Triton College
Triton College implemented a Mandatory Placement Testing policy to encourage students who need academic assistance to enroll in developmental education courses.
In November 2010, Triton implemented a Mandatory Placement Testing policy to ensure that all entering credit students take tests to determine their proficiency in reading, writing, and math. The policy is intended to increase registration, and performance in developmental education (DevEd) and, eventually, college-level courses.
- 92% of the 1,413 first-time credit students who enrolled in Spring 2011 complied with the testing policy.
- 60% were referred to DevEd math; 27% registered for the math course.
- 14% were referred to DevEd Reading; 11% registered for the reading course.
- 31% were referred to DevEd Writing, 18% registered for the writing class.
- 41% of the 1,577 first-time credit students who enrolled in Spring 2010 voluntarily took placement tests. Referrals were less than 30% in each subject.
Based on the data, the college is exploring mandatory placement and advising, and improvements to student services and academic support.
Triton College’s 100-acre campus serves a culturally diverse suburban Chicago district. In Fall 2009, the college had 15,700 students. Thirty-one percent were Hispanic; 19% were African American; and three percent were Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. Thirteen percent of students received Pell grants.
Triton College has modified its master plan, and revised its mission and vision statements since joining Achieving the Dream in 2009. The budgeting process is increasingly aligned with the college’s student success initiatives. Planning throughout the college now involves substantial discussions and efforts to integrate student success initiatives.
The college produces data briefs on developmental education and uses a dashboard with 16 performance indicators to inform stakeholders.
To address the needs of underprepared students and to create shared ownership throughout the community for student success, Triton College is in the process of:
- Restructuring the Developmental Education program.
- Adding a Division of College Readiness.
- Embedding study skills strategies in its Developmental Math pilot.
- Developing and disseminating Placement Test Review materials to students.
- Evaluating the Fast Track options it is testing for developmental courses.
- Providing Professional Development for adjunct faculty.
Discussing student success initiatives with other Achieving the Dream colleges in Illinois and other area colleges.
The Achieving the Dream Model
Achieving the Dream community colleges commit to our Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. Based on four principles, the model frames the overall work of helping more students, particularly low- income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree.
Each college approaches the work differently, but Achieving the Dream’s five-step process provides practical guidelines for keeping the focus where it belongs and building momentum over time. Throughout the process, Achieving the Dream coaches offer customized support and help each college’s core team implement data-informed programs and policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to student success.
