Los Angeles Southwest College
Improving student outcomes is the college's highest priority. Through Quantitative Data Analysis, LASC has found that once students reached college level math and English, their chances of certificate completion, graduation, and transfer dramatically increased. With Achieving the Dream, the college will:
- Implement mandatory orientations
- Increase student success in developmental math and English by strengthening the existing English and math labs and tutorial services
- Create The LASC Faculty Academy to provide opportunities for professional development with a focus on improving faculty/student communication and engagement
- Increase student success dialogues on campus and in the community
- Engage internal and external stakeholders in improvement efforts
- Gather evidence to improve, expand, and sustain programs
LASC hosts a variety of programs to help at-risk students: the Anytime Student Assistance Program, an early detection system to provide an effective intervention process to aid students in completion, retention, and persistence; the Extended Opportunity Program and Services, designed to help disadvantaged students have a successful college experience and complete their career goals with support including counseling, developmental courses, tutoring, and partial book vouchers; the Academic Success Center, designed in response to the dire need to improve the college’s overall student success and retention, offering tutoring, computer access, and iTV materials; and more.
College leaders are particularly interested in using Achieving the Dream's guidance to develop wrap-around services to support the academic achievement of African-American and Hispanic males.
Los Angeles Southwest College opened in 1967 and is one of nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District. The college is an educational and cultural hub for the communities of southern Los Angeles where the poverty and unemployment rates are among nation's highest. Nearly 100% of the college's 7,870 students in Fall 2009 were students of color and approximately 70% were considered low-income. More than 90% of the Fall 2009 semester’s Achieving the Dream cohort entering LASC need developmental education in English, reading and/or mathematics.
For several years, the college has integrated data and institutional effectiveness measures in its strategic planning and other decision-making processes. Its 2006 accreditation included a commendation for moving toward a culture of evidence. In 2010 the college was selected to participate in the RP Group's Bridging Research, Information and Cultures Initiative to strengthen inquiry-based practices among California community colleges.
The Achieving the Dream Model
Achieving the Dream community colleges commit to our Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. Based on four principles, the model frames the overall work of helping more students, particularly low- income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree.
Each college approaches the work differently, but Achieving the Dream’s five-step process provides practical guidelines for keeping the focus where it belongs and building momentum over time. Throughout the process, Achieving the Dream coaches offer customized support and help each college’s core team implement data-informed programs and policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to student success.
