Mapping & Scheduling

Update to Academic Senate (Feb 10, 2023).

  • GP Liaison J. Stover is working with M.Long, GP Administrative Lead, to connect GP Workgroup Recommendations in other areas of the college such as Curriculum Office [see below] as reflects GP goals and values.
  • M. Long is involved in Degree Audit work as the Administrator Lead for Educational Planning Module Program with faculty lead Amanda Green [Counseling Department Chair] and with co-lead Vayta Smith [Director Records and Admissions] on Degree Works (note: Degreeworks is part of the new SIS system, and where most of educational planning and degree audit will live).
  • Work was conducted in Fall 2022 to reconcile the differences between Program Mapper, which was purchased by the District and provided to the Curriculum Office for implementation, and as compared to the original requests of the Guided Pathways Workgroup Recommendations as first presented to Academic Senate in Spring 2022.
  • AS GP Workgroup Member Tara Johnson best stated concerns in an email conversation as follows: “…The workgroup recommended a dynamic, interactive solution that would allow students to investigate all their possible options. It would include ability to show new and additional paths based on their completed courses. It would rely heavily on Counselor input for design and functionality. The Program Mapper is a graphically appealing version of the static content we already have available. However, the software does not function as was envisioned and this is why we did not sanction it as the solution to our recommendation. Perhaps a scheduling/ed plan/degree audit software may fill the gaps so students can have the experience of true guided pathways for their goals. I would advocate for working closely with Counseling and students to optimize Program Mapper for our needs. My understanding is that many features can be personalized for additional costs (emphasis added).
  • Other questions to be resolved going forward include…
    • As new SIS is brought in, can the new software compatibility be brought into the mix of the program mapper to make it more adaptable/useful for students?
    • The integration of Guided Pathways goals within the Curriculum Office is an important part of the implementation process still unfolding. H
    • How do we make the most of the Program Mapper solution in reaching the GP goals of “a dynamic, interactive solution that would allow students to investigate all their possible options?”
  • The Curriculum Office, as per Chas Crocker, is engaged in current consultation meetings as follows: “We have set up a meeting with Amanda Greene, Kate Blackwell, and Amy Merkel … on Thursday, January 19. … At this meeting, we hope to receive additional feedback from the Counseling department as well as encourage them to have some students provide input on program mapper (https://santa- rosa.programmapper.com )…” (1/11/23 email), which was held.
  • Efforts underway as of February 7th to bring back together various individuals and departments involved in implementation as we move towards solution.
  • Other goals and projects should include:
    • Ongoing mapping and scheduling projects (multi-year projects) require involvement of DCC, faculty, and department level planning and execution going forward.
    • Student facing explanations of academics and the relationship of knowledge and its relation to majors, programs, degrees, careers, and future work and learning opportunities are needed across all activities.
    • Work on language/descriptions/ways in which to help students understand the different ways of thinking about topics a la artistic, psychological, economical, sociological, political, philosophical, (ad infinitum) and the integration of their coursework as it relates to future opportunities of work and career.
    • The highlighting and integration of topics not on students’ radars will be of benefit to both students and departments, programs, and courses.