Title: Academic Support for ELL Students
Los Angeles Pierce College
6201 Winneetka Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91371
Contacts:
Dorothy Rupert
818-719-6401 ex. 4151
rupertdw@piercecollege.edu
Larry Andre 818-710-2892 andrell@piercecollege.edu
Target population:
The program serves
primarily international English Language Learner (ELL) students and
English language development students who need additional
instruction is reading, speaking, and writing to reach a college
level.
Goals: The goals of the
program are to provide support to the ELL students by:
· Allowing them to stay in mainstream courses
· Build long-term skills
· Providing assessment and referral services
· Supporting their emotional well-being, and
· Reducing the stigma associated with being an EEL student.
Description:
The program
coordinators operate on the basis that the student knows what it is
that s/he needs and the program is there to meet the needs if
possible. The program offers a host of services. Staff works with
the students to develop or negotiate academic and career plans. The
plans are based on a series of assessments, clearly identified
goals, and. the principals of scaffolding.
The assessment tools used are the System of Multicultural
Pluralistic Assessments (SOMPA). This system evaluates the students
abilities, skills, academic plans, medical and emotional well being,
psychosocial issues (i.e. if they are a nontraditional student,
getting a divorce, facing family resistance etc.), and where in
their past have they been successful and what techniques were used
to reach that level of success. The program coordinators ask
students to answer the questions: “Where am I? Where am I going?
Where do I want to go?” From the answers to these questions and
assessment tests, a plan is developed with the student that
encompasses both life plans and academic plans.
The program addresses test taking, time management, health care
options, learning skill, etc. The academic work is self-paced,
individualized, and begins with the basics so the students do not
feel as though there are gaps in their knowledge.
Staffing:
The program counts
on a comprehensive college team effort to meet all the needs of the
student. The program employs three full-time professionals as well
as eight tutors.
Facilities, equipment, materials:
There is a lab with thirty-two computers with Plato, Deep River, and
prescriptive programs designed to track attendance and record skills
learned. Additionally, there is a center with study areas, and
cubicles for small group study.
Costs, funding source:
The program is funded out of a variety of grants and the VTEA
program. There is a fund set-aside to serve only the career and
technical education students. On average, the program receives
$250,000 with five percent being set aside for the CTE students.
Outreach and marketing:
The program is marketed via the class schedule and college catalog
as well as at high schools in the area, and at the Guadalupe Center.
Additionally, alumni frequently refer to the center and act as
word-of-mouth advertisers for the English learner community. Success
breeds success, when the students see the alumni’s success, they can
see themselves there as well.
Evidence of effectiveness:
At the beginning of each semester, a baseline of academic knowledge
is set for each student. As the semester progresses the staff and
coordinators can check on the progress made by each student. As each
student checks into the computers, a program records their
attendance and academic progress. On average, 500 students are
served annually.
Suggestions for replication:
Provide professional development to assure the cooperation of
faculty who may not believe in the program initially. In the times
of lean funding, resistance from faculty members or programs who are
competing for scarce resources can be a problem.
The ELL students who attend the program are quick to feel dismissed.
Therefore, it is imperative to have adequate funding and staffing to
serve the students. Additionally, a phone and email network is
necessary to maintain contact with current students as well as make
contact with students who have stopped attending the classes and
program.