Outreach
Welcome All Students to Their Respective Village
To foster early engagement with De Anza College and promote pathways to higher education, particularly among historically underserved populations, we propose an action plan that leverages partnerships with middle schools and high schools, along with targeted outreach efforts. One key aspect of this plan is to directly email and invite high school students to join a Village specific to their academic interests. This personalized approach aims to cultivate interest in higher education, provide support tailored to students' academic interests, and foster a sense of belonging within the college community.
Plan Timeline
Winter 2024
Guided Pathways (GP) invites all newly enrolled students to join a Village Canvas shell based on their reported major. GP also sends an additional invitation to high school students who are not able to choose a major to join a Village based on their interests.
Other CA community colleges have modified the ccc application to ask students to choose a Village (or interest area) then they are offered a drop down menu of majors depending on the village (interest area). This change would automatically place students in Villages and still have them identify a specific major for priority registration purposes. In addition, when a student chooses a Village or Interest Area, they may not feel comfortable committing to a major so they can choose undecided but at least they will be assigned a Village. Students who are undecided will be assigned a Village so they can explore majors within that area. High school students aren't able to select a major but if they at least choose a village we can begin to provide them with information and resources related to their academic interests.
Spring 2024
- Compile Student Lists: Compile lists of high school students interested in specific academic areas, such as STEM, arts, humanities, or social sciences.
Each step in this action plan contributes to early engagement with De Anza College by establishing partnerships with schools, identifying students' interests, providing tailored invitations, offering informational sessions and workshops, and maintaining ongoing communication with interested students. By reaching out to historically underserved populations in a personalized and supportive manner, we aim to increase their awareness of and connection to higher education opportunities at De Anza College. This initiative aligns with Goal 1 of outreach to historically underserved populations, ensuring that all students have equitable access to higher education pathways and support.
Fall 2024
Modify the ccc application to ask students to choose a Village (or interest area) then they are offered a drop down menu of majors depending on the village (interest area). This change would automatically place students in Villages and still have them identify a specific major for priority registration purposes. In addition, when a student chooses a Village or Interest Area, they may not feel comfortable committing to a major so they can choose undecided but at least they will be assigned a Village.
Students who are undecided will be assigned a Village so they can explore majors within that area. High school students aren't able to select a major but if they at least choose a village we can begin to provide them with information and resources related to their academic interests.
Other aspects of this targeted outreach program may include any or all of the following strategies:
- Tailored Email Invitations: Develop personalized email invitations addressed to individual students, inviting them to join a De Anza College Village specific to their academic interests. These emails will highlight the benefits of joining a Village, such as academic support, mentorship opportunities, and a sense of community.
- Information Sessions: Host or join  information sessions at high schools, where De Anza College representatives can present the concept of Villages, explain the benefits, and answer students' questions.
- Virtual Tours and Workshops: Offer virtual tours of the De Anza College Village Centers, and Village workshops focused on academic areas of interest to provide students with a glimpse of college life and the resources available to them.
- Follow-up Communications: Follow up with students who express interest in enrolling in the college and/or joining a Village, providing additional information, resources, and support as needed.