Background
El Paso, a city in West Texas on the border with Mexico, is 78% Hispanic, and one-quarter of its residents live in poverty. El Paso Community College (EPCC) has a Hispanic enrollment of over 80% on each its five campuses.
Of the nearly 10,000 first-time college students who took the college’s placement test in 2003-04, 98% tested into at least one developmental course; 38% were placed in all three developmental areas of math, reading, and writing. Despite the efforts of more than 500 full-time and part-time staff teaching developmental education and English as a Second Language courses, it takes many EPCC students four semesters to move into credit courses.
Achieving the Dream Interventions
EPCC established the El Paso Area College Readiness Consortium to align K-14 expectations and outcomes. The consortium established two programs to improve college readiness:
Pretesting, Retesting, Educational Preparation (PREP) Program
This program uses a case-management approach to assist entering students in understanding the significance of the college-placement test, developing an individualized preparation program, and working on computer-assisted modules to refresh basic skills. Pretest overview sessions give students tips on what to expect during the testing process and an individualized preparation plan is developed.
Summer Bridge Program
This program focuses on providing basic skills for first-time college students who have developmental education needs. The program also offers students information about college resources and success strategies.
Results
After participation in the PREP program, 57% of students tested into at least one course-level higher in math, 58% in Reading, and 64% in writing. After participating in the Summer Bridge program, 54% of students tested into at least one course-level higher in math, 44% in Reading, and 61% in writing.
During the time of intervention implementation, EPCC saw improvements in developmental education needs for first-time students. Although the percentage of college-ready students improved only slightly, the number of students testing into developmental education in all three subject areas declined dramatically. More students are taking only one or two subject areas, which shows a promising improvement in college preparedness.
Developmental Education Placement for all First-Time-In-College Students
Year
|
College Ready
|
1 DE area
|
2 DE areas
|
3 DE areas
|
2003
|
0.8%
|
17.2%
|
35.7%
|
46.3%
|
2008
|
5.3%
|
31.8%
|
42.6%
|
20.6%
|
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