the bar high for next year.

Next, I would like to tell you about an exciting event with which ACCE is involved in early May. It is a 2-day noncredit summit entitled: Building Bridges and Programs: Developing and Sustaining a Culture of Noncredit. This is a collaborative effort among several organizations including the Chancellor’s Office and Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (CCCCO, IEPI), Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC), California Community College Success Network (3CSN), and the Career Ladders Project (CLP), and others. Our goal is for teams to leave the conference with substantial resources and a preliminary plan for noncredit implementation or expansion at their colleges. The conference is currently sold out, but you can still add your name to the waitlist using the IEPI website. Look for further announcements through ACCE and other listservs.

Lastly, I want to wish you a smooth and successful spring term, and look forward to our next in-person gathering.

Liza Becker
ACCE President

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A Note from ACCE President - Liza Becker

12/8/2016

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There is a Chinese proverb which says, “May he live in interesting times.” Like it or not we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men [and women] than any other time in history.
– Robert F. Kennedy, Capetown South Africa, 1966

No doubt about it. We are living in interesting times. Our fall term started with greater than usual level of interest in the outcome of our political elections. It is ending in surprise and, let’s face it, a bit of anxiety about the future of our programs, our funded initiatives, and especially for our students. But have you also detected, as I have, the sense of solidarity and affirmation? The sense that we are resilient and ready to tackle any obstacles . . . dare I say “walls” that try to get in our way?

Press releases and listserv statements are all affirming the fact that we will not let our students down. We are in the business of serving and providing opportunities for our diverse populations, many of whom are turning to us for a new chance at college pathways, career advancements, and civic engagement. Whether it’s noncredit or community education they seek, we are ready, willing, and able to support them through the mission of ACCE - advocacy, networking, and sharing of our best practices.

Our ACCE Northern and Southern Workshops delivered this promise. I attended both and received feedback from colleagues who are interested in establishing or growing their programs, also from colleagues who are well established and willing to share their model practices. Rosie has written a wonderfully extensive description on the Community Education workshops in this newsletter. As for noncredit sessions, they were focused on starting noncredit programs and support services, as well as initiative and legislative updates. Some of the slides are posted on our ACCE website. I hope you were able to join us.

The ACCE Annual Conference also promises to be an interesting session. It will be held at The Dana on Mission Bay, in San Diego, scheduled February 1 – 3. Our theme is Treasure Hunting: Finding the right Xs for your students’ success! We are fortunate to have more funding initiatives these days than in years past. This comes at a price! We must be diligent in reporting our successes through outcomes, data, and other accountability measures. I encourage you to present your best practices with others by answering to the call for presentation we have posted on our website and emailed through the listservs.

As I write this just before Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think how fortunate I am to be part of the ACCE organization. ACCE has always been there for me over the years in terms of providing information and resources as well as support and camaraderie. Through ACCE, I have connected with key players across the state who listen to us and help us to set policy and guidelines that meet the needs of our students. ACCE is an organization that is comprised of hard working professionals who demonstrate creativity, innovation, and energy on a daily basis – necessary characteristics in these “interesting times.” I am thankful to be part of this professional organization and hope you are too!

Wishing you a Happy Holidays!
Liza Becker

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PRESS RELEASE: California Community Colleges Reaffirm Values of Inclusiveness and Diversity Following Presidential Election

11/14/2016

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As student government leaders from around the state gather in Sacramento for their general assembly, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office on Thursday reminded students, including undocumented students, that financial aid remains available for them to pursue their educational goals.

“While the presidential election has been divisive and has sparked anxiety and uncertainty on our campuses, we will always embrace the values of inclusion and diversity and support all students who want to build better lives for themselves and their communities,” said Interim Chancellor Erik E. Skinner. “No student should forgo the opportunity to apply for financial assistance at our colleges.”

In California, in-state enrollment fees and state financial aid -- including fee waivers, Cal Grant and privately funded institutional scholarships -- are available to certain undocumented students, or Dreamers. These benefits are protected by California law, and more information can be found by clicking on the “Dream Act” link at icanaffordcollege.com.

Skinner also noted that community college financial aid and student services professionals are available to support undocumented students, and several colleges have on-campus Dream Centers.

“We look forward to joining the leaders of the Student Senate for the California Community Colleges this weekend to reaffirm our commitment that our colleges are welcoming and supportive for students of all backgrounds,” said Skinner, who added that the community college system will continue to work closely with the University of California and California State University systems on supporting all students.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 113 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. For more information about the community colleges, please visit http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/, https://www.facebook.com/CACommColleges, or https://twitter.com/CalCommColleges.

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Northern Workshop: Community Education Track Highlights

10/27/2016

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The ACCE Northern Workshop was held Friday, October 21, 2016 in Sacramento, CA. Council Leader, Rosie Armstrong, summarized some of the highlights from the day's community education track.

Instructor recruitment - Discussion was held on internal and external recruitment of instructors. By far and wide, recruitment is coming externally and not from internal sources from the most part. ACCE members agree that its respective individual college employees are great resources for Community Education instruction but hiring them either as an employee or contractor can be a challenge due to District policies.

Online vendors - There is a slew of vendor options and sometimes working with multiple vendors can provide the most enriching experience because they provide different formats of training. Ed2Go seems to remain highly popular amongst responding members. Many Community Education providers are operated by a small staff and so having the vendor handle registration can be key to success. Schools should always consider profit margin when making this decision.

For overall program registration, some vendors being utilized include ASAP, ActiveNet, and R School Today. Augusoft Lumens remains highly popular amongst many member schools.

Easy-to-run and successful programs - Turn-key healthcare programs like Pharmacy Technician were highlighted by several members. Other popular programs (although not turn-key) remain Notary Public and Auto Wholesale.

Marketing - Third party marketing solutions were discussed. CourseHorse was cited by ACCE members in Southern California. Also mentioned were marketing and email providers, GENOO and Constant Contact. Constant Contact was the most well-known, although it does not appear any are highly utilized over another. Some members discussed using Facebook, but keeping relevant data up-to-date can remain challenging.

For those looking for noncredit information, we've posted several presentations from the day in our archives.

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Community Education Co-Enrollment Update

9/6/2016

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The co-enrollment of fee-based and credit students has been a topic at the System Advisory Committee on Curriculum (SACC), one of several statewide committees at which ACCE members attend to advocate for our programs. Erica LeBlanc attended the June 2016 meeting on behalf of the ACCE and came back with an up to the minute report on this topic at the state level.

For several years, SACC has requested representatives from CCCCO’s Legal Department to provide advice and direction to enable colleges to combine enrollment of fee-paying students and credit seeking students. Several years ago, the CCCCO’s then-legal representative indicated that title 5 did not preclude this approach and several members of ACCE’s Board worked with CCCCO representatives to develop guidelines to enable colleges to pursue this option. For classes, like orchestra and other performance-based classes where community involvement is needed, this option would be a viable way to accommodate students who are locked out of classes due to repeatability restrictions on credit classes.

Although, as mentioned, the CCCCO previously indicated this practice was acceptable. The current opinion from the CCCCO is there are many challenges that would have to be overcome and some are of the opinion this option would not be appropriate for colleges to pursue.

At the June 2016 SACC meeting, the co-enrollment of Community Education and credit students was again a hot topic. SACC heard from Elias Regalado, Director of Fiscal Standards and Accountability, who has a number of concerns which he brought to the discussion.

Although the list of challenges is daunting, Erica feels it is a positive step that the discussion is moving forward. It has been on the agenda for over two years, but now we know the CCCCO’s specific concerns about co-enrolling fee-based and credit students. One of the issues is whether the Education Code, when written, considered this to be a viable approach. This argument was countered by the point that the Education Code, when written, had not considered repeatability limitations on credit enrollment either. Another concern is the effect this might have on Full-time Faculty Obligation Number (FON).

The good news is SACC, the membership of which includes representatives from the CIOs, ASCCC, and CCCCO, are in support of this approach, at least for some classes. Another option that SACC is pursuing is changing the Title 5 language regarding auditing. Whether to allow students to audit classes is a local decision, but the current Title 5 language limits the enrollment fee to $15 per unit, which is well below the cost of instruction. SACC is pursuing a change to reflect a more broad language that would allow each college to determine the cost of instruction as it applies to auditing courses. Addressing this topic first might be a good intermediate step. The bottom line is that we now have a certain amount of traction on this long standing item that we did not have before. This topic will be carried over into next year.

Thank you, Erica, for your report! ACCE plans on conducting further statewide discussions on this topic, along with breakout sessions at upcoming conferences.

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A Note from ACCE President - Liza Becker

9/6/2016

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Years ago, I used to look forward to summer sessions, jokingly calling them “Summer Lite.” These days, there doesn’t seem to be anything “lite” about them. Now I say “Where did the summer go!?” and I’m sure you can relate. There seems to be a good deal of activity on both the noncredit and community education fronts, and ACCE is making sure that we have representation at the table when the important conversations take place.

As I step into my new role as ACCE President, I can’t help but consider the major accomplishments we have achieved over the past few years. When I first joined ACCE in 2004-05, we were fiercely advocating for equalization of funding and eventually achieved it with the CDCP rate of enhanced funding. (Remember SB361?) This opened doors for some of us, and for others it helped to keep our doors open during the economic downturn, beginning in 2007-08. Today, we have different challenges (good ones!) that are the result of new initiatives, restored categorical funding, and collaborative opportunities with partners across our regions and the state.

So here are just some of the critical issues that are currently on our ACCE radar: Progress Indicators: Board of Governors is currently reviewing the recommendation of adding Satisfactory Progress (SP) as an indicator of success for noncredit, requires title 5 changes. We want this to be approved!

Noncredit SSSP: Implementation of Common Assessment Initiative and CCCApply processes are being hashed out with workgroups so that our support services can be adequately reported in the new noncredit SSSP funding formula. Locally, we need to identify gaps and align our data to the data elements coding for proper upload (and pay points).
Fee-based and Credit Co-enrollment: ACCE is still pursuing advice and direction for this option which has the potential to provide additional opportunities for student access. This has been reviewed extensively in SACC and discussions will hopefully continue in the coming year.

Updates on these “hot topics” and much more will be communicated to you via our ACCE website, the noncredit and community education listservs, our one-day fall workshops, and our annual spring conference. If you or a colleague would like to be added to one or both listservs, please contact your Council Leaders or the ACCE website administrator (contact information is on our website). Dates for the Drive-In Workshops are set for October 21 (Fri.) for the north and November 10 (Thur.) for the south. We also have the spring conference dates scheduled, so please save the dates of February 1 – 3 and prepare to stay at a lovely San Diego beach-side hotel. We are working on a special rate for conference attendees.

Last, but not least, I want to send a special welcome message to our new council leaders. Carla Muldoon, Cindy Chang, and Jan Young: You will help your colleagues in the field and learn so much along the way!!

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Eloy Ortiz Oakley named Chancellor of California Community Colleges

7/20/2016

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The California Community Colleges Board of Governors today announced the unanimous selection of Long Beach Community College District Superintendent-President Eloy Ortiz Oakley, a nationally known innovator in public education, as the next chancellor to lead the largest and most diverse system of public higher education in the nation.

“Today the Board of Governors continues the tradition of selecting great chancellors to lead the California Community Colleges,’’ said Board President Geoffrey L. Baum. “Eloy Ortiz Oakley is an innovative and tested leader who understands how to operate successfully in a large, complex system of public higher education. In Oakley we see a change agent – someone whose relentless focus on student success will help more students obtain certificates and degrees or transfer to four-year institutions on time. As a member of the UC Board of Regents and with his close ties with California State University, he is well positioned to foster greater collaboration that will benefit all students.”

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. said, “Eloy Oakley knows California’s community colleges inside and out and has served at every level in the system – from teaching in the classroom to running a campus as superintendent. California’s 113 community colleges – and the 2.1 million students they serve – are in good hands.”

Oakley was named superintendent-president of the Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) in 2007. During his tenure, Oakley helped form the nationally recognized Long Beach College Promise, which engages high school administrators and teachers to work with college faculty and staff to create structured pathways for students to follow as they progress from one educational institution to the next. Long Beach College Promise students are guaranteed a tuition-free year at Long Beach City College and preferred admission status to California State University, Long Beach after completing transfer requirements. The Long Beach College Promise has inspired similar programs across the country. America’s College Promise, an initiative introduced by President Barack Obama in 2015, was modeled in part on the Long Beach College Promise.

“The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges has made a spectacular choice,’’ said Ted Mitchell, under secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. “Eloy Oakley is a proven leader of national stature. He has been a valued partner in the President’s effort to provide free community college to qualified students. I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

"As a California native and a product of a California community college, I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the nation,” Oakley said. “I wish to thank the Board of Governors, Governor Brown and the people of California for expressing their faith in me. I recognize that I would not have this opportunity but for the amazing faculty and staff that make up our community college system. As chancellor I look forward to working with our 113 colleges, public education advocates, civil rights organizations, education policy experts and business and civic leaders to better serve our students and to create value for our great state."

While at LBCCD, Oakley also helped establish Promise Pathways, a program that uses high school performance grades and transcripts to ensure students are placed in appropriate class levels. Promise Pathways also uses improved advising and enrollment practices to help students select the right classes to maximize their success.

To jumpstart the region’s economy, Oakley partnered with Goldman Sachs to launch the 10,000 Small Businesses Program to help small businesses grow and create jobs. This successful endeavor has taught more than 600 local business owners how to expand operations, increase profits and create more jobs in the region.

“No one is as uniquely qualified and prepared to deal with contemporary issues facing our community colleges today as Eloy Oakley,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). “As a member of the AACC board of directors, I have seen first-hand his passion for the mission of the community colleges as well as a great understanding of the politics and policies that govern our institutions. I look forward to working with Eloy in this new role.”

Oakley, who will become the first Latino to lead the California Community Colleges, is himself a community college success story. After serving four years in the U.S. Army, he enrolled at Golden West College. He then transferred to the University of California, Irvine where he received his degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Analysis and Design and Master of Business Administration.

Oakley joined LBCCD in 2002, serving as the assistant superintendent/executive vice president of administrative services. Previously, he served as the vice president of college services at Oxnard College; the assistant vice president of the Property & Casualty Division of Keenan & Associates and the manager of risk services at the Coast Community College District. Oakley also served as an adjunct faculty member for the Environmental Technology Certificate Program at Golden West College.

In 2014, Gov. Brown appointed Oakley to the University of California Board of Regents.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Eloy on UC’s Board of Regents where he has distinguished himself by always asking the right questions and his unwavering commitment to expanding access to higher education in California,” said University of California President Janet Napolitano. “As chancellor of the California Community Colleges, I know he’ll continue to do so. I look forward to working with him, especially on further improving the pathway to UC for California transfer students.”

“Eloy is an outstanding leader and partner in California public higher education,” said Timothy P. White, chancellor of California State University. He has dedicated himself to building pathways for students from K-12 to a college degree, university degree and beyond. Eloy challenges and empowers all of us to think deeply about higher education’s role in our society and act accordingly. He understands the needs of California’s communities and is dedicated to our shared success.”

Oakley serves on the boards and committees of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the California Forward Leadership Council, the College Futures Foundation, the American Association of Community Colleges, the YMCA of Greater Long Beach and the Long Beach Rotary Club. He also sits on the advisory board for the California State University, Long Beach Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership.

Oakley will begin his duties on Dec. 19, 2016 and replaces Chancellor Brice W. Harris, who retired in April after leading the community college system for nearly four years. Erik E. Skinner will continue to serve as interim chancellor until Oakley takes office.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 113 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. For more information about the community colleges, please visit http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/,https://www.facebook.com/CACommColleges, or https://twitter.com/CalCommColleges.

For questions regarding this announcement, please contact Paul Feist at pfeist@cccco.edu, or download the full release at CCCCO.EDU.

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