7351 Tompkins Hill Rd., Eureka, CA 95501
Contact:
Tracey Thomas, Director, DSPS
707-476-4285 or Tracey-thomas@redwoods.edu
Target population:
At risk college students, particularly those who are
having problems in academic, social, psychological, or financial
areas. Diabasis works with students who utilize a number of campus
services often duplicating efforts that can cause confusion and
frustration for students and providers.
Goals: To increase retention and help students succeed by
establishing a support system that provides for the coordination of
campus services and off campus referrals.
Description:
College of the Redwoods has a campus-wide response
to dealing with students at risk. The Diabasis practice developed
initially as an informal meeting of staff from Counseling, Financial
Aid, the Career Center, and DSP&S to coordinate planning and
referrals for students using those services. The word "Diabasis" is
Greek, meaning, "a bridge between two bases.” The Diabasis team of
faculty and staff meets bi-weekly to be a bridge between students
and services. Referrals to Diabasis come from faculty, staff, and
the administration.
Diabasis members have accomplished the following:
·
Formulated a consistent, uniform, and comprehensive
approach to planning and coordinating services
·
Developed an “educational case manager” system in
which Diabasis members monitor and work with high-risk students,
relying on the building of trust with referred students for the
purpose of intervening in developing crises
·
Worked toward developing an effective follow-up
process
·
Worked toward a goal of better defining criteria for
determining whether a student can profit from instruction
·
Generated information from the community to offer
students programs, classes, services, or when appropriate, a
community alternative to college
·
Referral to community resources as appropriate;
including social services and mental health
·
Worked toward developing clearer, more effective
administrative supports such as confidentiality policies,
disciplinary measures, and a crisis response team
·
Worked toward providing in-service training for all
staff and improving liaison with community resources; and
·
Developed a Faculty Handbook
Staffing:
Diabasis membership is composed of staff and faculty
from:
·
Counseling;
·
Disabled Student Programs &Services (DSPS);
·
Residence Hall representative (as needed)
·
Extended Opportunity Program Services (EOPS);
·
Public Services (campus security)
·
Financial Aid;
·
Student Conduct Officer or Vice President of Student
Services designee
·
Faculty as relevant to students’ needs.
The Diabasis staff relies on the presence of administrative support,
and the clarification of staff roles by working together on a
regular basis.
Facilities, equipment, materials:
No
special facilities, materials, or equipment are required.
Costs, funding source:
No additional cost outside of costs of faculty and
staff positions involved with the committee. Grant funding has
supported the development of the Diabasis Handbook
Outreach and marketing: A handbook entitled "Diabasis A Guide for Dealing
with Difficult Classroom Situations" has been developed and is
disseminated to all staff. In addition, Diabasis committee members
present annually at the New Faculty Orientation, and offer at least
one workshop per semester through the Center for Teaching
Excellence.
Evidence of effectiveness:
Evaluation is a qualitative process on a
case-by-case basis. Students have been able to connect with and
utilize support services more effectively, thus enabling them to
remain enrolled in college classes.
Suggestions for replication:
To evaluate whether or not this would be effective
elsewhere, the campus should identify the available resources and
work collaboratively with staff from those areas. Initial planning
meetings among the involved staff are essential.