Outreach
Dual Enrollment Expansion
Improve admission and permission for dual enrollment students to register at De Anza College. Streamline the process and remove barriers to increase enrollment. We aim to engage with first-generation and nontraditional students, as these groups may be unaware of this opportunity.
We would need:
- Create district partnerships to establish avenues to recruit and support new students
- Support of classified professionals and faculty members to help support the expansion.
- The action plan calls for creating a dialogue among classified professionals, faculty members and external stakeholders (i.e., high school district personnel) and find collaborative means to serve future students.
- Provide academic counseling support to dual enrolled students.
- The Dual Enrollment Counselor will work closely with high school students enrolled in dual enrollment programs to ensure they understand the purpose of their courses and how these courses align with their long-term academic and career goals. This individual will serve as a key resource for students, parents, and high school counselors, providing support and guidance throughout the enrollment process, academic planning, and course selection.This position will also entail that they begin engagement with the middle school community.
Lead: Nazy Galoyan
Plan Timeline
Winter 2024
High-impact brainstorming ideas that could realistically move dual enrollment growth furthe
Spring 2024
To streamline the high school permission form for dual-enrolled students and make the registration process smoother, our recommendation is:
1. Simplify the Layout
- Include clear sections with distinct headers such as "Student Information," "High School Approval," "College Course Selection," and "Parent/Guardian Consent."
2. Automated Confirmation
- Once the form is submitted via Adobe Sign, generate an automatic confirmation email or notification acknowledging receipt and the next steps in the registration process.
3. Attach Required Documents Section (if necessary)
- If additional documentation is needed, such as transcripts or proof of eligibility, provide a clear section for the student to upload documents electronically.
Fall 2024
To implement an onboarding/orientation for dual-enrolled students:
1. Determine Goals for the Orientation
- Provide a clear overview of dual enrollment expectations.
- Explain academic resources available to students.
- Introduce key staff (e.g., high school counselor, De Anza dual enrollment counselor).
- Ensure students understand course registration, technology platforms, and student support services.
2. Select a Date, Time, and Format
- Date: Select a date within the first two weeks of the quarter to ensure students are prepared early.
- Time: Choose a time that accommodates high school and college schedules. Early evenings or late afternoons might work well.
- Format: Decide between in-person, virtual, or hybrid orientation based on student access and convenience keeping in mind parental involvement.
3. Create an Agenda for the Orientation
- Introduction & Welcome (10 minutes)
- Welcome by program administrators and outreach staff.
- Program Overview (15 minutes)
- Outline expectations, credit transfer policies, and benefits of dual enrollment.
- Academic Resources (15 minutes)
- Overview of tutoring, libraries, writing centers, and any academic support services.
- Tech Setup & Platforms (15 minutes)
- Demonstrate how to access the learning management system (LMS), student email, and other tech tools.
- Student Support Services (15 minutes)
- Introduce services like counseling, academic advising, as needed.
- Q&A Session (10-15 minutes)
- Open floor for student parent questions.
4. Secure Presenters
- High School Counselors (if needed), De Anza Dual Enrollment counselor and current dual-enrolled students could provide valuable perspectives.
5. Promote the Event
- Email Campaign: Send out an invitation to all eligible dual-enrolled students, parents, and high school counselors.
- Website Posting: Create a dedicated page or section on our website for dual-enrolled students with details of the event.
- High School Liaison: Coordinate with high school counselors to ensure they inform dual-enrolled students.
- Flyers: Distribute digital and physical flyers to schools and communities where dual enrollment is common.
6. Send Reminder Notifications
- Send reminders a week before, two days before, and the morning of the event to all registered attendees.
Winter 2025
Workload Assessment for the Dual Enrollment Counselor
Objective: Evaluate the current and anticipated workload of the dual enrollment counselor during the winter quarter and determine capacity limits to maintain effective support for students and parents.
Steps for Assessment:
- Meet with Counselor: Schedule a meeting with the dual enrollment counselor to discuss their current workload and gauge how much additional responsibility they can manage.
- Identify their current caseload and how much time they spend on key tasks such as student advising, administrative duties, and outreach.
- Track Workload: During the winter quarter, the counselor will track their tasks weekly, noting how much time is spent on direct student interaction, parent engagement, and administrative duties. Use this data to measure the feasibility of taking on additional duties.
- Cohort Size and Capacity: Calculate the number of dual-enrolled students in the cohort and compare this to the counselor’s available hours. Estimate the time required per student (e.g., advising sessions, parent meetings, course adjustments).
- Additional Support: Determine if the counselor will need additional support from outreach counselors, especially during peak registration times or for outreach tasks like orientations.
- Reach out to other outreach counselors to assess their availability and willingness to assist.
- Identify Bottlenecks: Review the data collected from the workload tracking to identify any bottlenecks or areas where the counselor is overextended. Adjust the support structure accordingly (e.g., reallocating tasks or involving more outreach counselors).
Key Questions:
- How many students can the dual enrollment counselor realistically support during the quarter?
- What is the threshold for needing additional support?
- Can other outreach counselors be available for overflow, and what is their capacity to help?
Dual Enrollment Orientation for Parents
Objective: To inform and engage parents of dual-enrolled students, ensuring they are aware of program expectations, support resources, and how to best support their student’s academic success.
Format: Offer multiple modalities, such as in-person and Zoom, to accommodate different schedules and comfort levels with technology.
Action Steps:
- Schedule Dates: Choose a date for the orientation, ensuring it's early in the winter quarter to give parents sufficient time to prepare.
Topics to Cover:
- Overview of dual enrollment and its benefits. (if needed)
- Expectations for students (attendance, academic performance, behavior).
- How parents can support students at home.
- Available student resources (high school counselor, dual enrollment counselro etc.).
- Key deadlines for the academic quarter.
- A Q&A session where parents can ask specific questions.
Promotion and Communication:
- Email parents directly with an invitation.
- Provide a registration link where they can choose their preferred modality (in-person or Zoom).
Spring 2025
Create new partnerships to establish avenues to recruit and support first-generation and nontraditional students.
1. Identify Key Partnerships
- School Districts: Collaborate with local school districts to understand the needs of their students.
- Community Organizations: Partner with organizations that support underrepresented communities.
- Meet with partners to outline goals and identify areas of collaboration
2. Develop Outreach Programs
- School Visits: Schedule regular visits to high schools to provide information and answer questions about higher education for dual enrollment students.
- Building a strong relationship with high schools is crucial for ensuring students are aware of the dedicated dual enrollment counselor and fostering a collaborative environment.
3. Promote Inclusive Practices
- Provide training for educators and counselors, as needed, especially when updates are made.
4. Monitor and Evaluate
- Monitor the success rates of first-generation and nontraditional students to assess the effectiveness of the program.
- Regularly seek feedback from students, families, and partners to identify areas for improvement.
Fall 2025
Evaluate and review success rates with Dual Enrollment and Outreach staff during the opening day meeting.
- Define the specific goals for the meeting, such as identifying successful practices, pinpointing areas for improvement, and setting future targets.
- Collect feedback from the staff and counselors who worked closely with dual enrollment students.
- Discuss any challenges or barriers that have affected the success rates.
- Present to the team any feedback from students, parents, and school partners, if available.
Winter 2026
Working closely with the Middle College team, increasing engagement with preparatory schools, and providing additional counseling sessions and support services to dual enrollment students.
Spring 2026
Processed summer dual enrollment admission changes, including increasing the tuition-free summer unit limit from 6 units to 11 units. Also expanded eligibility to allow admission of eighth-grade graduates who will begin high school in the fall to enroll in summer classes.
Fall 2026
As the college transitions into a Basic Aid funding environment, efforts to expand dual enrollment opportunities have been placed on hold. Despite this pause, the Outreach Office remains committed to maintaining and strengthening existing partnerships, with a continued focus on student support, retention, and success within our current programs.
The Outreach Office will continue to support the Middle College program by strengthening services and resources available to participating students. In collaboration with Middle College leadership, faculty, and staff, we will work to enhance academic counseling services, streamline on-boarding processes, and foster a stronger sense of belonging for students as they transition into De Anza College.
Additionally, the Outreach Office will revisit and evaluate the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure alignment with program goals and student needs. In response to requests from Middle College leadership and in accordance with Middle College program standards, the office will continue to provide Counseling 5 on an annual basis and explore opportunities to further support student persistence, engagement, and academic achievement.
Winter 2027
Will continue collaborating with Middle College leadership, faculty, and staff to strengthen student support services and enhance the student experience. Efforts will focus on ensuring students are successfully navigating their college coursework and are connected to available campus resources.
Key Activities:
- Provide ongoing academic counseling and student support services to Middle College students.
- Collaborate with Middle College leadership to identify and address student needs and barriers to success.
- Continue implementation of Counseling 5 and other support initiatives that align with Middle College program requirements.
- Connect students with campus resources, support programs, and student services to promote engagement and persistence.
- Review on-boarding and communication processes to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Participate in regular meetings with Middle College leadership to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes.
Spring 2027
Will focus on supporting Middle College students as they transition to the next stage of their educational journey. This includes assisting graduating students who matriculate to De Anza College or transfer to other colleges and universities, while also welcoming and on boarding incoming Middle College students.
Key Activities:
- Support graduating Middle College students through the transition process by providing information on enrollment, registration, counseling, financial aid, and student support services.
- Assist students who choose to continue at De Anza College by connecting them with academic pathways, learning communities, and campus resources.
- Welcome and onboard incoming Middle College students to ensure they are prepared for college expectations and available support services.
- Evaluate student outcomes and gather feedback from students, faculty, and Middle College leadership to identify opportunities for program improvement.
- Continue strengthening collaboration with Middle College leadership to support student success and retention.
Partnership Development:
- Explore opportunities to establish and strengthen connections with Tessellations School and other educational partners.
- Initiate conversations to identify areas of mutual interest, including college awareness programming, dual enrollment opportunities (as resources allow), campus visits, workshops, and student transition support.
- Assess the potential for future partnerships that align with the Outreach Office's mission of expanding educational access and supporting student success.
Fall 2027
Continuation from Spring 2027