October 11, 2013 | SharkAdmin As Alamo Colleges tries to improve student success, one area being overhauled is developmental education in math and English/Reading. There are huge changes being implemented between now and fall 2014, and frankly it is more than a little scary. Northwest Vista Math, English and Reading faculty have worked since the inception of the college to continuously improve results for students in developmental education. In recent years, success and retention in those courses, as well as persistence in college, have often ranked highest among peer institutions in Texas and across the U.S. The changes not only impact the classroom but our assessment and advising infrastructure. It is not surprising that our faculty members teaching in our developmental programs as well as our support staff in the Student Success area worry about how to get students to the right place and then maintain and improve success among those students. At the time, I know both the Developmental Education faculty and the Student Success staff are up to the task of continuing to support Student Success because they exemplify that NVC “can-do” spirit. So here is a little information. In the past, students have been assessed using the Accuplacer test; depending on their scores, they are placed in the appropriate developmental English, reading and/or math classes. In the fall of 2011, 74* percent of our students had to take at least one developmental course. The more developmental courses one has to take means a longer path to an associate degree. As of September 2013, students who are attending college for the first time must meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements, either by meeting certain criteria in high school or via the TSI placement exam. The Accuplacer test will no longer be given. Students applying for the spring semester who place lower than college level in English will enroll in 8- or 16-hour English and reading refresher courses called INRW0050 or INRW0055 at no cost to them. The purpose of the refresher is to help students review material and potentially place in a higher level of English/reading/writing than they would have based on the TSI assessment score. We will be looking at data to assess the outcomes of the refresher session. Math refresher courses, MATH0055, are still optional for spring of 2014. However, these math refreshers become mandatory for new students in summer 2014 and fall 2014 who place lower than college level in math. Here are some more changes students should be aware of soon: The sequence of remedial English and reading classes will be labeled differently: The old levels were Reading 0300, 0302, 0303 and English 0300 and 0301. Now it’s going to be integrated reading and writing – INRW 0305 and 0420. Beginning in the spring of 2014, and transitioning through the summer of 2014, there will be a new set of developmental math courses. Students will take up to three classes instead of the current four courses. It is crucial for students to get advised, so that they don’t register for the wrong course. Since Accuplacer scores are no longer valid, students will have to take the TSI assessment, unless they have already completed some college level or developmental coursework or are exempt from the test based on TSI standards. It’s complicated, so it will take our whole village to get student on the right track. For more information on this, call the NVC Math Advocacy Center at 486-4252, or the English Advocacy Center at 486-4251.
