Student Services

Publicly post Black Lives Matter (BLM) written statement and action plan. Complete 

Hire an expert on racial trauma in the Black community to conduct a series of workshops, dialogue sessions, and a student conference intended to reach the following objectives:

• create a sense of belonging for Foothill’s Black students;
• create a space for discussions on racial trauma;
• promote service leadership among Black students at Foothill;
• promote research development among Black students;
• conduct racial trauma trainings for counselors and Psychological Services counselors; and 
• serve as liaison between Black students and President’s Cabinet and administrators to report out themes of issues Black students face at Foothill.

Complete – Consultant on contract from Aug 2020 to Jan 2021

In collaboration with Institutional Research office, conduct racial data analysis for each unit & publicly post findings. Complete 

Added: Share BLM plan an approach with the district to solicit feedback. Complete 

Conduct focus group for Black students with topic of: What barriers can we remove in student services? Complete 

Coordinate Professional Development forum for student services personnel: What does racial bias look like in student services? Scheduled for Jan. 2021

Updated:  Ensure college equity plan aligns with Black Lives Matter Action Plan. Complete 

Consult with Associated Student leadership on BLM action plan efforts to obtain their feedback and consultation. Complete 

Added: Conduct monthly meeting focused on BLM effort. Ongoing/twice month

Added: Coordinate symposium for Black students on the topics of service leadership & research development. Complete

Added: Launch racial trauma training for counselors, college wide. Scheduled for Jan 2020 to June 2021

Added: Create student club My Other Brother and Sister (MOBS) as a place of belonging for Black students. In progress

Added: Hire up to 10 Black students to serve as Equity Ambassadors. In progress

Added: Coordinate daylong conference for all Student Services personnel on the topic of Black Lives Matter to create a sense of urgency, educate on anti-racist approaches, and share examples of Black excellence. Scheduled for Feb. 2021

Ensure a revised BLM Action Plan is posted quarterly. Completed for fall on Dec. 15, 2020.

Ensure BLM action plan is standing item at every deans meeting and present efforts/approach at Opening/Flex day. 

Provide Deans/Directors with tools and resources to create spaces to discuss race in their departmental meetings.

Conduct outreach to students in Umoja, Black Student Union and Harambe to improve access to mental health services. In progress 

Hire an African American mental health ambassador. Complete 

Publicly post statement regarding mental health services for Umoja, BSU, and Harambe participants acknowledging/addressing generational and racial trauma. In progress

Updated: Develop curriculum for Professional Development training and resources for Psychological Services counselors on Black racial trauma. Scheduled for Jan. 2021

Determine areas of appropriate analysis for Black students (privacy rights to be considered). Consider focus group and/or survey: Do Black students feel connected/comfortable with accessing Psychological Services? Why or why not? How can we create an environment that serves our Black population more intently?  Completed

Added: Hire a full-time psychologist with expertise in racial trauma. In progress

Proactively reach out to Black students who apply to Foothill and ensure they have ample support through each matriculation step. Track data through the process to determine barriers they face throughout the process. In progress

Identify Black students who did not receive priority registration and identify how we can support them through any barriers they face. In progress

Updated: Conduct focus group with Equity Ambassadors to ask what barriers they face in A&R services. Determine a plan for how to remove/address those barriers. In progress

Research Black students who drop for non-payment due to affordability issues. Reach out to offer additional financial supports (such as ensure they apply for Fin Aid, use of emergency funds, etc.). Explore the college systemically removing drop for non-payment for low income students. In progress

Conduct analysis of new, first-time Black students to determine if they take advantage of their priority registration block. Consider conducting a follow up survey. In progress

Updated: In collaboration with our marketing and outreach office, host virtual registration workshops during the week of priority registration. Conduct analysis of new first-time students of if they take advantage of their priority registration block. Consider conducting a follow up survey. In progress

Conduct a collaborative meeting with outreach office to understand their outreach efforts in high schools and determine areas of collaboration for the new, incoming Black student population. Complete for dual enrollment. General population is in progress.

Conduct FAFSA workshops at local high schools (with high percentage of Black students) to complete it, regardless if they come to Foothill or not.  In progress

Conduct focus groups with EOPS and other representative Foothill populations on obstacles/barriers on financial aid access and financial literacy. In progress

Create zoom recordings to welcome students of color to the learning communities/EOPS and FAFSA workshops. In progress

Updated: Work with Office of Online Learning to create Canvas post-able documents/videos. In progress

Review triage process for late filers of financial aid to allow them to stay enrolled and stay successful. In progress

Lead the Student Affairs and Activities team by example in recognizing the difference between intent versus impact and remedying my mistakes as Dean of Students if or when my decisions do not reflect my support for Black student populations. Ongoing

Partner with Institutional Research Office in:

• Conducting a racially conscious self-study and in-depth analysis of our data, practices, and student experiences as it relates to Student Conduct and Due Process;
• Identifying student “droppers” by race, gender, etc. who received holds on their accounts due to conduct cases; and
• Analyzing Food Pantry data and demographics of students being served 

In progress

Develop equity-focused three-year action plan with quarterly and annual benchmarks based on self-study and data analysis results. In progress

Establish an equity and racially conscious framework to the work of the Behavioral Intervention Team. In progress

Together with Foothill’s Office of Equity, De Anza’s Office of Equity, De Anza’s Dean of Student’s Office, and Police department, develop response protocol for reported incidents of racial profiling by district police. In progress

Partner with Dean of Online Learning and Dean of Institutional Equity to facilitate workshop for faculty on Academic Integrity reporting from an Equity Lens. In progress

Work with Institutional Research Office to determine if there is a similar gap as with the general college in the success rate of Black students served in EOPS. Based on analysis, reflect on retention efforts/practices. Ongoing

Implement a recruitment plan by presenting program services in learning communities, such as but not limited to, Umoja/Athletics. Ongoing

Identify local community programs to build relationships to understand the needs of the community and prospective students that enroll. Assert follow-up to invitations. Ongoing

Recruit student employees who resemble the diversity of the program, making sure announcements are reaching Black students enrolled in EOPS. Ongoing

Build relationships with Student Service and Academic programs to refer students to EOPS. Scheduled for Jan. 2021

Establish Guardian Scholars (Foster Youth) Cooperative, Build relationship with community Foster Youth organizations, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (East Palo Alto and East Side) In progress

Incorporate equity education and implicit bias training for EOPS staff. In progress

Create a space for discussions as an ongoing practice in staff meetings to confront biases. In progress

Updated: Collaborate with Financial Aid and Outreach teams to identify potential EOPS students and expand reach.  Complete

In order to provide immediate access to services, Foster Youth will be directed to engage in the EOPS/CARE Intake process and will be guided to next steps, regardless of program eligibility.  In progress

Implement a pilot program beginning Fall 2020. We will assign randomly selected Black students to a counselor so they will have access to support from the time instruction begins in the Fall. In progress

Conduct data analysis of Black student usage of Counseling services. Examine the following: Do Black students make counseling appointments at the same percentage as the general population? Do they come back for a second appointment within the school year? Do they create comprehensive educational plans, and if so, how has that impacted their graduate or transfer rates within two years? Complete

Conduct focus groups and/or surveys of Black students to ask about their experience at Foothill College and what they think will help them succeed here.  Complete

Expand Starfish to caseload disproportionately impacted groups. Conduct Starfish training for all counselors. In progress

Updated: Analyze success indicators for Umoja program. Scheduled for Spring 2021

dentify Black students near graduation, help them complete the petition process. Scheduled for Spring 2021

Partner with local high school districts that have a high percentage of students of color (Black students in particular) to create a more diverse SPED 8 program (high school recruitment program to transition special education students to Foothill College). Scheduled for Spring 2021

Conduct analysis by race on who receives the Schoettler book voucher and determine a plan to ensure eligible low-income students are accessing the voucher. In progress

Work with Institutional Research office to analyze Tools for Transition and Work and Community Based program data and demographic of students being served. Based on data analysis, determine plan to diversify the student population. Scheduled for Winter 2021

Work with Institutional research office to analyze Veterans program and demographic of students being served. Based on data analysis, determine a plan to conduct more comprehensive outreach/in reach of vets of color to ensure they are accessing benefits. Scheduled for Winter 2021

Work with Institutional research office to conduct comprehensive analysis of services offered, who is accessing services, and a satisfaction survey – all with analysis by disproportionately impacted groups. Research best practices for DRC/VRC Black communities at other colleges. Based on analysis/research, work with the DRC/VRC teams to determine action plan. In progress