Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative
The Institutional Effectiveness and Partnership Initiative (IEPI) was launched in 2014 to help California's community colleges and college districts improve their operational effectiveness. It is uniquely positioned to help boost student success across the system by providing colleges and college districts the high-quality technical assistance, professional development and resource tools needed to achieve the goals and commitments contained in the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Vision for Success.
A key feature of IEPI is it draws on the expertise and innovation from within the community college system to advance effective practices and avoid potential pitfalls. Components of IEPI include:
- Make technical assistance teams, called Partnership Resource Teams, available to institutions requesting assistance.
- Enhance professional development opportunities through IEPI's Specialized Training Program.
Response to IEPI's efforts have been positive across the California Community Colleges. Workshop evaluations, for example, show that professional development offerings are timely and relevant, while partnership resource teams are praised for facilitating substantial improvements in areas of focus while promoting professional growth and breaking down silos.
In 2016, Coastline was awarded an IEPI innovation and Effectiveness Grant related to the areas of guided pathways, student learning outcomes, professional development infrastructure, and communications.
In 2019, Coastline was awarded an IEPI innovation and Effectiveness Grant related to the areas of Immersive Media (X-Reality - augmented/virtual reality and artificial intelligence) and competency-based education.
In 2024, Coastline was approved for a PRT visit related to the areas of bachelor's degree programs and promising practices of Hispanic Serving Institutions.
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Partnership Resource Team
The Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative provides technical assistance through its Partnership Resource Teams. This colleagues-helping-colleagues model is available to colleges, districts, and centers interested in getting support on issues that matter most to them.
The process begins with a short Letter of Interest from the institution's CEO. Once a request is approved, a team of subject matter experts is drawn from a pool of system and partner volunteers, with the team's composition based on a process that matches members' their knowledge and experience with the areas of focus identified by the institution. The team's composition is reviewed by the institution's CEO to ensure there are no unintended conflicts with team assignments - which means the institution's CEO should check with faculty and administrative leaders to keep potential conflicts at bay. IEPI draws heavily on community college personnel with the required expertise and familiarity with the system to assist institutions.
Partnership Resource Teams make three visits. Visits consist of:
- An initial gathering of information.
- Assisting the institution in developing improvement strategies and timelines via an Innovation and Effectiveness Plan.
- Providing follow-up support.
Visits are scheduled based on need and readiness and on the calendars of institutional personal and Partnership Resource Team members.
What can you expect? Institutions will find that Partnership Resource Teams will work diligently to understand the issues, help develop solutions, and then assist in implementing those solutions with a focus on continuing improvement. Partnership teams will also help the institution chart a road to improvement through an Innovation and Effectiveness Plan.
IEPI is planning to make available to institutions using a Partnership Resource Team the opportunity to participate in a "community of practice," a voluntary effort endeavoring to promote the sharing of ideas across institutions.
IEPI asks each institution to report out their lessons learned in statewide venues, such as the RP Group Student Success Conference; Academic Senate Plenary; CCLC Annual Conference; and the ACCCA Conference. All necessary registration and travel expenses for such presentations will be reimbursed by IEPI.