The Butte College Counseling Department provides a supportive academic environment in which students learn to access and utilize appropriate support services. Counselors are committed to fostering the growth and development of our students by educating them about, and assisting them with, the process of program planning and decision-making regarding their educational, career, and personal goals. Counselors actively initiate and promote avenues for access, retention and student success.
Getting Here (outreach)
· Develop Abbreviated Education Plans for each new Butte College student
· Provide outreach services (Reg2Go, High School Visitations)
· Counsel new students individually by appointment or during matriculation of all new students to the college (START)
· Evaluate new student other college transcripts for course equivalency, and/or course placement
· Coordinate efforts with new recruiters in the Welcome Center
Staying Here (retention)
· Develop Comprehensive Student Education Plans for Butte College students during appointments
· Provide access to counseling for a student population of approximately 12,000 students pursuing a wide variety of career/transfer and/or personal goals. These goals may include an associate degree (AA/AS/ ADT), paraprofessional training, certificate, and/or transfer to a four-year college or university
· Maintain access and availability of Counseling Services by providing one-on-one scheduled appointments, in-office “drop- ins”, and front desk “drop-in” (during peak times the number of drop-in appointments are increased to provide for “quick question” access). Front desk drop-in was also expanded to the Chico Center, evening and off campus counseling was increased. Scheduling Assistant Center was added during the first week of the school term as well as during the first three days of continuing student registration. We will explore expanding this service to the Chico Center
· Facilitate the easy identification of student’s career goals and major (through appointments & workshops), including current strategies to optimize future employment. Research current labor market information, employer’s expectations, and personal responsibility in connection to education goals and majors to maximize student’s success
· Help students:
-select courses appropriate to their stated academic goals
-select courses appropriate to their abilities
-select courses in an appropriate sequence
· Facilitate the early identification of those whose goals and abilities indicate that they are potential transfer students. Stay current on transfer requirements, including admission, general education, and major requirements, for the transfer institutions in and out of this region
· To meet the needs of Veterans and their dependents as well as the demands of government regulations a new Veterans Counselor was hired to address these ongoing requirements
· Assigned an Associate Counselor to work with Foster Youth 23 hours a week to better the needs of this unique student population
· Provide workshops and assistance for “at-risk” students, especially those on academic probation or subject to Disqualification (Readmission, Disqualification, and Probation Workshops)
· Counselors make presentations in the majority of First Year Experience Classes as well as many Basic Skills Classes to assure students know about the services provided by Counselors and how to access this support
· Maintain access to Student Educational Plans for all Butte College students to include continued exploration of developing online educational planning tools
· Establish and/or maintain productive working relationships and partnerships with the campus community (Curriculum Committee, Academic Senate, Academic Council, Early Alert, Club Advising, Standing Committees, Articulation, CTA, FACC)
· Provide and disseminate specialized knowledge of Campus policy, College requirements, and the rules and regulations that govern a student’s progress towards graduation. Ability to interpret, apply, and recommend guidelines for their enforcement
· Provide Specialized Counseling to International Students (International Student Counselor)
· Provide Comprehensive Specialized Counseling to Student Athletes, including interpretations of COA, NCAA and NAIA Rules, and general eligibility at all levels of intercollegiate competition. Advise and assist Student-Athlete Success Program (Student Athlete Counselor). Meet COA regulations by meeting with every student-athlete and filing an education plan by the dates mandated by the COA
· Provide Specialized Personal Counseling. Assist students in acute emotional distress, providing a general intervention protocol for students in personal crisis who require immediate attention
Moving On (transfer, careers)
· Identify students who are eligible for a Certificate or an Associate's Degree, conduct degree audit
· Identify students who are close to transfer, assist with the application, establish General Education certification and complete ADT eligibility
· Counselors attend conferences and workshops, especially those affiliated with the CSU, UC and Student Success
· Identify appropriate out-of-state (for example, Western Undergraduate Exchange Consortium) colleges and programs suitable for our students
Veterans Counselor
A full time SE funded Counselor was hired 1 October 2015 to serve Veterans and their dependents in the Veterans Resource Center. Veterans bring with them needs and implicit demands that are beyond those associated with the general student population. Having a designated Counselor for these students is a huge benefit. The Counseling Department supports converting this grant funded position into a full time tenured track position.
The Accreditation Student Survey Results (April 2014) found that 50% of students surveyed found Counseling/Advising helpful; 14% not satisfied; 34% heard of but never used and 2% never heard of Counseling services. In an effort to reach the 36% who had either never heard of or used our services, we created the following SLO:
"Students will understand the scope of counseling services available"
The Counseling Department has created a new power point presentation which is given in the majority of FYE and Basic Skills classes during the first weeks of a new term prior to registration. During the Fall 15 term a pre/post survey is administered to students.
Surveys consisted of 5 questions which utilized a 5-point Likert scale measure and 2 questions which were yes/no format. There was also a space for the student to which counseling services they (the student) was aware of. Each survey was completed twice by the student, once as a pre-test prior to the counseling presentation and again as a post-test at the completion of the presentation.
569 surveys were collected by the counselors during these class visits. Out of these, 90 surveys were not completed twice (i.e., student failed to complete either the pre-test or the post-test portion). Because the student did not complete the survey twice, comparative data could not be gathered and these 90 incomplete surveys were excluded from the below data. As such, 479 completed pre-test/post-test surveys resulted in the following findings.
Likert-Scale Question Results (Questions ranked from 1 (do NOT agree) to 5 (DO agree))
Question 1: I am familiar with the Counseling services on the Butte College campus.
· Average pre-test score: 2.965 Average post-test score: 4.509
· Increased average by 1.544 (31%)
· Out of 479 students, 357 (75%) increased their score of this question following the presentation, and 115 (24%) increased by at least three points on the scale.
Question 2: I understand the importance of a Student Educational Plan
· Average pre-test score: 3.848 Average post-test score: 4.720
· Increased average by 0.872 (17%)
· Out of 479 students, 251 (52%) increased their score of this question following the presentation, and 51 (11%) increased by at least three points on the scale.
Question 3: I know where to go to access Counseling services.
· Average pre-test score: 3.499 Average post-test score: 4.616
· Increased average by 1.117 (22%)
· Out of 479 students, 263 (55%) increased their score of this question following the presentation, and 97 (20%) increased by at least three points on the scale.
Question 4: I believe earning a degree is a possibility for me.
· Average pre-test score: 4.620 Average post-test score: 4.722
· Increased average by 0.102 (2%)
· Out of 479 students, 64 (13%) increased their score of this question following the presentation, and 2 (less than 1%) increased by at least three points on the scale (given the already high pre-test score for this particular question, the minimal increase is to be expected).
Question 5: I have or plan to utilize Counseling services on the Butte College campus.
· Average pre-test score: 3.766 Average post-test score: 4.516
· Increased average by 0.750 (15%)
· Out of 479 students, 238 (50%) increased their score of this question following the presentation, and 43 (9%) increased by at least three points on the scale.
Yes/No Questions
Question 6: Would you be interested in attending Counseling Workshops?
· On the pre-test, 251 students (52%) answered yes to this question, compared with 282 (59%) who answered yes on the post-test. This means an additional 31 students (7%) increased their interest in Counseling Workshops in response to the class presentation.
Question 7: I am comfortable contacting the Counseling Office for services.
On the pre-test, 414 students (86%) answered yes to this question, compared with 451 (94%) who answered yes on the post-test. This means an additional 31 students (8%) increased their interest in Counseling Workshops in response to the class presentation
Strategies based on data received through FYE/Basic Skills classroom presentations.
Question 1
Counseling services familiarity increases after a counselor led presentation. The data found that there was a 31% rise in being "familiar with the Counseling services on the Butte College campus" after a classroom visitation.
-We have since developed a new presentation related to our SLO and counseling services.
Question 6
Data received after classroom presentations also showed that 59% of the student surveys indicated an interest in counseling workshops.
-The Counseling department in redeveloping our probation/dismissal workshops as well as exploring academic success and other areas for workshops. These offering are hoped to be advertised early in the semester and offered with some regularity to increase student assistance.
Question 3
Data also indicated that there is a need to improve the students awareness of how to access services through Counseling.
-We are working towards more online and simple appointment making processes. This can be for both appointments in the office and workshops.
Strategies based on data received through FYE/Basic Skills classroom presentations.
Question 1
Counseling services familiarity increases after a counselor led presentation. The data found that there was a 31% rise in being "familiar with the Counseling services on the Butte College campus" after a classroom visitation.
-We have since developed a new presentation related to our SLO and counseling services.
Question 6
Data received after classroom presentations also showed that 59% of the student surveys indicated an interest in counseling workshops.
-The Counseling department in redeveloping our probation/dismissal workshops as well as exploring academic success and other areas for workshops. These offering are hoped to be advertised early in the semester and offered with some regularity to increase student assistance.
Question 3
Data also indicated that there is a need to improve the students awareness of how to access services through Counseling.
-We are working towards more online and simple appointment making processes. This can be for both appointments in the office and workshops.
To assist the College with meeting their Standards and Goals, Counselors assist students on how to navigate through the educational system from start to finish and advocate for them along the way (Course Success and Persisitence). Counselors work with students daily on how to identify and use strategies to resolve personal and academic issues which provides the needed support to stay in school (Course Success and Persisitence). Counselors work with potential, current and past students to identify career interests, develop comprehensive student educational plans which include appropriate basic skills, major prerequisites and reasonable course sequence (dependent on students work schedule and other responsibilities) Course Success, Persistitence, and Degree/Certificate Completion).
Student Educational Plans culminate with students completing their stated educational goals: Basic Skills Sequence; Certificate Completion; ADT/AS/AA degrees; Transfer; all of which align with the following Standards and Goals for Student Achievement: Course Success; Persistence; Degrees; Certicficates; and Developmental Strand Completion.
Reg2Go, New Student Orientation (START) and Counseling appointments are functions of the Counseling Department which Enhance a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement through
· Connection- Focusing students on potential careers or transfer pathways
· Entry- Making students active partners; advising them effectively, and ensuring they have educational plans; ensuring that students take the appropriate prerequisites; connecting students to support services; recommending new students enroll in First Year Experience classes.
The Counseling Department is committed to Supporting Student, Faculty and Staff Success through
· Creating a culture of meaningful interactions with students; providing effective electronically-mediated communication (updated website, internet-ready TV in lobby); actively encouraging and enabling students to make decisions that support their success and completion (offering a variety of workshops)
· Collaboration and Decision-Making; putting students first: Counselors schedules are created based on student needs
· Focusing on outstanding service: We strive to offer the highest quality of service through staff development, self-assessment, and evaluation
· Developing and maintaining collaborative process across departments, divisions, areas and the campus: Each Counselor is a liaison to specific departments on campus and serves on campus wide committees.
· Promoting organizational communication and information sharing between all levels and among peers: Interdepartment Counselor meetings are held monthly to disseminate important information.
Using Data-Informed Processes for Continuous Improvement remains a goal of the department. We collect data on all services provided to students and submit the information to IT for analysis and eventual SSSP funding. Currently students are surveyed in Orientation, Reg2Go, FYE & Basic Skills classes, during faculty evaluations, and periodically at all counseling locations to assure we are meeting the needs of students. We will explore utilizing Survey Monkey as an analytical tool as a means of providing data in formats that are easily accessed and understood by users.
The Counseling Department supports the College Modeling Sustainability by recycling all paper used during a counseling appointments (confidential student information is shredded). We use electronic files to store records and notes. We will explore using Colleague and Image Now to further reduce the amount of paper use.
The following are the Validations Team Recommendations from their 2012 report and the department’s subsequent actions:
1. Include Chico Center staff in trainings and informational sessions to share counseling department needs
a. The Counseling Department includes all Associate Counseling Faculty in monthly meetings and email exchanges. Additionally, the Coordinator meets with all the classified staff from all sites once a semester to exchange ideas on how the department can better meet the needs of students and to ensure for consistentcy in office procedures and policies. This collaboration allows for an atmosphere of teamwork across locations providing counseling services.
2. Develop a formal front desk ‘Drop-In’ area at the Chico Center
a. The Counseling Department in collaboration with the Chico Center staff created a designated screened in area that has a desk and lap top for Counselors to meet the needs of students at the Chico Center who have quick questions or who have registration issues. We will also add a Scheduling Assistance Center during the first few days of the fall and summer registration period.
3. Continue to collect data and strengthen the validity of the results
a. In 2014-2015 the unduplicated student headcount for 2014-2015 was 17,178. 10,085 students (58.71%) had a Counseling appointment and 11,939 (69.5%) created an Educational plan. Fall 2015 Students in FYE and Basic Skills classes were given a pre and post surveys. Results will be analyzed using Survey Monkey and adjustments made if necessary for Spring 2016 presentations.
4. Written policy on ‘mandated reporter‘ process for interdepartmental use
5. Identify, participate in and document appropriate professional development trainings for counselors and ensure that all counselors have the opportunity to participate on a regular basis (will serve to mitigate personal and district liability as well as provide professional growth)
a. With SSSP funding Full Time Counselors and Associate Counselors have all had the opportunity to attend UC, CSU and Student Success Conferences. Funding in the unit plan has been identified to allow continued professional growth options for 15/16. At the beginning of the Fall term an interdepartmental Counselor Training was held. The response was favorable and we anticipate this to be an annual event. Additionally all Counselors were invited to attend the Student Services Institute Day where training on specific topics was also conducted.
6. Expand and publicize student workshops
a. Disqualification workshops are offered to students who have been dismissed from the college. Counselors also present to Basic Skills Classes as well as First Year Experience classes each semester. Major workshops focus on career exploration tools, major options and career labor market details. Our redesigned website provides up-to-date information about workshop offerings provided by the Counseling Department. The Counseling Department has added a Marketing Budget request to better publicize student workshops and services.
7. Address privacy concerns at the front-desk in the main campus Counseling Office
a. The Counseling Department will request through the Unit Plan process 133K to add additional Counseling offices and potentially move Front-Desk Drop-ins to a different, more confidential location.
8. Mitigate noise from women’s restroom, automatic paper towel dispenser
a. This work was completed
9. Research upgrading copier to one that includes a scanner
a. The Department received a new copier with email/scanner capabilities
10. Use SARS to track student data to measure the effectiveness of department activities toward increasing student success.
a. Through SARS all codes are tracked by IT for SSSP funding. The Department also uses SARS to assure student needs are being met at all the centers. Based on this information, counseling hours were increased during the summer months. This allowed us to expand new student orientations into June, and assist new transfer in students throughout the summer. Next summer we plan to offer a Counseling Student Assistance Center at the Chico Center during the first week of the Summer term to assist students with registration issues.
11. Expand Description of Efforts in Self-Study: Expand on outreach activities currently undertaken; Expand on activities at the Glenn and Chico Centers.
a. The Counseling Department has increased presences at both centers to include additional evening appointments in Chico. A new Counseling position was approved to provide leadership with the Early Alert Program and better outreach to our probation and dismissed students.
Goals for this year
To assure all counseling practices and procedures adhere to the Butte College Values
Increase the safety of the office by changing the locks on the front door to the Counseling Center and creating a departmental code for help
Create Travel/Conference/Webinars budget to assure all Counselors are current on all CSU, UC requirements, SSSP mandates, as well as Student Success Strategies
To improve communications and training of Counseling Faculty an internet ready TV will be installed in the conference room
In an effort to provide students with essential information (important college deadlines, study skill strategies, Ted Talks, Virtual Campus Tours etc.) an internet ready TV will be installed in the counseling department lobby
Following in the practice of Instruction where coordinators have been converted to chair positions, we will explore converting the Coordinator of Counseling to a Chair 1 position
Create a marketing budget to better advertise services and workshops to students and faculty
Hire additional full time tenured track Counselors to Expand services to Probationary, Disqualified and Early Alert Students
Update the Counseling Power Point presentation to establish a better connection with students and counselors and to assure students understand counseling services
Convert current SE funded Veterans Counseling position to a full time tenured track position
Continue to update the Counseling Website to assure students have quick access to essential information
Explore ways to reduce paper by learning and using new software (Image Now) and functions within Colleague
Purchase lap tops or notebooks to be used to check in students and to be used at the front desk for both main, chico, and athletics. Additionally department lap tops will allow us to explore the possibility of creating a "mobile" Counselor who can provide services in other locations on campus such as CAS.
Strategy 1 - Transfer - Reaching out to all students, emphasis on under-prepared, under-represented
The Counseling Department will continue to explore and implement effective tools and strategies to advertise our excellent transfer counseling services to students and to the campus community. We will provide Transfer workshops that include how to prepare academically, ADT degree details, how to navigate ASSIST NextGen, how and when to apply. We will identify and reach out to under-represented and under-prepared students to bring them in to counseling for individualized assistance with transfer.
With 13 FTE counseling faculty (9 full time, 11 part-time) working within the Counseling Department, 4 FTE within EOPS, and 2 FTE in the Transfer Center, the vast majority of transfer counseling is done within the Counseling Department. Our counselors are expert and up-to-date on requirements, procedures and processes for students who wish to transfer. Most students seen by Counselors within our department are interested in receiving information about transfer to four-year colleges. More than half express transfer as their primary goal. Students need to feel comfortable that they are receiving high-quality transfer counseling within our department. Advertising our services, updating our webpage, creating and offering .5 unit courses, creating multiple workshop opportunities, and reaching out to student via email, classroom visitations, and regular mail are strategies that we intend to utilize. Additional funding will support these efforts.
Strategy 2 - Probationary & Disqualified Students
In Spring of 2016 we will offer probationary and disqualified student workshops on the Main Campus, Chico Center, and the Glenn Center. Our intent is to provide access to every student who is on probation or has been disqualified, and to evaluate counselor intervention results for probationary students and implement processes that we believe will and that prove to increase the persistence and performance of probationary students. At this time students on probation are encouraged, but not required, to attend a workshop. While students do attend these workshops we intend to bolster attendance by exploring a variety of marketing strategies and therefore a marketing budget is requested.
In any given semester at Butte, there are approximately 1800 students on first or second time probation, as well as another 200-300 enrolled students who are subject to dismissal.
The Counseling Office researched students who attended Fall 2013 and saw a Counselor in a readmission/dismissal workshop in the Spring of 2014. We found that this group persisted at a rate of 88 percent for the Fall 2014 semester. As a point of reference, in any given year, only 50 percent of our population returns from fall to fall. So, by comparing this high risk population to the general population, we can assume that counselor intervention was very effective in terms of student persistence. However, while the persistence rate was high, the average mean GPA for this group in Fall 2014 was 1.80. This should be understood in the context that all students required to attend the Spring 2014 workshop had been dismissed at the end of Fall 2013 for having a GPA below 2.0 spanning multiple semesters. So, while a 1.8 cumulative is somewhat alarming, it is less so given the full equation of this study. Also, this mean GPA was negatively skewed by approximately 20 % of this population that achieved a 0.0 GPA in the term. On the positive side, the median Fall 2014 GPA for this group was 2.0, and 33 % of these students had a GPA at or above 3.0. Clearly, there were many success stories. But it does beg the question, “Can we do a better job in supporting students who are on probation and/or have been subject to dismissal?” The Counseling Department feels we can do a better job. We are currently looking at more proactive and continual interventions with this group of students and have designated a new Counseling position to help address the needs of this unique population. While it is important to recognize the success of our past intervention process, we are especially concerned with the repeated lack of success within a small subset of this group. We believe that further and more extensive outreach to this population is warranted and will prove to be even more successful than our current efforts.
Strategy 3 - Campus Community/Student Collaboration and Outreach
The Counseling Department will continue to improve our webpage and seek to increase our presence on webpages designed by other departments, present Institute Day and Flex Workshop classes for faculty and staff regarding issues such as college policies and procedures, Early Alert, important dates and processes, student crisis intervention and referral. Visit Basic Skills and First Year Experience and other classes as requested by faculty via a link on the Counseling Web page. These presentations give students information about services available to them and information pertinent to college success.
Counselors are assigned to liaison with all instructional departments. This liaison-ship encourages a flow of information between our department and others. Currently counselors serve on campus-wide committees including, Academic Senate, Academic Council, LTPA, General Education Committee, International Team, Curriculum Committee, Early Alert, Student Success Committee, Student Equity, Student Diversity, VEST (Veterans Educational Support Team), CAS Advisory, Program Vitality/Program Discontinuance Committee, Academic Technology Committee, First Year Experience Committee, College Council, Enrollment Management, Colleague Steering Group and Reg2Go. At least one counselor serves as a student club advisor, and each semester several counselors serve on Instructional Department Program Review Committees
Strategy 4 - Student Collaboration and Outreach
Future Strategies:
· continue to provide evening and off campus counseling, and increase access according to student demand and during peak times such as registration and START
· increase the number of class visitations by Counselors, particularly for Basic Skills courses and courses generally taken by freshman students, and FYE courses.
· increase the availability of counseling services during summer and winter sessions
· continue to improve our new Web-page and seek to increase our presence on WebPages designed by other departments to increase student and faculty access to Counseling
· Increased Orientation sessions in June to reach local high school students who missed START and to accommodate new students including athletes
· Added a weekday and weekend Orientation session in December to respond to the needs of students
The Counseling Department assesses student demand and satisfaction with our services on an on-going basis. We formally survey students every three years to assess student satisfaction with our services and availability and make adjustments to our schedules, processes, and access accordingly. We continually evaluate our drop-in vs. appointment ratios to determine when no-show rates and cancellation rates increase each day and across the semester. We have increased the ratio of drop-in appointments each day, and particularly during the first two weeks of the semester and during registration periods. Additionally we’ve added the Student Assistant Scheduling Center.
Our most recent in-house survey, results showed that the vast majority (79%) of students were very satisfied with their counseling experience, about 20% were satisfied, 1% were either not satisfied or very dis-satisfied. Upon further review of the survey results the Counseling Department will make adjustments to the survey instrument to gather more detailed information about areas that were less satisfactory than others.
Strategy 5 - Reg-To-Go and START
Reg-To-Go and START
Future Strategies: Now that counselors must assist students with completing an ASEP (Abbreviated Ed Plans) during the START and Reg2Go sessions, ways of increasing the time counselors have available to spend with students developing these plans will be a future emphasis. We believe that students will enroll in more units, and more appropriate courses if we can spend more time with them during these new-student orientation sessions.
Statistical reports of Reg2Go student participation, registration, retention, and persistence will be monitored ongoing to inform Orientation, Counseling, and the RTG Planning Committee about student success rates and any further adjustments needed to the program and process. Increasing the ratio of counselors to students in the Counseling/Registration sessions is an ongoing challenge, and will be the focus of any future development in this area.
In a survey of students who participated in the 2014 Reg2Go program, the most common comments from high school seniors were “more help one-on-one from counselors,” and “more counselors during registration.” The number of Reg2Go counselors per counseling/registration session was increased from 3 to 4 during the 2014-2015 to improve the counselor to student ratio, enhancing the overall counseling experience for the students.
In order to promote a culture of goal setting and college readiness, a 12-minute “Counseling Prep” video was created to prepare students in advance of the Counseling/Registration session. This video is available online at the RTG webpage, and will be actively promoted to high-school counselors and students as a means of helping prepare students for registration in classes that accurately reflect a plan. The Counseling Tip Sheet will be distributed to high-school counselors, and will be utilized as another component of the Registration process, as well as a Counseling PowerPoint, which is designed to accompany the counseling presentation.
The sweeping changes necessitated by SSSP have placed new demands on the Counseling department. This includes the need for accurately quantification and reporting of counseling services provided to students, and due to the extra time required by these activities (ex. completing of the ASEP as part of Counseling/Registration during START and Reg2Go sessions), there must be a new emphasis on providing quality counseling to students while fulfilling the criteria of the SSSP.
It has also been crucial, ongoing, to closely monitor the results of the sweeping changes that were first implemented during the 2009/2010, as these changes included moving the Counseling/Registration phase of the program from off-site at each high school to the Butte College main campus. The reaction to the streamlining of the RTG program indicates a positive response, with the overall percentages of high school seniors participating and registering for classes via the RTG program remaining essentially consistent with previous years. High School counselors have been surveyed thoroughly following each session of the “new Reg To Go” and reported an almost unanimously positive response.
Strategy 6 - Specialized Veterans Counseling
Future Strategies:
The Counseling Department, along with the Office of Veteran's Affairs and the Butte College Veteran's Resource Center collaborated to create A Counseling position specifically designed to serve Veterans and their dependents. A Counselor was hired full time and funded through the Student Equity Grant. The department fully supports converting this full time Veteran's Counselor from a grant funded position to a full time tenured track position. The Counseling Department also supports the addition of a full time Therapist in Student Health Services to better meet the needs of veterans suffering from post-service trauma and other conditions related to the transition to civilian and/or collegiate life
Veterans bring with them needs and implicit demands that are beyond those associated with the general student population. The Counseling Department offers Veterans appointments and workshops at all campus locations. Counseling has a departmental liaison who works in consultation with the Veterans Resource center (VRC) Coordinator Dan Torres. Veterans continue to be given special priority at the Counseling Department for front desk drop-in appointments. Counselors also assist Veterans on-site at the VRC before their priority registration period.
Strategy 7 - Sustainability Practices
Future Strategies:
· evaluate and modify our use of office supplies and expand the use of online forms
· continue to promote use of Butte College bus system
· acquire and use “green” cleaning supplies
· expand on-line advising
· updated web page and links to on line resources for students
· created online resource binder for counselors
· will explore ways to reduce paper consumption by reducing academic print outs of student basic skills records
· will ask for Image Now training to reduce the need to print other school transcripts
· will request dual computer screens for all counselors to ease the ability to read student records on line.
The Counseling Department has been cognizant of the need for sustainability practices for many years. All paper, other than transcripts, is recycled. Transcripts, by law, must be shredded. Student records are kept in electronic files, eliminating the need for continually updated paper files. Counseling appointments are available to students at our off campus locations in Chico and Glenn County, thus reducing the number of trips taken by students to the Main Campus. Likewise, Counselors help students plan class schedules with the goal of reducing or eliminating unnecessary trips to the Main Campus. We have eliminated the need for student notes on paper by using the Notepad or SARS appointment scheduler. In addition, we use the Student Education Plan form to add student notes. Finally, a high volume of student contacts via phone and email reduces the number of trips students would otherwise take to the Main Campus.
Strategy 8 - Online Advising
Counselors within the Counseling Department advised over 350 students during the 14-15 academic year via our "Ask A Counselor" access point online, as compared to 450 contacts during the 13-14 academic year. Students are able to access counselors online for answers to general quick questions related to transfer, career programs, scheduling, etc, but it is not available for transcript evaluation or educational planning. Fewer students contacted counselors through “Ask A Counselor” during this most recent period of time. We attribute this change to the fact that with additional Associate Counselors on staff, and thus additional hours available for students to meet face-to-face with counselors, fewer needed to access counselors online. The department will continue to evaluate, explore and improve this service to students, and to monitor usage as it relates to face-to-face hours available.
Counselors within the Counseling Department advised over 350 students during the 14-15 Academic Year via our "Ask A Counselor" access point online. Students are able to access counselors online for answers to general questions related to transfer, career programs, scheduling, etc.
Strategy 9 - Student Education Plans
Increase the number of Educational Plans created for students by counselors using new technology, in a variety of settings, and through a variety of modalities.
3SP has created a funding formula that is partially based on the number of students who have abbreviated and comprehensive SEP's on file. The Counseling Department has offered SEPS to students for the past 15 years. We believe that having an Ed Plan provides a framework and pathway toward achieving his/her academic goals. Without this pathway students are less likely to achieve these goals.
Strategy 10 - Student Goal-Setting: Academic and Personal
This strategy, once implemented, will include workshops to assist students with academic and personal choices, working in collaboration with the Career Services program and CAS. These workshops will focus on occupational outlook and opportunities, career choices in relation to personal strengths and appropriate academic goals, with a specific emphasis on choices of Career and Technical Programs, Transfer, and/or Certificates.
It is no secret that profound changes have occurred in workforce needs and the corresponding education and training that are required. In order to go out into the employment world prepared for success, it is more crucial than ever that students have the information and counseling to make quality academic and personal choices which will lead to success.
Strategy 11 - Office saftey
Increase the safety of the office by changing the locks on the front door to the Counseling Center and creating a departmental code for help.
Changing the front door locks will assure these doors are always locked and should a lock down be necessary, only one door will need to be closed.
Strategy 12 - Travel/Conference/Training Budget
Create Travel/Conference/Webinars budget to assure all Counselors are current on all CSU, UC requirements, SSSP mandates, as well as Student Success Strategies.
SSSP funding provides us with a unique opportunity to be creative and use innovation and best practices to improve our services to students. Attending conferences is the perfect means in which Counselors are able to collaborate to gain new ideas from other colleges. Workshops and Webinars are also essential for Counselors as we need to stay up to date on all the changes at the CCC, CSU, UC, and private institutions. To improve communications and training of Counseling Faculty an internet ready TV will be installed in the conference room (see strategy 13).
Strategy 13 - Internet ready TVs for Lobby and Conference Room
In an effort to provide students with essential information (important college deadlines, study skill strategies, Ted Talks, Virtual Campus Tours etc.) an internet ready TV will be installed in the counseling department lobby.
Students who are waiting in the counseling department lobby will be able to view short videos that focus on student success strategies; important campus information; campus resources and campus events. Virtual tours of college campuses and information about specific majors can also be viewed. In addition, an internet ready TV will be installed in the conference room to improve communications and training of Counseling Faculty (in relation to strategy 12).
Strategy 14 - Convert Counseling Coordinator to Chair 1 position
Following in the practice of Instruction where coordinators have been converted to chair positions, we will explore converting the Coordinator of Counseling to a Chair 1 position through the negotiation process.
The Counseling Department currently employees 9 full-time counselors and 11 associate counselors. This requires ongoing scheduling, training and evaluating of staff. Additionally the Coordinator is responsible for disseminating information and distilling changes in policy and procedures to all counseling faculty. It is essential to foster and promote faculty leadership positions in student services.
Strategy 15 - Purchase of Laptops or Notebooks
Purchase laptops or notebooks to be used to check-in students and to be used at the front desk for Main Campus, Chico, and Athletics counseling locations. Additionally, department laptops will allow us to explore the possibility of creating a "mobile" Counselor who can provide services in other locations on campus such as CAS.
Strategy 16 - Increase Non-Instructional Supplies Budget
Increase non-instructional supply budget from $1500 to $2000.
An increase in the yearly amount of funding for non-instructional supplies is requested due to rising item costs and a growing amount of staff, requiring a greater amount of office supply use in our department across multiple locations. Additionally, a new Veterans counselor was hired this year, and supplies are being purchased through our department for use in her office at the Veterans Service Center.
Strategy 17 - Office Remodel
Add two counseling offices in the Counseling & Advising department on the Main Campus.
Utilizing every office at each center from morning to night, we have run out of office space to accommodate all full-time and associate counselors. We have met with Kim Jones and Ken Albright to evaluate our current space and the best way to add offices to our current Main Campus location.
Strategy 18 - Increase Printing & Duplicating Budget
A designated amount of funding is required for printing and duplicating services due to the expense involved with creating and maintaining supplies of various forms that originate from the Counseling office. This includes keeping various counseling locations stocked with forms (including Main Campus, Chico Center, and the Glenn Center), as well as supplying all forms used during Reg2Go and START orientations. This year a Veterans counselor has been hired, requiring the need for additional form orders to supply to the Veterans Service Center for use during counseling appointments at that office. Additionally, the Counseling Office is now purchasing GE Requirements Sheets, an expense previously paid for by the Vice President of Student Services office. These forms are used extensively at all locations and shared with other offices as needed (such as the Welcome Center). These changes have resulted in duplicating and printing costs beyond prior projections.
Many of the forms used for specific procedures (such as graduation, petitioning the Academic Council, creating a Veterans Education Plan, or creating a Student Educational Plan) are created and purchased by the Counseling & Advising office. With the increase of available counseling appointments at all locations, form use has increased each year. Our original budget request in 2014-2015 was based on costs from previous years, but due to the increased need for forms these previous year costs have proven to be inaccurate in terms of estimating current funding needs.
Strategy 19 - Marketing Budget
In order to advertise our excellent services to students we need a marketing budget. This will cover advertising costs such as a poster campaign; pens; workshop materials; book marks; pins; calls to students.
surplus wireless key pad for Ipad
surplus computer for conference room
surplus matching chairs for conference room and offices
SSSP Funding - Ongoing
FT Counselors - $58,358
PT Counselors - $440,880
Student Assistants - $9,180
Counseling Assistant - $30,000
Benefits - $71.030
Travel - $2,000
FWS Funding - One-Time
$9,180 Salary and $117 Benefits
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Counseling | Equipment | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 56100 | $916.00 | $0.00 |
| Change locks on SAS 139 & 134 | Changing the front door locks will assure these doors are always locked and should a lock down be necessary, only one door will need to be closed. This will allow for increased safety for students and staff. |
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| 2 | Counseling | Personnel | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 51460 | $0.00 | $244,000.00 |
| Additional counseling to address specialized areas of student need | Counseling to include specialized areas of Veterans, ESL students, CalWorks, Foster Youth, Early Alert Students, Student Educational Plan development, intervention for students related to probation and dismissal. Increased demand for counseling related to the above additional counseling hours. The department fully supports converting the full-time Veteran's Counselor from a grant funded position to a full-time tenured track position. |
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| 3 | Counseling | Personnel | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 51460 | $0.00 | $7,500.00 |
| Convert Counseling Coordinator position to Chair I | The Counseling Department currently employees 9 full-time counselors and 11 associate counselors. This requires ongoing scheduling, training and evaluating of staff. Additionally the Coordinator is responsible for disseminating information and distilling changes in policy and procedures to all counseling faculty. It is essential to foster and promote faculty leadership positions in student services. |
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| 4 | Counseling | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 51460 | $0.00 | $9,000.00 | |
| There are ongoing two full-time counselors (currently Steven Hammond and Sandy Lavin) designated to be involved throughout the academic year as co-coordinators of the Counseling part of the Reg2Go program. The required duties include twice monthly program Planning Meetings, extra hours in the weeks directly leading up to the on-campus Reg2 Go sessions, and hours spent in participating in the organization and production of special events such as the Fall breakfast for all regional high school counselors, or the Reg2Go Parent Night. In order for these hours spent in required activities in this crucial program to be allotted adequate time, and in order that these hours above and beyond regular counseling duties do not pose a hardship for the two full-time counselors involved, release time is needed for this purpose. This request for a budget augmentation is for funds specifically designated to backfill these counseling hours. | It is essential to core services to back-fill two full-time counselors who have release to coordinate the Reg2Go Program. |
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| 5 | Counseling | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 55200 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| Travel/Conference/Training | Counselors who are provided professional growth opportunities will be able to provide students with the information/help/strategies needed to be successful. Workshops and Webinars are also essential for Counselors as we need to stay up to date on all the changes at the CCC, CSU, UC, and private institutions. |
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| 6 | Counseling | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 56220 | $133,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| Office remodel | Additional counseling offices are necessary to provide services to students. Utilizing every office at each center from morning to night, we have run out of office space to accommodate all full-time and associate counselors. We have met with Kim Jones and Ken Albright to evaluate our current space and the best way to add offices to our current main campus location. |
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| 7 | Counseling | Personnel | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 52120 | $0.00 | $44,477.00 |
| Clerk II | Currently, we have only 2 full-time clerical positions. With expanded functions, including increased responsibilities in START, Title III reporting and documentation, e-advising, webpage development and maintenance, etc., an additional full-time clerk is necessary. Duties would include supervision of front desk area, appointment booking, preparation of paperwork for counselors, general office duties as needed to support Administrative Secretaries. |
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| 8 | Counseling | Operating Expenses | 12.262.706.1.631000 | 54200 | $0.00 | $3,000.00 |
| Printing and Duplicating Services | A designated amount of funding is required for printing and duplicating services due to the expense involved with creating and maintaining supplies of various forms that originate from the Counseling office. This includes keeping various counseling locations stocked with forms (including Main Campus, Chico Center, and the Glenn Center), as well as supplying all forms used during Reg2Go and START orientations. This year a Veterans counselor has been hired, requiring the need for additional form orders to supply to the Veterans Service Center for use during counseling appointments at that office. Additionally, the Counseling Office is now purchasing GE Requirements Sheets, an expense previously paid for by the Vice President of Student Services office. These forms are used extensively at all locations and shared with other offices as needed (such as the Welcome Center). |
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| 9 | Counseling | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 55820 | $5,000.00 | $0.00 | |
| Marketing Budget | In order to advertise our excellent services to students we need a marketing budget. This will cover advertising costs such as a poster campaign; pens; workshop materials; book marks; pins; calls to students. |
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| 10 | Counseling | Equipment | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 56411 | $5,700.00 | $0.00 |
| Internet Ready TVs for Lobby and Conference Rooms | Students who are waiting in the counseling department lobby will be able to view short videos that focus on student success strategies; important campus information; campus resources and campus events. Virtual tours of college campuses and information about specific majors can also be viewed. In addition, an internet ready TV will be installed in the conference room to improve communications and training of Counseling Faculty (in relation to strategy 12). |
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| 11 | Counseling | Equipment | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 56411 | $2,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Purchase of Laptops or Notebooks | Purchase laptops or notebooks to be used to check-in students and to be used at the front desk for Main Campus, Chico, and Athletics counseling locations. Additionally department laptops will allow us to explore the possibility of creating a "mobile" Counselor who can provide services in other locations on campus such as CAS. |
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| 12 | Counseling | Operating Expenses | 11.000.706.1.631000 | 54500 | $0.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Increase to Non-Instructional Supplies Budget | An increase in the yearly amount of funding for non-instructional supplies is requested due to rising item costs and a growing amount of staff, requiring a greater amount of office supply use in our department. Additionally, a new Veterans counselor was hired this year, and supplies are being purchased through our department for use in her office at the Veterans Service Center. |
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