Makes a very good argument for more summer  outreach especially to low-income, first generation students.

New papers suggest summer outreach can help low-income rising freshmen | Inside Higher Ed.

Tags: Transitions

Some interesting facts from Community College Research Center about the number of students country-wide who place into developmental education, the number who complete  developmental courses, the cost of developmental education, as well as  the use of placement testing in developmental education.  I found that piece the most surprising.  Accuuplacer is one of the two placement tests used to place students into appropriate courses. The question is, ” how accurate is accuplacer”?  One CCRC study of a statewide community college system found that the ACCUPLACER severely misplaces 33 percent of entering community college students.

A much better predictor of success in courses comes from looking at high school transcripts.

Click on the link below to read  the CCRC findings in more detail.

Community College FAQs.

Tags: College Success

New study shows many students in remediation may be misidentified – Community College News Now!.

Doing Developmental Education Differently | Scaling Innovation.

In my last posting, I talked about using curious questions with students to help them discover their goals.  Here is a list of curious questions you might try asking:

Curious Questions

• What concerns you most about…?
• What could you do right now that might help you get unstuck?
• What’s most important to you about this right now?
• What would you like help thinking through?
• How is this affecting you?
• What is really important to you in this situation?
• How is this working out?
• What might that mean to you?
• What else would you like to tell me about it?
• What have you tried so far?
• How can you find out more about it?
• What is important to you about this goal?
• What do you think is best?
• Where do you go from here?
• What’s most important to you about this right now?

• What could you do to improve the situation even a little?
• What is really important to you in this situation?
• What is important to you about this goal?
• What’s humorous about the situation?
• What might that mean for you?
• What are your thoughts about how to manage the situation?
• What other ideas do you have about it?
• What are your next steps?
• What are some other options?
• If you had your choice, what would you do?
• Who else on campus could you talk with about this?
• What do you want?

Tags: Advising

Recently I participated in a workshop given by three coaches from Landmark College.  The title was Using Non-Directive Techniques to Empower Students.  The coaching model used at Landmark and in schools and colleges, in general, is based upon the premise that we are all creative, resourceful, and whole.  From this, the job of the coach/advisor is to help the student identify and achieve goals based on knowing and valuing oneself.

As I think about the idea that students are creative, resourceful, and whole, I realize how often, in my work, I don’t fully operate from this belief.  I don’t think I’m alone in this.  In meetings, my colleagues and I find ourselves complaining about what the students don’t seem to possess in the way of both academic and non-academic skills.  From this “deficit” viewpoint, it’s hard to trust that students really are resourceful, creative, and whole and that they have the ability to direct themselves towards their goals.  Continue Reading »

Tags: Advising

Too many students fail to complete their developmental classes.  This is particularly true the more courses a student is required to take before they can take college courses.

The Charles A. Dana Center, Education Commission of the States, Jobs for the Future and Complete College America just released a report recommending core principles that outline the direction we need to head in to help our students start their college level courses sooner.   Remediation_Joint_Statement-Embargo

I had the pleasure of interviewing a BCC student, Amanda Hoag who shared her experience at BCC, in developmental education classes,as well as her hopes for her future.  Click on the youtube link below.

Interview with Amanda Hoag

Thanks, Amanda and good luck as you continue on your path in higher education.

I first heard this episode this summer and wanted to share.  It makes the point that non-cognitive skills are just as important in determining success in schools and can be taught.

Back to School | This American Life.

I’m glad math anxiety is finally seen as “real”,

Why Math Makes Your Head Hurt | Bioscience Technology Online.