March 2008
Basic skills are at the very heart of the community college mandate, and are among its greatest challenges. Across the state and nation-wide, educators and policy makers are focusing unprecedented attention on understanding how diverse populations can make significant advances in basic skills.
The Hewlett Recognition of Promise Program is dedicated to this issue. Starting in fall 2008, the program will recognize a select number of colleges annually that are demonstrating success with basic skills populations through strategies that support systematic improvement. The program will seek out those to recognize rather than ask for applications.
The program is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and is administered by the Research and Planning Group of the California Community Colleges. A distinguished group of educational leaders has drawn up the criteria for recognition. Another group of practitioners will visit candidate colleges and bring back recommendations.
The goal of the Hewlett Recognition of Promise Program is to increase the visibility of institutional efforts promoting student success. and to highlight successful strategies and practices, providing tangible models for all community colleges.
The expected outcomes of the recognition program include:
- An increased level of awareness of standards for and effective practices in advancing student success in basic skills and, specifically, an increased use of outcomes data to measure success for underachieving student populations.
- Increased collaboration among colleges and faculties on issues of equity and success via their basic skills strategies and a greater institutional commitment to basic skills programs.
- Increased awareness among policy makers of the practical costs and benefits of successful basic skills strategies in the California Community Colleges. Policy makers will understand the impact of these strategies on the state, and especially on transitioning populations (first in family to college, English as a second language, under-represented, under-prepared for college, and lower socio-economic groups). With increased awareness, we expect a firm and long-term commitment of resources to the system’s basic skills initiative.
For further information, contact:
Linda Umbdenstock, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Hewlett Recognition of Promise Program
Home office: 323-254-8114
Cell phone: 323-821-8114
PO Box 65097
Los Angeles, CA 90065-0097
