The mission of the Butte College Welcome Center is to provide accurate and current information about Butte College. We provide prospective students with information and experiences to discover all the opportunities that await them at Butte College. We create and support programs that serve as a bridge between local schools and Butte College. This is accomplished in a supportive environment that empowers students.
The Welcome Center provides students with a variety of services including campus tours, information on student services, class locations, instructor locations, campus maps, activities on campus, instruction on how to register, and help in re-setting My BC Portal passwords. The Recruitment and Outreach Office utilizes a variety of methods to reach prospective students. These include activities such as student-guided campus tours, emails, college fairs, special programs and participation in community events. School Relations encompasses a variety of programs and activities targeted to create and develop relationships with local K-12 schools as well as universities. Concurrent Enrollment – Provides an opportunity for K-12 students to take advanced classes at Butte College. College Connection – Program for selected high school seniors to complete their senior year at Butte College while taking college-level classes. About 150 students participate in this program annually.
Travel and Supplies for Recruitment Technicians
Recruiters traveled to high schools and community events. Reached out to prospective students on our Dashboard.
Summer Bridge
Supported underrepresented students participating in summer transition program
We are currently evaluating our SLO's to ensure continuous improvement of the program. Pre/Post Tests have been created and student surveys are being conducted to help determine the content of the Tests.
The Welcome Center supports the college in meeting its student achievement standards by providing prospective and current students with exposure to our campus, education of support services, and assistance with the matriculation process. We staff the Information Cube during peak registration times to help continuing students with course registration, staff the Scheduling Center to support students registering for classes at the start of the term, outreach to local community agencies to answer questions about enrollment, host prospective students on campus and coordinate presentations from Financial Aid, Counseling, and other Student Service departments. This exposure, education and assistance supports the improvement of Completion Rates, Degree/Certificate Completion, and Transfer.
Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
Connection (1.b.1.) – The College Connection Program and Concurrent Enrollment allow local high school student early exposure to college courses and preparation for success.
Entry (1.c.1.) – Summer Bridge participants complete Comprehensive Student Education Plans (CSEP).
Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
(6.3.) Summer Bridge and Summer Connection focus on serving first generation college students including those in the SE Dashboard.
Recruitment and Outreach Recommendations and Action/Updates
- Strengthen the online information packet, e.g., include links to departments and contacts. Completed.
School Relations Recommendations and Action/Updates
- Explore strategies to diversify demographic representation in College Connection. This is still being discussed and we hope to have it accomplished during the next school year.
- Increase outreach to new and existing charter, alternative, and private schools that do not currently participate in the College Connection and/or Concurrent Enrollment programs. We have piloted the inclusion of Orland HS and are in discussions with other schools.
- Explore strategies to facilitate communication flow between College Connection faculty and the Associate Dean. Monthly meetings have been scheduled and communication continues to improve.
- Consider adding more career development information and facilitators to College Connection to discuss labor market and employment trends. Guest speakers discuss labor market and employment trends.
- Continue to clarify for high school counselors the new transfer degree requirements. Completed.
- Develop and administer the overall K-12 satisfaction survey being considered. This is still being discussed and we hope to have it accomplished during the next school year.
- Research space alternatives if Welcome Center programs and services continue to grow. This is still being discussed and we hope to have it accomplished during the next school year.
- Build additional community relationships that will generate FTES.
- Continue to develop and refine our SLO's.
- Continue to improve our Summer Programs.
Strategy 1 - Out of State Recruiting
Out of State Recruitment
Continue to implement an assertive recruitment plan for out-of-state students. The plan includes travel to targeted states, mailing of brochures and letters to high schools, actively contacting high school counseling and career centers, and personally following up with any prospective student that request information.
Strategy 2 - Increase the Number of Participants on Campus Tours
Explore ways that we can market campus tours to prospective students and improve the overall experience during the tour.
Studies have shown that one of the most effective ways to recruit prospective students is having them participate in a meaningful and engaging campus tour.
Strategy 3 - Improve Summer Bridge and Summer Connection Programs
Continue to develop the Summer Bridge and Summer Connection Programs.
Summer Bridge and Summer Connection are designed for under-represented students. Bridge is designed for students that have recently graduated from high school. The program's goal is to transition students into college providing them with the greatest chance of success. This is a population that is targeted by student equity. Summer Connection is designed for grades 7-10 and provides the students with exposure to a college campus and resources available to support them.
Strategy 4 - Expand Domestic Recruitment Efforts
Explore new markets and improve existing markets to generate additional FTES.
With local high school populations decreasing we need to explore additional markets to reach the Districts FTES goals.
Strategy 5 - Improve Office Wellness
Install standing desks for Recruitment staff
Improve health by decreasing the amount of time staff is sitting
Strategy 6 - Support Equity and Diversity Initiatives
Hire Senior Level Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
While the population of students of color has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, our faculty of color has increased by 1% in that same time period and remains woefully behind at just 12%. At the recent Strategic Planning Retreat, the senior-level Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was identified as the top priority for supporting student success and creating an inclusive campus environment.
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| 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 | Recruitment and Outreach | Operating Expenses | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 55200 | $0.00 | $25,000.00 |
| Travel Funds | Cover travel costs of Recruitment and Outreach Technicians. |
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| 2 | Recruitment and Outreach | Personnel | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 52368 | $25,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Hire 3 Welcome Center Student Ambassadors | The students will conduct follow-up phone calls to prospective students, conduct campus tours, and other activities to support our recruitment efforts. |
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| 3 | Recruitment and Outreach | Operating Expenses | 11.000.705.1.499900 | 55890 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 |
| DREAM Resource Center | Improve service we provide to our Undocumented Students by: - attending targeted recruitment events - increasing on-campus support with conferences/workshops/guest speakers - conducting on-campus training for staff and faculty |
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| 4 | Recruitment & Outreach | Operating Expenses | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 55890 | $15,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Summer Bridge | Summer Bridge is designed for under-represented students that have graduated from high school. The program's goal is to transition students into college providing them with the greatest chance of success. This is a population that is targeted by student equity. At this time, the program has minimal on-going District funding. |
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| 5 | School Relations | Operating Expenses | 11.000.705.1.499900 | 55890 | $15,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Summer Connection | Provide funding for a program designed for underrepresented students that are part of the Student Equity targeted group. Program is for 7th though 10th graders and its goal is to build a pipeline to college for these students. Due to program requirement revisions, Migrant Education is unable to participate financially in Summer Connection (Summer Connection does not meet all revised requirements dictated to Migrant Ed). Traditionally, Migrant Education has provided about $10,000 with other partners providing additional funding for the program. |
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| 6 | Recruitment and Outreach | Operating Expenses | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 54500 | $0.00 | $15,000.00 |
| Supplies | Butte College material to be used at recruitment events and presentations. Would include items such as Butte College pens, flash-drives, cinch sacks, etc. |
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| 7 | Recruitment & Outreach | Operating Expenses | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 55890 | $30,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Out of State Recruiting | For travel to out-of-state locations, registration in college fairs, printing/mailing and for contacting high schools/students. We now have additional staff to support this effort. |
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| 8 | Recruitment and Outreach | Equipment | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 56410 | $5,500.00 | $0.00 |
| 3 Standing Desks | Improve staff health by decreasing the amount of time they are sitting. |
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| 9 | Golf Cart | Equipment | 11.000.700.1.639001 | 56612 | $9,700.00 | $0.00 |
| Purchase new golf cart to conduct campus tours for prospective students and hires | Our current golf cart is utilized for campus tours, orientation, graduation, special events, and for hiring committees. Having a reliable cart that's presentable would make a better first-impression when interacting with prospective students and hires. |
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| 10 | Student Equity | Personnel | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Senior-Level Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | While the population of students of color has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, our faculty of color has increased by 1% in that same time period and remains woefully behind at just 12%. At the recent Strategic Planning Retreat, the senior-level Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was identified as the top priority for supporting student success and creating an inclusive campus environment. These efforts should focus on eliminating barriers to student success, preventing the recurrence of concerns expressed by students, and remedying the impact of these concerns on individual students and the campus community. In order to ensure a safe and welcoming environment that provides equal opportunity for success to all students, our college needs to 1) address hiring issues including unconscious bias training, 2) provide professional development for faculty and staff on cultural competency/cultural humility and privilege, and 3) strategically plan our college-wide efforts to close equity gaps and educate all students, faculty, and staff on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position could provide leadership on all these issues. |
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