Bienvenidos ! CALSA Summer Institute

1. Bienvenidos! CALSA Summer Institute Access, Achievement & Accountability: Hot Topics in a Climate of Ambiguity Francisco C. Rodriguez MiraCosta Community College District frodriguez@miracosta.edu July 21, 2010

2. Discussion Points • California Community Colleges • P-12 Issues • Our Story: MiraCosta College • Lessons Learned

3. The California Community Colleges

4. CA Student Characteristics • Almost all local students • Most are part-time (66%) • Most are female (56%) • 80% of students work • Average age varies • Demographic Profile • White 37% • Latino 30% • Asian/Pacific Isl. 16% • African American 9% • Native American 1%

5. Latina/o Community College CEOs in CA: 2010 Chancellors • Rita Cepeda, San Jose/Evergreen CCD • Raul Rodriguez, Rancho Santiago CCD • Sandra Serrano, Kern CCD Superintendent/Presidents • Leo Chavez, Sierra CCD • Ben Duran, Merced CCD • Ted Martinez, Jr., Rio Hondo CCD • Eloy Oakley, Long Beach CCD • Jose Ortiz, Allan Hancock CCD • Mark Rocha, Pasadena City College • Francisco Rodriguez, MiraCosta CCD College Presidents • Rosa Carlson, Porterville College • Richard Duran, Oxnard College • Peter Garcia, Los Medanos College • Betty Incla, Berkeley City College • Erlinda Martinez, Santa Ana College • Marvin Martinez, LA Harbor College • Judith Miner, Foothill College • Ernest Moreno, East LA College • Monte Perez, Moreno Valley • Juan Vasquez, Santiago Canyon College

6. California public education

7. California Public Education • Largest K-12 enrollment and educates one in eight public school students in the United States.   • More residents—and students—than any other state. California’s K-12 enrollment is over 6 million, nearly 2 million more than Texas, the next highest, which has just more than 4 million students. • California schools have a majority of “minorities,” with Hispanics/Latinos making up the largest student group (50%).

8. California Public Education • More than one in five children in California live in poverty • Nearly half of all K–12 students participate in the federal free lunch program. • One quarter of K–12 students are English learners.  • Funding and staffing levels lag behind other states. • Consistently fallen below the national average in per-pupil expenditures, ranking 41st in 2007–08, according to the National Education Association's (NEA) Rankings and Estimates 2009–10.

9. California Public Education • Hispanic representation in the early childhood population is larger than all other minority groups combined. • In 2006, Hispanics represented 23% of the population under five years of age, while blacks, Asian, and Native Americans combined equaled 19% of the population. • Source: Digest of Education Statistics, 2007, NCES, 2008, Table 16

10. California Higher Education • Latinos of traditional college-age are less likely to be enrolled in college. In 2006, 24% of Latinos 18-24 years old were enrolled in degree-granting institutions, compared to 33% of black, and 41% of white students. • Latino male representation in higher education has declined. In 1976, Latino males represented 55% of Latinos in higher education, but in 2006, that figure had dropped to 41%. • In 2003-04, Latinos were more likely to receive federal aid (50%) than the combination of all racial/ethnic groups (46%). • Sources: Digest of Education Statistics, 2007, NCES, 2008, Table 195; NCES, Institutional Postsecondary Education Data Survey (IPEDS) 2005-06;

11. P-12 Issues

12. P-12 Issues • Accountability Movement • Achievement Gap • Anti-Immigrant Sentiment • Charter School Movement • Chronic Underfunding from State • Collective Bargaining/Unions • Crisis in Public Confidence • Demographic Shifts • English-language Learners • Facilities Needs

13. P-12 Issues • Leadership Turnover: Retirements & Succession Planning • Overregulation • Public School Financing • Poverty of schoolchildren • Rising Heath & Benefit Costs • School Board Politics • Students’ Course of Study: STEM • Surviving the Recession • Teacher Preparation • Testing to the Standards • Voter Fatigue (State & Local)

14. CALSA 2010 Conference Theme How do you survive in a time of crisis? What are some strategies to weather the storm?

15. From my observation, the best … • Are comfortable with ambiguity and are resilient • Are thoughtful, decisive and possess a sense of urgency • Are vociferous educational advocates • Articulate persistent optimism • Build top administrative teams around them • Engage with the community and view them as value-added • Make difficult decisions in difficult times • Never lose sight of the importance of developing good teachers and administrators • Provide consistent leadership and vision • Receive solid support from the board of trustees • Speak the truth

16. ABOUT Miracosta college

17. MiraCosta Community College District

18. MiraCosta College Student Population • Average class size: 30 • Students • 14,300 students enrolled in credit classes • 2,300 students enrolled in noncredit classes • 4,500 students enrolled in fee-based programs • Female—57% • Male—41% • 50% Students of Color • Average Age—27

19. College Growth 2002-2009

20. Growth & Change

21. Challenges & OPPORTUNITIES

22. Challenges & Opportunities • Governance Model • Accreditation • Employee Contracts • Budget • Campus Climate • College leadership • Board Development • Community Relations

23. Projected Projected Expenses vs. Revenues

24. Big, Audacious Goals • Accommodate and serve record number of students • Build trust and stability • Minimize layoffs • Maintain fund balance reserve of 8-10% • Reduce our expenditures • Sustain access to quality education and services

25. Our Road Map • Achieve cooperation and support from governance and employee groups • Coordinate strategic communications plan • Face the Brutal Facts • Focus on educational excellence and student success • Invite and include, dialogue and debate • Plan for the future • Set targets for reductions • Sustain support from board

26. The Results • Accommodated 15% growth in students • Accreditation reaffirmation • Created new academic programs • Growing public confidence • Increased legislative presence in Sacramento • Invested in “growing our own” & professional development • Not a single layoff of permanent staff • Reduction of $5M in operating expenses for FY10 with ending fund balance reserve of 10% • Stable and competent leadership • Strong employee group relations

27. Lessons learned

28. Many hats…high expectations

29. Lessons Learned • Deploy strategic communications • Focus on organizational climate and culture • Focus on relationships • Reduce – Redirect – Reaffirm • Use the power of your influence, not the influence of your power

30. Lessons Learned • Derive consensus on what excellence looks like at your school • Focus on building social capital and trusting relationships • Know your strengths and guiding principles • Listen • Understand that our diversity is value-added

31. Lessons Learned • Always focus on what is best for students • Be in it for the long term • Never forget the mission of public education • Reflect on why you were called to this noble profession • The public gives us two things: their money and their trust

32. Final Thoughts • Lead with Passion and Humility • Seek Balance in Your Life • Remember Los Cuatro C’s: Courage, Conviction, Cultura y Coraje • Give your very best all the time

33. Gracias y SiempreAdelante!