The sun has finally been shining here in the Napa Valley after a very wet and windy January. (By the way, for those of you who are wine lovers, make a note to look for 2007 vintages as they will be very good when released in a few years.) With the all of the excitement surrounding the presidential elections, our focus on Student Success Initiatives in Tight Budget Times reflects the major and minor issues of the campaigns. Articles in this edition cover basic skills, financial aid, veterans from the Iraq war, mentoring our future leaders, and addressing the needs of African-American males.

In California, the governor presented a budget that must address a $14 billion deficit. Unlike the federal budget with its $400+ billion deficit, the state must present a balanced budget. In previous years, the term smoke and mirrors was used to identify the balanced budget. Whether that will be true again this year or whether a real budget management plan will emerge, we have no doubt who will bear the pain of budget cuts. If the past is any guide, it will be the poor, elderly, lower middle class and students at all levels. In higher education, we will see higher tuition, fewer seats in the classroom and reduced support for the out-of-classroom programs and financial aid.

As we follow this exciting election campaign that is breaking historical conventions, we find our educational systems striving to maintain, despite large reductions in funding. It is this writer’s hope that the reductions will not only be balanced, but will also lean toward assisting students, the poor, and the elderly to survive and succeed. In the case of community colleges, it may mean finding ways to mitigate the cuts proposed to categorical programs, which will directly affect student success and access, factors not considered 30 years ago, but definitely on our minds today.

Student Success

Our sponsor for this edition is the California Community College Chief Student Service Administrators Association (4C2S2A). In an article from Mandy Davies, current President of the 4C2S2A, she outlines the efforts of the association this year in “Building Bridges for Student Success.” The author indicates that participation in statewide meetings, professional development activities, and representatives on many statewide task forces have increased the viability and visibility of the association with other statewide groups.

The winter issue on Student Success Initiatives begins with a look at the problem that generated the basic skills initiative for community colleges. The dire connection between the K-12 system and the community college is exemplified by the explosion of the basic skills curriculum at the community colleges. Dr. Irving Lueng examines why students in high school require basic skill courses in the community college in “What Are Basic Skills? or Where Does Student Success Begin?” The existence or lack of financial aid support for these students is explored by Bonita Jacobs in “The Evolving Complexities of Community College Students and Debt Management.”

The financial aid theme continues in Deborah Frankle Cochrane’s article “How Student-Centered Are Your Services? Lessons from a Look into Financial Aid.” She reports that recent research from the Institute for College Access & Success has shown that variance in institutional financial aid policy and practice can affect access to aid. The author identifies practical ways to improve access. In “Higher Education’s Critical Role in the GI Bill,” author Victoria Estrella Worch focuses on our returning Iraq veterans. In this article, the author explores the rise of veteran enrollments at colleges and universities and reviews the pressures on the Federal Government to update and improve the GI Bill. Looking at the difference between mentoring and advising, Dr. Michele D. Smith and Dr. Tyjaun A. Lee point out that mentoring--more than just magnified advising-- is both a personal and a professional relationship in an article that concludes our main section. “The Importance of Mentoring African- American Women Doctoral Students” examines the historical framework of mentoring within higher education, discusses the importance of mentoring African-American women doctoral students, and provides recommendations for institutions attempting to improve the graduation rates of African- American women.

Staff Development News

In the Staff Development section, one of the major professional development activities offered by the 4C2S2A is described in the article by Dr. Bob Bell in “CSSO/CIO Leadership Institute: Student Success through Leadership Development.” The author contends that the critical void in senior leadership in the California Community Colleges continues to be a central concern. For those “rising stars” considering senior leadership positions in student services and/or instruction in the future, participation in this annual CSSO/CIO Leadership Institute is a step toward promotion in the highly competitive administrative selection process.

Another major professional development opportunity is shared in “The Turning Point: African American Male Summit: A Critical Examination of Institutional Barriers in Community Colleges.” In this article Dr. Mark Robinson outlines the focus of the non-profit organization African-American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND). This conference aims to engage students, faculty, administrators, and student services personnel in addressing the many significant issues and obstacles facing African-American males in higher education today.

A full list of staff development activities of interest to community college folks is included in the Staff Development Calendar. Of particular interest is the CIO/CSSO conference in San Diego, March 26-28, and the national NASPA conference in Boston, March 8-12. One of the pre-conferences at the NASPA conference, the Community College Institute, is focused on “Managing Incivility, Disruptive Students, Mental Health Issues and Campus Safety at Community Colleges,” and is sponsored by the new Community College Division of NASPA.

Our Endnote “Don’t Laugh at Me” is provided by a regular iJournal writer, John Baker. The author suggests that 90 percent of students could succeed if higher education professionals would understand that ’parents‘are the biggest reason students stay, not special applications, marketing programs or other external fixes. This article points to what is at the heart of student success, caring, which the author contends is missing on most college campuses.

As you can see, this edition addresses real needs on campus and reflects what is occurring in the political debates about the future of our country. The reflection of the major themes explored by our presidential candidates in our student success initiatives makes for a dynamic issue and may spell hope for our future. Please send comments and feedback on this issue and desired topics for future issues to the editor, Ed Shenk at editor@ijournal.us.

About the Author

Edward J. Shenk, Ed.D.
Vice President of Student Services, Retired
Napa Valley College, California

Associate Professor/Program Director
Graduate Program in Education/Leadership Management
Alliant International University, California

With close to 36 years in educational administration, Dr. Ed Shenk has been a highly visible leader within California Student Services for many years. Dr. Shenk joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Education for Alliant International University in July, 2005 and began a full time assignment in 2006. He served on the executive board of CCCCSSAA (California Community College Chief Student Services Administrators Association) for fourteen years and was president of the organization in 1991-92. He represented the field by serving on many statewide committees and special task forces. He became an active member in NASPA in 1994. He served as the national chair for the NASPA Knowledge Community, Community & 2 year Colleges (2004-06) and the community college representative on the Northern Executive Council for NASPA. He is also a Board member on the California ACT Advisory Council.

Having a special interest in student discipline, leadership, quality service and professional development, Dr. Shenk was instrumental in initiating the Student Services Training Institute in 1991. Hundreds of California student services professionals have participated. He is a frequent facilitator, trainer, and speaker at local colleges and for statewide and national organizations. Most recently, he was a presenter at the NASPA National Conference in Tampa, Florida. He was recognized as the Outstanding Dean in NASPA’s Region 6 in 2002.

He began is administrative career in community colleges as a clerk-typist in 1970 and later as the first EOPS director at Grossmont College. Ed then moved to Napa Valley College where he was an administrator from 1975–2005. At NVC, he served as the Chief Student Service Officer on campus beginning in 1981 and held the position of Vice President, Student Services since 1987 to his retirement in December, 2005. His administrative assignment included responsibility as the Affirmative Action Officer and membership on the District-Faculty negotiations team. He worked with all aspects of the college and was a key advisor for three presidents at the college.

Throughout this time he continues to be active in the community as a Napa Chamber of Commerce board member/ committee chair, Ambassador and past president, Napa City-County Library Foundation board member, Napa County Hispanic Network board member, and Youth Soccer Coach. In 2002, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Napa County Hispanic Network and was tapped to serve on the Napa County's Airport Advisory Commission. He was selected to be the Napa County Hispanic Network President for 2006-08.

Dr. Shenk attended San Diego State University where he received a B.A. in History and an M.P.A. in Public Administration. He earned his Ed.D. in Higher Education from the University of Oregon. His dissertation focused on the Impacts of Proposition 13 on the Missions of the California Community College. His wife, SueDee, is the Executive Director of Napa Valley Community Housing, a builder and manager of affordable housing in the Napa Valley. They have two grown sons. Living in the Napa Valley for over 30 years, Dr. Shenk enjoys wine, travel and bocce ball. He does attempt to play golf.

Dr. Shenk can be reached by email at eshenk@alliant.edu.