Thank you for taking the time to find out about AVID. I hope to talk with you in person about what we are attempting. Before I introduce AVID, I would like to detail the requirements of an AVID Math Teacher.

1. 16 hour, one week summer training/energizing session (all expenses paid)
2. AVID students are required to come to the math lab at the same time (usually a Friday). Instead of meeting in the math lab, students will meet with you in an available classroom.
3. At least monthly (if not weekly) meetings with the AVID site team to get to know each other and discuss issues.
4. Our goal is to keep 100% of the class, so 1-2 hours of phone calls and emails per week to find out why students aren't in class are usual.

 

It is with great enthusiasm that LMC enters into a formal agreement with AVID Center as the first community college to pilot the AVID program. 

• successfully complete a rigorous transfer curriculum,
• transfer to four-year colleges (by design and not by chance!),
• become educated and responsible participants and leaders in a our society.

 

 

 

AVID was created over twenty-five years ago at a high school in San Diego by an English teacher who believed that low-income and underserved students could achieve at the highest levels if the school challenged and supported them. Today, AVID is adopted within 3,500 middle and high schools in 45 states and 15 countries. Of the 10,900 students participating in the senior 2007 data collection, 98% planned to attend the post-secondary institution to which they were accepted. More than 75% of these students are represented by African-American, Latino, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Native American and multi-racial students.

 

The AVID elective course is the heart of the AVID program and LMC IS THE NATIONAL PILOT FOR AVID AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. This Human Services (900) course seeks to transform student culture through its focus on community, leadership, writing, inquiry, collaboration, reading and academic habits.

 

Additionally, the AVID-community of students visit four-year colleges; college educated guest speakers  and local community leaders visit the AVID class.  AVID students form community which will continue outside of the AVID classrooms; they are encouraged to become leaders of campus and community activities and they are often matched with local mentors. The AVID program also includes a strong tutoring component for students. AVID seeks to improve teaching and learning, while increasing rigor school-wide.

 

 

AVID directly addresses our first three Master Plan Goals and many of our stated objectives. Our current transfer rates are among the lowest in the state our Master Plan commits to increasing our cultural relevancy throughout our curriculum and services.

 

AVID and LMC are an excellent match, as AVID has been designed to address these specific issues. AVID focuses on students “in the academic middle” who do have high educational aspirations. The AVID principle is to raise the expectations of students and, with the AVID support-system in place – students will rise to the challenge!

 

 

 

There are three new AVID sections scheduled for Fall 2008. These sections are being linked to two Math 25 classes and students will be encouraged to also enroll in their appropriate levels of English. 

 

Students who are currently in their first semester of AVID will enroll in the AVID II (900) class. They are being encouraged to meet with their counselors to design a rigorous transfer track educational plan.

 

The goal is to work with the curriculum committee and four-year colleges to transition AVID into a transferable for-credit class.

 

 

 

There are several ways for LMC faculty and staff to become involved in AVID, including professional development activities conducted by AVID Center, and joining LMC’s AVID site team.

 

During its start-up phase, AVID is being administered through the Grants Office. If you are interested in learning more about AVID or becoming involved in AVID at LMC, please feel free to give me a call, or you can contact Karl Debro at ext. 3300. You can also learn more about the AVID Program at http://www.avidonine.org.