Developmental Education Committee

Meeting Minutes: April 5, 2004

Present: John Arola, Rody Bowers-Hughes, Ann DeArmond, Ryan Fralich, Kathy Grosh, Damon Kapke, Joni Mathison, Georgia Robillard, Krisin Rust, Nancy Schumacher, Jeri Schwerin, Sagel Urlacher, Paula Young

1. ESL Task Force - Discussion focused on ideas for identifying students whose second language is English. This has always been a difficult issue; however, a few suggestions were made that might assist in this process. Damon will take these ideas back to the ESL task force meeting later in the week.
2. Research - As a follow-up to the last meeting, research was done to compare students who had taken college classes immediately after developmental courses, and those who had waited more than two years to take college coursework. No significant difference was found in the sample group; however, Ann reported that more deliberate questions need to be asked to get better data. The other larger research project from last year still has not been completed. An outside researcher is working on this project for Lake Superior College, as well as similar projects for other MnSCU institutions.
3. Online Courses - Jeri Ann and Ann met with Barry after the last Developmental Education meeting to address some of the concerns brought up at that meeting concerning offering developmental courses online. Barry assured us that careful screening will occur for these classes and that qualified, experienced instructors would be hired. There is also money available from IE to help in the development and design of online developmental courses.
4. Student Success Cohort - Paula reported that the Student Success Team has been meeting regularly to plan for the upcoming advisement and registration of students into the two developmental cohorts. Through testing Joni has identified several students that might be candidates for the cohorts. At the end of April, a letter will be sent to identified students, inviting them to join the cohort and attend a common registration session.
5. Summer School - Reading Strategies II, College Survival, Fundamentals of Writing II, and Pre-Algebra are all being offered in a 6 week session this summer. This is a very compressed timeframe for developmental students, so advisors are encouraged to help students understand the need to be motivated and committed to this shortened delivery of material.
6. Learning Center - Paula reported that English faculty recently provided training of tutors in the area of writing. She has also made plans for D2L workshops to be held in the Learning Center the first week of fall semester. These workshops will be available for all students, but developmental online students will be especially encouraged to attend.
7. Disability Services - Registration has begun for students with disabilities for summer and fall semesters. Georgia reported that despite a few glitches most students were registering successfully.
8. May meeting - The last meeting of the year will be Monday, May 17, at 9:00 a.m. in E2462. The committee suggested inviting all developmental faculty to this meeting for an end of the year get together and update from the committee. Ann will take care of planning this meeting.

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