NCWE October 21, 2012 Partnerships and Pathways

1. NCWEOctober 21, 2012Partnerships and Pathways Cindy O’Donnell, Kelly Sullivan, Kristin Hunt and Kathy Gallo North Shore Community College Lynn, MA

2. Why Pathways & Partnerships? Funders strongly encourage partnerships. Innovative pathways require collaboration- if we could do it ourselves we would already. We experienced the value of peer learning across our organization through a Breaking Through Initiative working group. We see the value of partnering with other organizations. We just wonder why it is sometimes so difficult!

3. Challenges to Creating Pathways & Partnerships • Money- perceived competition for limited dollars. • People and past relationships • Grant fatigue • Academic silos • Lack of strong leadership • Institutional resistance • Space • Pressure on colleges to be/ do everything • Politics • Grant funding cycles • Economy- worried about making it in a fragile economy • Schedules • Competitiveness

4. Educator & Provider Support Grant • Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care funded • Approximately $800,000/year • Provide professional development opportunities to incumbent early childhood workers • Five grantees across the state

5. Regional Partnership The grant partnership includes three community colleges, one public university, two private four-year colleges, a public school system and seven community based organizations that receive subcontracts for grant related services North Shore Community College is the lead agent for Region 3 (Northeastern Massachusetts), covering 63 cities and towns

6. Region 3 Early Childhood Partnership (R3P) To provide a variety of professional development opportunities to early educators who are currently working with young children to enhance their knowledge and skills and improve program quality for children. • Six partner agencies provide approximately 30 CEU trainings • Three community colleges offer AA/AS courses and targeted advising • Public and private college partners offer BA/BS & Master’s level cohort courses & advising • Coaching & mentoring activities • Financial support for national accreditations and credentials

7. Institutional Collaboration • Grants office, fiscal affairs and academic affairs process changes & in-kind • Information Technology and web page support • Contextualized ESL project between ESL and Early Childhood departments

8. Support for Adult Learners • Achievement coach • Flexible scheduling • Cohort classes • Off-site courses • Consistent Instructor • Individualized advising • Abbreviated ESL testing • Delayed proficiency testing • Bilingual supports

10. Project Y.E.S.Youth Empowerment and Success Began in 2005 as a partnership between NSCC, the City of Lynn, the Lynn Police Department, the Lynn Public Schools and various nonprofits to address gang involvement among Lynn youth.

11. Project Y.E.S. Goals • Leadership development • Forming a positive “gang”- members encouraging each other to make positive choices • Creating new pathways to higher education for at-risk youth • Broadening youth horizons

12. Challenges to Collaboration in Project Y.E.S. Different organizational cultures of partners Need to build trust Feeling that Project Y.E.S. rewards “bad” kids Finding staff that can work with both the college and the Lynn Public Schools. Pathways to higher education need to start early. Discussion of who should be involved in developing pathways.

13. Project Access: Bridge to the Future • New non –credit college pathway for young adults with intellectual disabilities. • Focus is on communication and work skills. • First cohort of 13 students currently enrolled.

14. Outside Entity (OE) Classes A way for agencies and businesses to buy credit courses for their employees. Employees work together and support each other to implement new skills in the workplace. Help workers who may not view themselves as college students find a pathway to higher education.

15. Early College Programming at Lynn Classical High School • Pilot program funded by Race to the Top funds, PIF grant, and Believe in Lynn. • Cohort of Juniors- successfully completed College Success Seminar (3 credits) at NSCC this summer. Currently taking Comp I stretch course (3 credits) at HS • Another summer course at NSCC, math course senior year. • District-wide curriculum recommendations

16. Academic/Career Mapping • What information do people need to make informed decisions? • How can we help direct people better to already existing information? • How can we make information easily digestible? • How can we help people link information in ways that serve them over time?

19. Overview Maps by Area of Study Jobs/wage info N Jobs/wage info C Advanced Opportunities A

20. Project GRAD Getting Ready to Achieve Degrees/Certificates

21. Project GRAD Getting Ready to Achieve Degrees and Certificates • Focus on stackable career credentials • Cohort Learning • Achievement Coaches • Intrusive Advising • Online (Hybrid) Learning • Contextualized developmental courses • College success seminar (one credit) • Math review

22. Program Choices • Contexualized Developmental Reading and Writing targeted to Certificates and Degrees: • Health • Legal • Business • Human Services/ Education

23. Achievement Coaches • Provide students individualized attention • Academic advising • Personal support and motivation • Career counseling • Coaches follow students from the beginning of their journeys until they complete their program of choice.

24. Online & TechnologySupported Learning • Hybrid/Online learning through ANGEL platform in developmental Reading and Writing courses. Students are taught technology early in semester, supported by instructors. • Utilizing Google tools (email, calendar, documents) to organize school, work, and personal lives • Technology tutors available at no cost to the student.

25. Contextualized Courses • Improve reading and writing skills • Our current developmental courses are contextualized and designed for two career areas (health care and legal) • Classes integrate career topics into the curriculum. Example: Introduce medical terminology into Health Career cohort • Students read contemporary literature

26. Personal Growth and Transition Seminar • Curriculum developed to teach effective practices to ensure academic success: • Time management • Stress management • Diversity • Test-taking strategies • Career exploration • Life balance

27. Student Supports • Study plan designed for the non-traditional student • 15-week program • Classes meet on Saturdays and Wednesday evenings • Online component • Project GRAD tutors • Cohort model to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment

28. Student Supports • Study plan designed for the non-traditional student • 15-week program • Classes meet on Saturdays and Wednesday evenings • Online component • Project GRAD tutors • Cohort model to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment

29. Contact Information Cindy O’Donnell: codonnel@northshore.edu 978-762-4000 X2153 Kathy Gallo: kgallo@northshore.edu 978-762-4000 X6249 Kristin Hunt: khunt@northshore.edu 978-739-5545 Kelly Sullivan: kesulliv@northshore.edu 978-762-4000 X4416