Developmental Education Committee

Meeting Minutes: November 8, 2004

Present: John Arola, Jim Berg, Barb Cox, Sherry Dalager, Ann DeArmond, Terese Johnson, Joni Mathison, Georgia Robillard, Paula Young

1. Curriculum Changes -

• Proposals are currently in curriculum to provide an accelerated Algebra I and Algebra II course. A change in cut score for placement into Algebra I is also being implemented.
• The Reading department is proposing making Reading Strategies II into a 5 credit Reading/Study Strategies II course. The pre-req for College Survival will become college level reading.
• If these changes pass curriculum, they will take place Fall 2005. Joni will be kept abreast of cut scores and placement language.
• Terese brought up students comments about the placement into developmental courses. Despite Joni's repeated communication during the testing that this is important and will determine course schedules, Terese said students still do not consider the placement test important. Students then find ways to avoid the developmental courses, or if they do sign up for courses they perceive as too easy, they do not attend and eventually may fail the class. This has always been a concern and discussion centered around ways to impress on students the need to do their best on the placement test, and ways to explain to students the importance of developmental coursework to ensure college success.

2. Learning Communities and post-testing -

• Courses involved in the learning communities will be tested using the CPT during the last two weeks in December.
• Other Reading and Writing instructors have volunteered to post-test their sections to have an overall comparison of the learning communities with other courses.
• Faculty have to be aware that the ACCUPLACER test is a placement tool and only shows readiness for a certain level. It does not indicate student progress in a specific course. Overall though, the test can give us an indication if students are prepared for the next level of coursework.

3. The committee has been contacted by A+dvancer, a diagnostic software program for ACCUPLACER. This software can identify specific sub-scores for individual students, who could then brush up on those skills and retest. After looking over the materials, John and Ann both felt the cost was a major deterrent to purchasing this program. Paula will review the material and make a recommendation from the Learning Center.
4. Developmental Education Journal - copies of the Journal are in the CTL room on the 3rd floor.
5. Developmental Education Mission and Goals - Copies of the mission statement for Developmental Education and the placement testing were distributed. Ann asked that committee members read over the missions and bring ideas and suggestions for revision to the next meeting.
6. John brought up the concern of students not completing courses and not withdrawing. Students need to be aware that financial aid will not pay for a course twice; however, they will pay for a course again if a student withdraws. Early alerts and continued e-mails to students about this is necessary.
7. Meeting Minutes - minutes from meetings are posted to the web at www.lsc.edu/minutes/devEd/

The next meeting will be Monday, December 6, at noon.

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