Cooperative Title V - Learning Communities

What is the Cooperative Title V Grant About?

Del Mar College has partnered with Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi for a collaborative Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Cooperative Title V project entitled “Opening the Pipeline – Closing the Gaps.” This project will be carried out through three components. Component One will open the: “Pipeline” by working through the High School GO-Centers. Component Two will maintain the “Pipeline” by creating learning communities that address the needs of the first generation Hispanics attending Del Mar College. Component Three will seek to connect and complete the “Pipeline” by improving the completion rate of students transferring from Del Mar College.

Component One – Opening the Pipeline: Through creation of eight measurable objectives and performance indicators both Institutions have elected to work together with the GO-Centers located at selected high schools in Corpus Christi and Nueces County . These GO-Centers are student centered and student operated locations intended to serve especially for at-risk secondary level students as oases where they can obtain information about pursuing a postsecondary degree and obtain motivation and support to complete their high school diploma and be admitted to a postsecondary institution.

Component Two - Maintaining the Pipeline: By means of this component, Del Mar College seeks to (1) create learning communities to address the needs of first generation Hispanics: (2) strengthen a Faculty Development Initiative to provide expertise in developmental pedagogy; (3) increase the number of students graduating and transferring to A&M-CC; and (4) enhance high school student chances of success at Del Mar College through a summer “Bridge” program.

Component Three – Connecting and Completing the Pipeline: In this component that represents the final completion of the educational seamless pipeline, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in collaboration with Del Mar College proposes to improve the course transferability and articulation of students transferring from Del Mar College, improve the admissions, enrollment and retention rates of these transfer students, and ultimately increase the baccalaureate graduation rate, especially of Hispanics and Blacks.

This new Cooperative Title V Project piggybacks on the Previous Title V grant that created the Learning Communities environment that currently exists at Del Mar College. This Learning Communities concept has proven that additional program services, specifically intervention, has helped at-risk students with higher completion rates, better retention, and an increase in student confidence both academically and socially.

What is an Intervention Specialist?

The Intervention Specialist, Veronica Gutierrez , works directly with students applying intervention strategies when necessary. She looks for signs such as missed classes, tardiness, missed labs, and/or failing to complete homework assignments. She is responsible for completing education plans for the programs' students.

What is a Curriculum Coordinator?

The Curriculum Coordinator, Agnes Flores , works directly with the teachers, helping to develop new curricular techniques and strategies for the program's pairs and clusters. She is responsible for anticipating and developing new course combinations and for supporting the work of existing pairs and clusters through research, recommendations, and applications.

What is the Title V Summer Bridge Program?

Cooperative Title V conducts a Summer Bridge program at Del Mar College each summer. This program targets first time college students from the area school districts. The goals of this project are to transition graduated high school seniors into Del Mar College or any institution of their choice.

Summer Bridge Program Goals:

Help FTIC (First Time in College) students view higher education as a shared responsibility for learning
Expose FTIC students to effective study skills and time management skills
Expose FTIC students to the Del Mar campus and its many resources
Begin the process of building a support group for FTIC students that will help them with the high school to college transition
Encourage a new awareness of self, community, values, ethics, and diversity
Identify personal learning styles and test taking skills

What are Title V Learning Communities?

In June 2000, Del Mar College received a Title V federal grant to carry out the activities and mission of the college-to offer students success through Learning Communities. Through this grant, the College seeks to develop an institutional program designed to foster academic growth, to increase faculty and staff development, and to strengthen institutional management. The College will continue the Learning-Communities model with the Cooperative Title V Grant which began in September 2004.

What is the difference between Title V paired courses and other paired courses offered at Del Mar College?

Students in Title V paired/clustered courses have some opportunities that are not necessarily available to students in regular paired courses. A special counselor and an intervention specialist are available to assist these students. The students develop education plans, and meet individually with the college counselor at least twice during the semester.

What are Learning Communities?

A Learning Community is an approach to the learning process that focuses on the learning of the student as distinguished from the teaching of the student. In paired/clustered courses students support each other and learn from one another. Faculty work together to integrate course materials, thus emphasizing the connections between the disciplines. This collaboration among and between faculty and students creates a "community of learners" that enhances each member's experience.

How does it benefit me as a student?

The idea of Learning Communities is to offer students a variety of grouped options. Students participate in paired or clustered courses. They also are given the options of participating in Supplemental Instruction sessions and meet with a peer mentor during the semester.

In paired and clustered courses, coordinated assignments and projects allow students to sharpen academic skills and to discover relationships among course content. Students report that there is a more cooperative attitude among the students, and that the coordinated assignments allow students to use research in one class to apply to projects or papers in the other class. This method reduces the stress (and sometimes the amount) of homework. Students are helped in three ways beyond the classroom. They receive personalized attention from a professional counselor, who gives them free academic counsel and career guidance. They receive personalized attention from the intervention specialist, who steps in when students experience difficulties attending class or completing assignments. And they also receive personalized assistance from SI leaders and peer mentors.

How does the Laptop Check-Out Program Work?

The Cooperative Title V Program has thirty lap top computers. The CT-5 computers are housed in the Venters Business Building Room 325 under the supervision of Agnes Flores. CT-5 students will have the opportunity to check out the lap top computers for class related projects. The lap top computers are equipped with wireless Internet and will facilitate students with class assignments and internet research for students that may not otherwise have these amenities outside of Del Mar College's computer labs.

A Check-Out Agreement—Terms and Conditions will have to be filled out by the student wanting to use a lap top computer. This process will be taken care of by a CT-5 worker in the Venters Business Building .

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	Frequently Asked Questions
	What is the Cooperative Title V Grant About? Del Mar College has partnered with Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi for a collaborative Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Cooperative Title V project entitled “Opening the Pipeline – Closing the Gaps.” This project will be carried out through three components. Component One will open the: “Pipeline” by working through the High School GO-Centers. Component Two will maintain the “Pipeline” by creating learning communities that address the needs of the first generation Hispanics attending Del Mar College. Component Three will seek to connect and complete the “Pipeline” by improving the completion rate of students transferring from Del Mar College. Component One – Opening the Pipeline: Through creation of eight measurable objectives and performance indicators both Institutions have elected to work together with the GO-Centers located at selected high schools in Corpus Christi and Nueces County . These GO-Centers are student centered and student operated locations intended to serve especially for at-risk secondary level students as oases where they can obtain information about pursuing a postsecondary degree and obtain motivation and support to complete their high school diploma and be admitted to a postsecondary institution. Component Two - Maintaining the Pipeline: By means of this component, Del Mar College seeks to (1) create learning communities to address the needs of first generation Hispanics: (2) strengthen a Faculty Development Initiative to provide expertise in developmental pedagogy; (3) increase the number of students graduating and transferring to A&M-CC; and (4) enhance high school student chances of success at Del Mar College through a summer “Bridge” program. Component Three – Connecting and Completing the Pipeline: In this component that represents the final completion of the educational seamless pipeline, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in collaboration with Del Mar College proposes to improve the course transferability and articulation of students transferring from Del Mar College, improve the admissions, enrollment and retention rates of these transfer students, and ultimately increase the baccalaureate graduation rate, especially of Hispanics and Blacks. This new Cooperative Title V Project piggybacks on the Previous Title V grant that created the Learning Communities environment that currently exists at Del Mar College. This Learning Communities concept has proven that additional program services, specifically intervention, has helped at-risk students with higher completion rates, better retention, and an increase in student confidence both academically and socially. What is an Intervention Specialist? The Intervention Specialist, Veronica Gutierrez , works directly with students applying intervention strategies when necessary. She looks for signs such as missed classes, tardiness, missed labs, and/or failing to complete homework assignments. She is responsible for completing education plans for the programs' students. What is a Curriculum Coordinator? The Curriculum Coordinator, Agnes Flores , works directly with the teachers, helping to develop new curricular techniques and strategies for the program's pairs and clusters. She is responsible for anticipating and developing new course combinations and for supporting the work of existing pairs and clusters through research, recommendations, and applications. What is the Title V Summer Bridge Program? Cooperative Title V conducts a Summer Bridge program at Del Mar College each summer. This program targets first time college students from the area school districts. The goals of this project are to transition graduated high school seniors into Del Mar College or any institution of their choice. Summer Bridge Program Goals: Help FTIC (First Time in College) students view higher education as a shared responsibility for learning Expose FTIC students to effective study skills and time management skills Expose FTIC students to the Del Mar campus and its many resources Begin the process of building a support group for FTIC students that will help them with the high school to college transition Encourage a new awareness of self, community, values, ethics, and diversity Identify personal learning styles and test taking skills What are Title V Learning Communities? In June 2000, Del Mar College received a Title V federal grant to carry out the activities and mission of the college-to offer students success through Learning Communities. Through this grant, the College seeks to develop an institutional program designed to foster academic growth, to increase faculty and staff development, and to strengthen institutional management. The College will continue the Learning-Communities model with the Cooperative Title V Grant which began in September 2004. What is the difference between Title V paired courses and other paired courses offered at Del Mar College? Students in Title V paired/clustered courses have some opportunities that are not necessarily available to students in regular paired courses. A special counselor and an intervention specialist are available to assist these students. The students develop education plans, and meet individually with the college counselor at least twice during the semester. What are Learning Communities? A Learning Community is an approach to the learning process that focuses on the learning of the student as distinguished from the teaching of the student. In paired/clustered courses students support each other and learn from one another. Faculty work together to integrate course materials, thus emphasizing the connections between the disciplines. This collaboration among and between faculty and students creates a "community of learners" that enhances each member's experience. How does it benefit me as a student? The idea of Learning Communities is to offer students a variety of grouped options. Students participate in paired or clustered courses. They also are given the options of participating in Supplemental Instruction sessions and meet with a peer mentor during the semester. In paired and clustered courses, coordinated assignments and projects allow students to sharpen academic skills and to discover relationships among course content. Students report that there is a more cooperative attitude among the students, and that the coordinated assignments allow students to use research in one class to apply to projects or papers in the other class. This method reduces the stress (and sometimes the amount) of homework. Students are helped in three ways beyond the classroom. They receive personalized attention from a professional counselor, who gives them free academic counsel and career guidance. They receive personalized attention from the intervention specialist, who steps in when students experience difficulties attending class or completing assignments. And they also receive personalized assistance from SI leaders and peer mentors. How does the Laptop Check-Out Program Work? The Cooperative Title V Program has thirty lap top computers. The CT-5 computers are housed in the Venters Business Building Room 325 under the supervision of Agnes Flores. CT-5 students will have the opportunity to check out the lap top computers for class related projects. The lap top computers are equipped with wireless Internet and will facilitate students with class assignments and internet research for students that may not otherwise have these amenities outside of Del Mar College's computer labs. A Check-Out Agreement—Terms and Conditions will have to be filled out by the student wanting to use a lap top computer. This process will be taken care of by a CT-5 worker in the Venters Business Building .