Research to Action

Research to Action
Update from the Blueprint Implementation Planning Task Force

Collective Support

In January North Hennepin Community College, Hennepin Technical College and the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth voted in support of the Blueprint for Persistence; a collective action plan to increase student completion and persistence at Hennepin Technical College and North Hennepin Community College. There are 6 blueprint goals developed based on the Stop Drop Enroll! findings.

Blueprint Goals:

1. Mobilize Students, Administrators, and Faculty to Design, Build, and Implement Student-Centered Scheduling
2. Create a Culture of Teaching and Learning That Is Culturally Responsive
3. Develop and Leverage Partnerships to Increase Access to Opportunities for Students to Meet Their Needs and Goals
4. Consistent Advising, Tutoring, and Navigation Support for All Students
5. Bring Students, Staff, and Faculty Together to Continually Identify Blocks and Build Process Solutions Together
6. Expand Intentional Communication, Engagement, and Involvement with Students

Participatory Planning

Since January partners have mobilized resources to create a Blueprint Implementation Planning Task Force (Task Force) that centers students and their experiences, addresses key issues identified in the Stop Drop Enroll! Study, and brings together a diverse set of partners.

Implementation Phases:

• (April 2020-June 2020) Task Force and partners will confirm the feasibility of new pilot projects given the new environment since COVID-19, and in partnership with stakeholders, create a plan for implementation that aligns with Perkins 5.
• (July 2020 - June 2021) Depending on the investments and resources aligned, partners will implement their project action plans, and monitor results.

Members Include:

• Jean Maierhofer, Associate Vice President of Equity and Inclusion HTC
• Laura Otieno, Student Life & Health Coordinator, BP Student Senate Advisor HTC
• Dena Russell, Director of Partnerships and College Pathways
• Abdulhakim Abdurahman, HTC-EP Student Leader/Student Senate VP
• Guadalupe (Lupe) Lira Jimenez, HTC-BP Student Senate President
• Catrice, O’Neal, BrookLynk Program Manager
• Julio Vargas-Essex, Vice President of Student Success NHCC
• Lindsay Fort, Dean of Student Development NHCC
• Priscilla Mayowa, NHCC Student Leader
• Cheryl Townsend, NHCC Student Leader
• Mosia Vankpanah, Task Force Co-Facilitator, Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth & NHCC Nursing Student
• Rebecca Gilgen, Facilitator, Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth,

Task Force Focus: Blueprint Pilot Projects

During the development of the Blueprint, the colleges identified 45 projects and initiatives already underway to advance the shared goals. There were 6 opportunities for further action that were needed to accelerate change.

Pilot Projects (in order of priority set by the Task Force):

• Develop a shared policy platform at the local and state level to mobilize resources for student basic needs, food, transportation, housing and health.
• Leverage and improve partnerships at the local level through the Alliance (cities, county, school districts) to serve students basic needs.
• Train staff on process improvement, and process redesign using customer centered design strategies.
• Create culturally responsive classrooms by convening k-12 and college partners to share best practices and implement strategies.
• Collaboratively improve peer mentoring: redesign (HTC) and create (NHCC) with equity focus and student leadership.
• Engage k-12 partners to pilot a student-centered re-design of ‘college prep’, that include ways students can build social, emotional assets such as help-seeking, motivation, and time management.

We are excited to move this forward, take risks, and lead new work that will get us different results. We hope you can join us in supporting these efforts.

If you have questions or comments please contact:

Rebecca Gilgen
Executive Director, Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth
Rebecca.gilgen@brooklynsallianceforyouth.org

Jean Maierhofer
Associate Vice President of Equity and Inclusion
jean.maierhofer@hennepintech.edu

Julio Vargas-Essex
Vice President of Student Success
JVargas-Essex@nhcc.edu