Phoenix+Center


 * Phoenix Center Vision

The mission of the Phoenix Center is to provide assessment, instruction and support for students at any academic skill level to be able to move successfully and expediently to the next step of their educational/vocational pathway.**

To accomplish that, **the vision for the Phoenix Center** includes the following instructional additions/changes: · Increased access to testing and to assessment data to accurately place and monitor progress for students, advisors and faculty · A two track model of basic skill instruction -traditional stand alone ABE/ESL/GED instruction -integrated instruction to move students faster into college level classes (Integration with pre-college, professional-technical, work-place) · Development of aligned curriculum to move students efficiently from basic skills to pre-college · Shortened and streamlined developmental education pathways Research shows that the longer a student is enrolled in pre-college classes the more his/her chances of successfully moving into college level decreases · Offer more courses in a linked instructional format, targeting linkages between developmental courses and college level classes such as the Psych 101 and ENG 098 pilot. · Increased online options for all basic skill areas (ABE/ESL/GED/pre-college) · A learning support center that combines peer tutoring, the math and writing center administered by one coordinator. Reestablish the math centerwith math/science faculty support. · Analysis of the effectiveness of mandatory placement and possible implementation for pre-college math


 * To implement these additions/changes the following resources are needed:**

__Staff:__ One ABE pro-rata position One pre-college math pro-rata position A full time basic skills data specialist (change from part-time) I-Best coordinator/basic skill cohort facilitator Front desk/testing support person (bilingual) Instructional tech to support computer lab instruction

__Space:__ · An inviting, technologically updated learning environment that reflects the college's committment to support the basic skill students on their educational pathway · Availability of lecture classroom space for all basic skill classes so instruction can follow the model of 3 day lecture/2 day lab effectively. Basic students often come to the program with severe learning disabilities and attention/focus issues. The open lab setting makes it difficult for them to concentrate and stay focused. · 4 to 6 vertical classrooms for about 30 to 40 students each and 1 computer lab to accommodate at least 25 to 30 basic skill students · Increased testing space. Multiple testing environments that include computer, paper and pencil and GED testing · Dedicated Office space for faculty · Dedicated meeting space for Dean, coordinators and faculty. Staff/faculty lounge · Math, Writing, Tutor Center space Space for the Lewis County Literacy Council

__Specific resources needed:__ · Computer access at the front desk for improved customer service · Update the basic skill faculty computers <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Increase the availability of instructional materials for students by establishing a lending library. Basic skill students do not qualify for financial aid and therefore do not have the financial resources to purchase these materials. <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Dedicated funding for adjunct faculty meetings. As most of the faculty in basic skills is adjunct they are not required to participate in any scheduled college meetings. To be able to keep the basic skill faculty current on program changes and requirements regular faculty meetings are needed.

__Specific resources needed for the testing center:__ <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Increase computer access for the testing center to about 25 to 30 spaces, to accommodate the increase in computer testing needs <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· C reate multiple testing environments to accommodate computer, paper and pencil and GED testing <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Upgrade the data options from COMPASS/Asset and use them to provide improved guidance for students and advisors regarding placement, progress and class options <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Upgrade the testing software and hardware for the mandated basic skill testing. We are one of the very few colleges that still uses the very ineffective but cheap paper and pen option, which probably will be replaced within the next few years