[00:09:57]
>> WE ARE CREATING A NOTICEABLY CLEAR STARTING POINT AND HOW THEY CAN STAY
[00:09:57]
ON THAT PATH AND GET WHAT THEY WANT AT THE END AND THAT IS TO EARN A LIVING WAGE.WHAT WAS CLEAR JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO IS NOT CLEAR ANYMORE WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
[00:10:04]
AT THE END OF THE DAY.IT WILL BE A WIN FOR THE STUDENT.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SUCH A GREAT PARTNER WITH DALLAS COLLEGE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND YOU SUPPORTED THE DUAL CREDIT.
IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS CONVERSATION.
HOW DO YOU THINK IS EMBRACING GUIDED PATHWAYS IS HELPING TO EDUCATE STUDENTS IN OUR PARTNERED HIGH SCHOOLS?
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST A SMALL FACT THAT IS USUALLY NOT INCLUDED IN OUR BIO I ATTENDED NORTHLAKE COLLEGE BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY EXPERIENCE THERE.
SO, I HOLD OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN SUCH HIGH REGARDS.
YES, GUIDED PATHWAYS, THAT REALLY HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP.
THAT HAS DEFINITELY ALLOWED US TO STREAMLINE OUR PROGRAMS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, THE STUDENT SUPPORT HAS INCREASED BOTH WITH FINANCIAL GUIDANCE AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT.
IT PROVIDES COLLEGE CAREER IN MILITARY READINESS FOR EVERY HIGH SCHOOL.
DALLAS COLLEGE THROUGH GUIDED PATHWAYS HAS PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT AND SUPPORT BY ASSIGNING EACH STUDENT AND ADVISOR TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS.
ONCE THEY BECOME A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT.
THE ADVISOR CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE STUDENT.
OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT LEFT ON THEIR OWN TO DO THIS JOURNEY.
AS WE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS THE FUTURE READY AND TO ASSIST THEM IN EARNING THAT LIVING WAGE AND ACHIEVING THAT CAREER.
TO US IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE EMBRACED IT AND ARE SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THAT TESTIMONY.
WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU ARE ONE OF OURS.
LET ME TURN TO REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS.
WE APPRECIATE HER TAKING TIME OUT OF HER SCHEDULE TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE ISSUES THAT RELATE TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOW TEXAS HOUSE IS WORKING TO SUPPORT TEXAS WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS?
>> I BELIEVE YOU ARE MUTED, THERE MA'AM.
>> IS THAT IT? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS MEETING TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES.
WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING TO COME UP WITH NEW WAYS TO ADDRESS WHERE WE ARE TODAY THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS JOINED AT THE HELP IS OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE CITIZENS.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK WITH AND CONTINUE TO BE ADVOCATES FOR BREWING A STRONG WORKFORCE SUPPORTING STRONG EDUCATIONAL ETHICS AND JOB EFFORTS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK THAT IT'S JUST ABOUT GETTING A WORK WAGE, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE THE BEST INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY CAN
[00:15:09]
AND BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT MUST EXIST TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN TEXAS, THERE ARE MANY MODIFIED APPROACHES TO LEGISLATION.WE NEED TO FIND OUT HOW TO MAKE THEM MORE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
SO, THE ENTIRE CITY AND COUNTY WILL BENEFIT.
>> EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO OPERATE IN THIS STRANGE ENVIRONMENT THAT WERE LIVING IN.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON GUIDED PATHWAYS TO CAREER PATHS? STUDENTS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO ENHANCE THEIR EARNING POTENTIAL.
TALK ABOUT HOW THIS PATH WORK WILL ALLOW MORE STUDENTS TO PROGRESS INTO POSITIONS WITH MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND ULTIMATELY MORE WAGES.
>> WE CURRENTLY AT DALLAS COLLEGE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS IN THEIR DESIGNED AND FOCUSED ON GETTING OUR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE ENDPOINT OF THEIR GOALS, ARE THEY GOING INTO A CAREER OR THEY GOING TO PURSUE TRANSFER.
OUR SEVEN CAREER PATHS ARE REALLY ALIGNED WITH THAT WITHIN EACH CAREER PATH.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MAPS FOR GUIDED PATHWAYS THAT WILL HELP THEM FINISH A PROGRAM THAT WE OFFER AT DALLAS COLLEGE, WHETHER IT BE A CERTIFICATE OR AN ASSOCIATEÂS DEGREE REALLY THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS USING IT AS A WAY TO ORGANIZE IT AND SEE WHAT TYPES OF JOBS COULD BE REALIZED THROUGH COMPLETING A PATHWAY IN ONE OF THESE PARTICULAR CAREER PATHS.
THERE ARE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND YOU CAN SEE THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THAT RETICULAR CAREER PATH YOU CAN SEE THE JOBS AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
EVEN WITHIN THE MAPS THEMSELVES.
THERE'S INFORMATION GEARED TOWARD STUDENTS WHERE THIS PARTICULAR AWARD MAY LEAD THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN STUDENTS ARE GOING INTO ANY GIVEN FIELD FOR ANY STUDY, THEY WANTED NO WHAT'S AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WHERE THEY GOING WITH THIS.
WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LEAD TO.
I NEED TO DO WHAT THE EMPLOYEE IS SO THEY CAN BEGIN WITH THAT.
IT IS ALSO UNDERSTANDING HOW WE ASSIGN ADVISORS TO OUR STUDENTS BASED ON THE CAREER PAST THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT USING.
THEY CAN HAVE MORE SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR ADVISORS.
OUR CAREER PATHS ARE REALLY DESIGNED FOR THAT WITH OUR STUDENTS.
CLEARLY ONE OF THE FOCUSES OF GETTING FOLKS ON A PATH IS TO GET THEM ON THAT PATH EARLIER AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FOCUS AND EXPANDING THE COLLEGIATE ACADEMIES IT IS GROWN DRAMATICALLY UNDER DR. MAY'S LEADERSHIP.
SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THESE TYPE PROGRAMS AND WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM GO FROM HERE.
[00:20:01]
>> WE REALIZE THAT EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST A ONE-MAN SHOW HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE PIPELINE.
WE PARTNER WITH SEVERAL SCHOOLS AND IT AIMS TO HELP MORE DALLAS COUNTY STUDENTS COMPLETE COLLEGE AND START CAREERS AND ELIMINATING FINANCIAL BARRIERS WERE PARTNERING NOW AS FACILITATORS WITH STUDENTS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE OR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR FUTURE AND WITH OUR FACILITATORS.
WE SHOW THEM A PATHWAY, A GUIDED PATHWAY TO THEIR GOAL.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMPLETING 80 TO 90 HOURS AND NOT GETTING CREDENTIALS OR BEING ABLE TRANSFER, THEY HAVE STRAYED FROM THE PATHWAY.
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 57 PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS 11 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THIS FALL WE HAVE MORE THAN 23,000 DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS ENROLLED IN DALLAS COLLEGE.
THAT IS UP FROM 13,500 JUST FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO ESSENTIALLY, WE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WERE HELPING TO GET THAT DEGREE BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TUITION THEY MUST PAY THE NUMBER OF HOURS WITH ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.
IT HELPS GET THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER TO A FOUR-YEAR OR A WORKFORCE CREDENTIAL.
THE FALL OF SPRING OF 2000 29,000 STUDENTS EARNED A DUAL CERTIFICATE.
AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE BY THE END OF 2020-2021.
WE ARE ON TRACK TO DOUBLE THAT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT.
I'VE TOLD THAT IRVINE HAS AN IMPACTFUL PROGRAM HOW OR MORE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NOW EARNING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND ASSOCIATES DEGREE AT THE SAME TIME HOW YOU SEE US CONTINUING TO SUPPORT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PROVIDE STUDENTS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAKE LIVING WAGES.
>> TWO YEARS AGO, I HEARD FROM ERIC THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST LARGE DISTRICTS TO HAVE ALL OUR HIGH SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
SO, IT WAS SUCH A BLESSING, BUT ALSO, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS HOW EXTREMELY GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE WORK AND SUPPORT.
I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD ASK THAT DALLAS COUNTY WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES AND WORKFORCE READINESS WITH THE DATA TO IRVING.
ALSO CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THE DATA TRACKING TOOLS TO SUPPORT AND MONITOR OUR STUDENT PROGRESS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ADVISORS TO ASSIST WITH COLLEGE ADMISSION.
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TUITION ASSISTANCE, OR UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF ASSOCIATES
[00:25:01]
DEGREE.I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT OUR FIRST COLLEGIATE ACADEMY WHEN I FIRST TOOK OVER A SUPERINTENDENT THAT FIRST YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 17 GRADUATES WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE WITH THE COLLEGIATE ACADEMY THAT JUST OPENED THE DOOR FOR SO MANY MORE STUDENTS AND OUR AMAZING PARTNERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO OPEN ONE IN THE SOUTH CAMPUS.
SO I THINK THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS REALLY I SEE IT MORE LIKE AN X-RAY OF SEEING THE THINGS WE CAN DO NOW IN THE PAST THAT WERE EXCUSES AND WERE THINKING MORE OUTSIDE THE BOX, OR THAT THERE IS NO BOX.
SO, WITH THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE WITH DALLAS COLLEGE AND ALL THE AMAZING LEADERS THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US IN THIS ENDEAVOR, WE WILL COME UP WITH MORE IDEAS ON HOW TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND CONTINUE TO GROW.
JUST HAVING THE PROMISE TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE AND BE READY FOR THE FUTURE.
IT IS OPPORTUNITIES THAT MANY OF US DID NOT HAVE GROWING UP, SO THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE PROMISE? SINCE YOU WERE KIND OF THE GENESIS OF IT.
TELL ME WHY YOU THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AND WHERE YOU SEE THE FUTURE GOING.
WHAT WE SHARE IS A COMMON CONCERN.
WE ALL BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IS BETTER OFF IN COLLEGE.
THERE ARE SO MANY STUDENTS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT IS HARD WHEN YOU GROW UP IN A HOUSE AND MANY OF THE TIME, THEY BELIEVE THEY CANNOT AFFORD COLLEGE.
WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE OPTION RIGHT HERE THAT IS AVAILABLE BUT TOO OFTEN PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT.
THEY BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE WHEN IN FACT IT IS SO WHAT DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE DID IS REALLY TAKE THE CLUTTER OUT OF THE WAY AND CLEAR THE WAY WE COULD CLEARLY SHOW STUDENTS THAT THEY CAN GO TO COLLEGE WITHOUT GOING INTO DEBT THEY CAN EARN AN ASSOCIATEÂS DEGREE WITHOUT LEAVING HOME AND THEY CAN TRANSFER TO ONE OF OUR FOR YOUR PARTNERS.
WE WANT TO SEE EVERYONE CAN GET A COLLEGE DEGREE.
IF THERE IS ONE THING WE KNOW IF THERE IS DOUBT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THERE'S CLARITY NOW THAT THE INDIVIDUALS MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY WHAT'S HAPPENED THOSE WHO HAD THAT CERTIFICATE OR DEGREE HAVE BEEN FAR BETTER VISIONS TO CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTELY, SO THE DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE IS SIMPLY ABOUT GETTING MORE STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE AND MAKING SURE THEY CAN DO THAT WITH NO COST TO THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAD SOME REFERENCES TO THE PANDEMIC AND COVID 19 AND OUR FIRST FULL SEMESTER MOVING TO AN ONLINE FORMAT SO GIVEN ALL THIS CHANGE LET ME ASK WHAT THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR DALLAS COLLEGE IS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
>> DOUSED COLLEGE IS REALLY POISED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.
[00:30:01]
THE PANDEMIC HAS PROVIDED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER SERVE EMPLOYERS AND STUDENTS IN ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES IS THE ABILITY TO OFFER ONLINE CLASSES.ALMOST ALL OUR PROGRAMS OF STUDY HAVE BEEN TRANSITIONED OVER TO ONLINE CLASSES.
THE TEXAS TALUS PATHWAYS IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT AIM TO PREPARE 300,000 STUDENTS FOR IN DEMAND CAREERS IN JUST 300 DAYS.
DR. MAE HAS BEEN A CHAMPIONSHIP.
IT BUILDS A STRONGER WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR THE TEXAS COMMUNITY.
WE LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATE PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE BUILDING A HEALTHY PROSPEROUS ECONOMY.
I BELIEVE WE CAN TURN INTO WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED DURING THIS PANDEMIC INTO A NEW MODEL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS UNCERTAINTY.
WE HAVE SEEN IT WITH HURRICANES, BUT THIS IS A BIT DIFFERENT, BUT ANY TIME THERE IS A CRISIS.
THERE ARE BOTH JOBS CREATED AND LOST.
THE CHALLENGES ARE THOSE TWO DO NOT MATCH OUT VERY WELL.
WHAT WE REALLY TRY TO DO IS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE HERE AT NORTH TEXAS.
WE WANT TO BRING TOGETHER OUR EMPLOYERS AND STUDENTS IN A WAY THAT CAN REALLY HELP GET STUDENTS THOSE JOBS.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE FUTURE AND THE JOB MARKET, BUT IT IS ALSO HERE LOCALLY THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS PARTNER TO MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE CALL HER CERTIFICATE FIRST BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS MUST WORK WHILE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.
SO IF WE CAN GET THEM HER CERTIFICATE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GO TO WORK AT THE BANK OF AMERICA OR THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK, THEN IT'S A WIN FOR BOTH THE END, THE COMPANY AND THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO TO SCHOOL.
WE ARE OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE PARTNER WITH A COUPLE OF POWERHOUSES LIKE AMAZON WEB SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING THE ASSOCIATES DEGREE OF COMPLIED SCIENCE AND THAT IS THE MOST IN DEMAND SKILL ON LINKEDIN FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS CREATES A TALENT POOL THAT ARE EAGER TO TAP INTO THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE SO MANY OF THE JOBS ARE TODAY DEALING WITH TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH GOOGLE AND PARTNERED WITH THEM WITH THE GOOGLE IT SPECIALIST SUPPORT CERTIFICATE WHICH GET STUDENTS PREPARED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS IN IT, BUT THE GREAT NEWS IS YOU CAN BUILD OFF OF THOSE SKILLS GOING FORWARD WE DONE THE SAME THING WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BLOOMBERG.
WE HAVE OPENED THE BLOOMBERG FINANCE LAB AND IT SERVES THAT A TRAINING GROUND.
WE HAVE OVER 17,000 PEOPLE WORKING IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY.
THOSE ARE GREAT JOBS AND GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
BEING ABLE TO WORK ON THE BLOOMBERG TERMINAL IS A STOCK IN TRADE FOR THIS INDUSTRY.
SO, THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE WERE ENGAGED WITH MICROSOFT AND OTHER TECH COMPANIES BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE SO MANY OF THE JOBS ARE NOT JUST FOR TODAY, BUT IN THE
[00:35:06]
FUTURE AS WELL.LET ME ASK YOU WITH THE RAPID RESPONSE OF THE ONLINE ENVIRONMENT.
>> WE HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
(INAUDIBLE) WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF REMAIN SAFE.
I AM HERE IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO DO THIS TOWN HALL AND I WENT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHECKPOINTS TO BE SURE THAT I PROVIDED INFORMATION.
I WAS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY OF THE POTENTIAL RISK OF THE PANDEMIC.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, I WOULD BE NOTIFIED.
DALLAS COLLEGE OFFERED LIMITED STUDENT-BASED SERVICES IN APPOINTMENT BASED ONLY IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE SEEING THAT STUDENTS ARE TAKING FEWER COURSES.
IT IS ALSO BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS RETHINK AND REIMAGINE LIFE.
MANY ARE FACED WITH CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS NOW THAT LIMIT THEIR SUCCESS.
THESE INCLUDE HOMELESSNESS, JOBLESSNESS, TRANSPORTATION.
IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE WILL SEE A DROP IN SUCCESSES RATES.
I HOPE TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATES.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING OPTIONS, TUTORING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
LET US TURN TO THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE.
WHAT ABOUT ANY PENDING LEGISLATION? DO YOU SEE BENEFITING OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS?
>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WILL TELL YOU IS DALLAS COLLEGE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS AND ADAPT TO THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND I THINK WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR DOING THAT.
FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE THE MOST FUNDING WE CAN TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES SO THEY CAN HAVE STRONG PROGRAMS AND COVER AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES TO EDUCATION, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND THE NEEDS WILL BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE DALLAS COLLEGE HAS BEEN THE
[00:40:03]
FOREFRONT.RECOGNIZING THAT SO MANY CHILDREN CALL AND SAY COLLEGE IS NOT AFFORDABLE.
THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO THEM LEGISLATIVELY.
I THINK OUR STRONGEST EFFORT IS TO NOT GET IN THE WAY WE NEED TO MEET THE STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE.
I CERTAINLY WILL BE SUPPORTING THOSE CONCEPTS AND EFFORTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A STRONG SUPPORTER OVER THE YEARS.
SOME OF THE SHIFTING PLANS THAT HAVE OCCURRED DURING COVID 19.
CAN YOU SHOW YOUR THOUGHTS A LITTLE BIT IN THE APPROACH THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN WITH
IRVINE IND.? >> WE HAD TO TRANSITION TO REMOTE WITHIN DAYS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT IRVINE IND IS LEADING THE WAY.
WE WERE THE FIRST ONE IN THIS.
WE HAVE A GRANT THAT PROVIDES FREE IPADS TO ALL OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WHEN WE LEFT FOR SPRING BREAK.
WE ENSURED RIGHT BEFORE THEY LEFT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE EVERYTHING, THEY COULD BE PREPARED IN CASE WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND NOW HERE WE ARE SEVEN MONTHS LATER, AND NOTHING IS CHANGED.
WE WERE VERY PROACTIVE IN OUR APPROACH.
I THINK ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST THINGS THAT WE COULD DO AND THINK ABOUT.
WE LEFT AND CHOSE TO LEAVE ALL THEIR TECHNOLOGY WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WAS A HUGE POSSIBILITY THAT WE WOULD NOT START IN PERSON.
SO, AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD IN THE NEWS.
THERE WERE SO MANY DISTRICTS THAT REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THEIR DEVICES AND I FOCUS ON THAT BECAUSE IT WAS ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAD TO TRANSITION INTO OUR LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH IS CANVAS.
WE DO HAVE TO PROVIDE THE OPTION FOR IN PERSON AND REMOTE CURRENTLY 36% IS SAYING WE WANT TO COME IN PERSON.
OUR STUDENTS WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL BUT THEY DO HAVE THE OPTION, SO WE MUST HAVE EXTREMELY STRICT MEASURES IN PLACE.
WE WORKED ON OUR REENTRY PLAN.
THIS IS A NEW WAY OF LEARNING.
BUT WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT, BUT OUR SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS IS ALWAYS TOP PRIORITY.
>> CLEARLY, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.
[00:45:01]
DR. MAY OUR INTERNAL AUDIENCES HEARD HOW WE MADE A SHIFT THAT WE SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE HOW WE HAVE MADE THIS MOVE TO THE REMOTE ENVIRONMENT.I APPRECIATE SUPERINTENDENT HERNANDEZ'S COMMENTS ON THAT IT WAS AN INTERESTING TIME.
ON ONE HAND WE KNEW MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DEPENDED ON US EVERY DAY.
WE HAD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND PUT IN FOOD PANTRIES AND PROVIDED WI-FI.
WE WERE REALLY A RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CROSSED MY MIND WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH DR. PHILIP LONG WAS TELLING ME WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND WHAT WAS GOING TO COME IN WHAT WE NEEDED TO CONSIDER MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS "OH MY GOODNESS HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDENTS WHO DEPEND ON US EVERY DAY?" .
AT THE END OF EVERYTHING WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DISTRIBUTE OUR DEVICES.
THE GREAT EQUITY ISSUE OF OUR DAYÂS TECHNOLOGY.
THE COURSES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE TUITION IS PAID BUT SOME OF THEM COULD NOT ACCESS THE COURSES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR HOMES, OR HIGH BAND INTERNET SO WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK DISTRIBUTING HOTSPOTS AND GETTING TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED, BUT IT GOES BACK TO.
AS WE LOOK BACK TO WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE FUTURE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER ONLINE.
WE ARE THIS FALL AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR COURSES INTO THE SPRING.
THAT IS OUR REALITY, BUT WE MUST REALIZE THAT WE HAVE LEFT SOME STUDENTS BEHIND, AND THAT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE FOR US AS A COLLEGE COMMUNITY AND STATE.
BUT WHEN WE MADE THAT DECISION.
WE KNEW ON ONE HAND IT WAS BEST FOR EVERYONE.
OVERALL, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT PUT AN UNDUE HARDSHIP ON BOTH OUR STUDENTS AND ON SOME CASES OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
CLEARLY, MUCH OF THIS QUICK MOVE THAT WE HAD TO MAKE, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW TO BETTER SERVE OUR STUDENTS MOVING FORWARD.
>> WE HAVE THE INCREDIBLY DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.
THE INCREASED NUMBER OF ONLINE COURSES HAS BENEFITED MANY STUDENTS.
MANY STUDENTS ALSO ENJOYED THE FLEXIBILITY THAT ONLINE COURSES OFFER BOTH HAVE THEIR ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN THE WAY WE APPROACH THIS IS.
WE FOCUSED SPECIFIC EFFORTS ON INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS REGARDLESS OF
[00:50:04]
THE MODALITY.WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW WE DEVELOP OUR FACULTY AND OUR ONLINE MODALITY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS COME IN ABOUT THE BALANCE BETWEEN SUPPORTING WORKFORCE IN TRANSFER PROGRAMS. DR. MAY, CAN I START WITH YOU ON HOW WE SUPPORT AND FOCUS ON EACH OF THOSE.
A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS NEED TO WORK WHILE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.
WE HAVE ALWAYS PRIDED OURSELVES IN HELPING OUR STUDENTS GET THE CREDIT AT DALLAS COLLEGE WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID UNIVERSITIES HAVE SEEN A DROP OFF.
IT IS NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SAW FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO WE CONVENE TOGETHER ALL THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER.
EVERYONE REALIZES THAT THIS IS A NEED AND A REALITY.
BUT WE HAVE GOT A GAP BETWEEN THE JOBS REQUIRING AND THE INDIVIDUALS HAVING THOSE WE NEED MORE STUDENTS EARNING ASSOCIATE DEGREES AND WE NEED MORE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING AND TO GET THE FOUR-YEAR DEGREES, 82,000 ENROLLED IN THE SPRING SEMESTER.
WE ARE THE DRIVER OF TWO-YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR DEGREES; WE ARE THE PATHWAY AS A TOP PRIORITY.
>> KATHERINE LET ME TURN TO YOU WITH THAT SAME QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD ADD?
GUIDED PATHWAYS HAVE BEEN AN APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THAT BALANCE BETWEEN TRANSFER AND INJURY TO CAREER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR ADVISORS HAVE REALLY BEEN ASKING ABOUT THE TRANSFERS.
ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR IS WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS THAT WE OFFER AND WERE REALLY WORKING HARD WITH OUR TRANSFER TO ENSURE OUR
[00:55:04]
PATHWAYS ARE JUST GREAT FOR TRANSFERS BUT TRANSFERS TO SPECIFIC STUDENTS THAT YOUR STUDENTS ARE INTENDING TO GO TO THE WE'VE TAKEN A NEW APPROACH WITH THESE PATHWAYS.WE HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL WITH THAT REGARD.
ADDITIONALLY, THE WORKER TRANSFER OFFICE IS BEEN DOING WITH THE NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE LOOK AT HOW STUDENTS CAN TAKE AN AAS DEGREE AND MOVE THAT TOWARDS A BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE AT A UNIVERSITY.
OUR TRANSFER ARTICULATION SERVICE HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE MAPPED.
I WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO EVERYONE'S TIME.
I KNOW ONE ALREADY HAD TO LEAVE.
SO, LET US WRAP UP THIS CONVERSATION WITH SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ON THE RIGHT PATHWAYS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING THOUGHT YOU LIKE TO SHARE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE HAD TODAY.
A FEW COMMON IDEAS HAVE PUSHED THROUGH AND THAT'S CONFIRMATION, AND COLLABORATION.
IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE PAST YEARS WE SEE THE COOPERATION THROUGH EMPLOYERS IN THE TRANSFER AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE, THE LINES ARE THE BARRIERS ARE BEING BLURRED A LITTLE BIT (INAUDIBLE) WE STRIVE TO REMOVE ROADBLOCKS.
WE WANT TO PLACE THEM ON A PATH TO SUCCESS.
ANY THOUGHTS HERNANDEZ THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
>> ABSOLUTELY I AM JUST SMILING, AND I AM JUST SO HAPPY WITH THIS VISION.
ONE OF MY COMMITMENTS WAS TO REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS.
THANK YOU, DR. MAE, FOR THAT VISION.
AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW OUR DISTRICT SERVES ALMOST 80% LOW SOCIAL ECONOMIC OF OUR POPULATION, 37% OF OUR STUDENTS REPRESENT OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO, THIS JUST ALLOWS OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE GIVING THEM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BREAK THAT CYCLE OF POVERTY.
WE WANT TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE GROWING UP.
ALL WE NEED THEM TO DO IS SIGN THAT COMMITMENT AND STICK TO IT.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU, SO MUCH VALID COLLEGE, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GUIDED PATHWAYS IN OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP.>> DR. MAE, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING COLLABORATIVELY.
I APPRECIATE VON DAVIS FOR JOINING US.
OUR GREAT PARTNERS WITH IRVING IND AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE AND VALUE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
WE ARE JUST REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE A GREAT TEAM INTERNALLY AT DALLAS COLLEGE WE THINK EVERY SINGLE DAY ABOUT HOW TO HELP OUR STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL.
I JUST APPRECIATE THE NEED TO SHARE WHAT WE ARE DOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS.
THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OUR PARTICIPANTS FOR JOINING.
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN TO YOU VICE CHAIR JAMISON TO GIVE ANY WRAP UP REMARKS.
>> THANK, YOU JUSTIN FOR SERVING AS THE MODERATOR.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE TRUSTEE, TOWN HALLS.
ALL THE PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE UP AND HELP MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.