Institutional Self Evaluation Report

Standard IVB.2.b

The President guides institutional improvement of the teaching and learning environment by the following:

• 
  ^{establishing a collegial process that sets values, goals, and priorities;}
  
• 
  ^{ensuring that evaluation and planning rely on high quality research and analysis on external and internal conditions;}
  
• 
  ^{ensuring that educational planning is integrated with resource planning and distribution to achieve student learning outcomes; and}
  
• 
  ^{establishing procedures to evaluate overall institutional planning and implementation efforts.}
  

Descriptive Summary

The President has guided and supported the process of revising the college mission (4B.2.b.1), annual Goals and Objectives (4B.2.b.2) (i.e. values, goals and priorities), Educational and Facilities Master Plan (4B.2.b.3) (soon to be revised in 2014-2015), and the inception of the Student Success Team as one of the three critical components of Institutional Effectiveness. The college’s Integrated Planning and Resource Allocation process (4B.2.b.4) is also supported by the President and includes Program Review, Student Learning Outcome and Assessment, as well as the college resource allocation process. The college mission was revised in fall 2011 and adopted by the Board. The President continues to hold annual goals and objective setting sessions with the College Council where the previous year’s goals and objectives are reviewed, assessed, and discussed and the subsequent year’s goals and objectives are developed based on the college’s mission and priorities. (4B.2.b.5)

With full support of the President, the Institutional Effectiveness framework was created in fall 2012, reviewed and approved by the college’s participatory governance process, as a roadmap for the college to focus on its priorities. (4B.2.b.6) It includes three components: Integrated Planning and Resource Allocation (PR, SLO/A, and Budget allocation process), Student Success Team, and Accreditation ensuring continuous sustainable institutional improvement.

The establishment of the Student Success Act of 2012 gave West Valley College impetus to further emphasize its commitment to Student Success. The Student Success Team was established as part of the Institutional Effectiveness Framework and is an integration of formally existing committees: Basic Skills Advisory, Matriculation, and Student Equity and Success committees. (4B.2.b.7) This positioned the college to be ready for implementation of the Student Success Act of 2012 requirements, as well as focusing the college’s priority on teaching and learning. The President, in consultation with constituency groups, supported the establishment of a faculty Student Success Coordinator who will facilitate this process with the existing Student Success Team effective spring 2014. (4B.2.b.8) This team consists of faculty and administrators from Student Services and Instruction. The work team will consist of a combination of staff, faculty, administrators, and students.

The President supports and strengthens the participatory governance processes by ensuring that the work of the College Council, the central recommending body in the process, is accessible with bi-monthly council agendas and minutes posted on the college’s website. (4B.2.b.9) The President also ensures that the college community understands the importance of the Institutional Effectiveness framework: Integrated Planning and Resource Allocation, Student Success Team, and Accreditation through its bi-monthly council agendas and minutes. The President leads the participatory governance process emphasizing a collegial environment which is well defined in the West Valley College Shared Decision Making Plan. (4B.2.b.10)

The President led the college to engage in a data-driven culture using accurate analytical metrics to evaluate and plan college operations on all levels. The Director of Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness directly reports to the President and also works closely with the Vice President of Instruction. The Director of Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness provides Program Review, Student Learning Outcome and other base-line data for faculty and administrators. (4B.2.b.11) The newly instituted Scorecard data provided by the State Chancellor’s office is located on the homepage of the college website. (4B.2.b.12) The Student Success Coordinator and its team will continue to use data readily available to the college community and beyond. The President ensured that the Scorecard data was widely discussed through the participatory governance process and encouraged further discussion and planning using both quantitative and qualitative department data to review, analyze, and assess student success from a holistic perspective.

Self-Evaluation

The college meets this standard. Through appropriate planning and evaluation, the President guides institutional improvement of the teaching and learning environment. The President and the constituency groups at the college share a commitment to working together collaboratively to set values, goals, and priorities. The college constituency groups appoint representatives to existing college-wide committees.

Actionable Improvement Plans

None.

Evidence

4B.2.b.1	WVC Mission	http://www.westvalley.edu/mission.html
4B.2.b.2	WVC Annual Goals and Objectives	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/Accreditation/documents/2013-14_go_matrix_10_28_13.pdf
4B.2.b.3	WVC Educational and Facilities Master Plan	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/Accreditation/2013/evidence/3d/2009_wvc_educational_and_facilities_master_plan.pdf
4B.2.b.4	Integrated Planning and Resource Allocation Process	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/Accreditation/integrated_planning_diagram.html
4B.2.b.5	College Council Retreat Agenda	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/College_Council/Documents/College_Council_Retreats/
4B.2.b.6	Institutional Effectiveness Framework	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/Accreditation/2013/evidence/recommendations/Institutional_Effectivenss_SS_Team_11-6-12.pdf
4B.2.b.7	Student Success Team Framework	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/Accreditation/student_success_diagram.html
4B.2.b.8	Student Success Coordinator	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/Accreditation/2013/evidence/4b/Student_Success_Coordinator.pdf
4B.2.b.9	College Council Agendas and Minutes	http://www.westvalley.edu/committees/College_Council/
4B.2.b.10	West Valley College Shared Decision Making Plan	http://westvalley.edu/about/governance.html
4B.2.b.11	Office of Institutional Research and Planning	http://www.westvalley.edu/research/
4B.2.b.12	Student Success Scorecard	http://scorecard.cccco.edu/scorecardrates.aspx?CollegeID=493