Volume 6, Issue D ::: February 04
Pathways to College for Academically Under-prepared Students
The New England Literacy Resource Center (NELRC), with support from the Nellie Mae Foundation, supports more than 25 College Transition Programs in New England. NELRC defines college transition as a comprehensive approach to preparing nontraditional adult learners for the college experience. The approach includes academic instruction designed to help the student place into college level courses or the highest level developmental courses, computer skills, and a college survival skills component that covers note taking, test taking, time and stress management, and other skills designed to help adult learners manage college successfully. It also includes academic and career counseling, and exposure to the college culture. Around the country, a growing number of programs are dedicated to helping nontraditional students prepare for, gain access to, and persist in college. The chart below, developed by Jessica Spohn and Silja Kallenbach of NELRC, illustrates a number of prevalent models. It is not an all-inclusive list. Do you have a different model? Please share it with Focus on Basics readers via the Focus on Basics electronic discussion list. Click here for information on how to subscribe.
Developmental/ Remedial Courses | Developmental Courses and College Survival Skills | Learning Communities/ Cohort Model |
Dual Enrollment |
College Transition |
Other |
|
Description | Traditional and most prevalent method Used by community colleges For students assessed as under-prepared to enter into college level courses Courses consist of academic reading, writing, math, and several levels of English for non-native speakers Specific entrance requirements vary, Begin at pre-GED skill level in both math and reading Institutions vary as to what they consider college level reading, writing and math. |
Used by community colleges For students assessed as under-prepared to enter into college level courses Courses include academic reading, writing, math, and several levels of English for non-native speakers College Survival skills cover note taking, test taking, time and stress management, and other skills to manage college |
Based on academic readiness Students placed into developmental and college level courses as a cohort Students kept together in classes as much as possible College Survival skills cover note taking, test taking, time and stress management, and other skills to manage college |
Students completing a GED or ADP Dually enrolled in developmental courses. |
Bridges academic gaps between the GED, ADP, ESOL and college level courses Provides courses in college reading and writing, and in pre-algebra, and basic computer skills Courses aligned with the academic benchmarks of the collaborating college College Survival skills cover note taking, test taking, time and stress management, and other skills to manage college Collaborates with one or more colleges Level and intensity of collaboration varies greatly. Some have Articulation Agreements |
Help non-traditional adult learners enter into four-year colleges More academically rigorous and cover a broader range of academic topics, often including, for example, biology and chemistry |
Length | Several years in developmental courses or as little as one college semester before entering college level courses |
Several years in developmental courses or as little as one college semester before entering college level courses |
Several years in developmental courses or as little as one college semester before entering college level courses |
Dependent on a student passing the GED and how many developmental courses student must complete before entering college level courses | 14-52 weeks |
Two or more years |
Location | Community colleges |
Community colleges |
Community colleges Adult learning centers |
Adult learning centers or community colleges |
Adult learning centers or community colleges |
Adult learning centers |
Credit | No credit towards a degree Many colleges grant "institutional credit" |
No credit towards a degree Many colleges grant "institutional credit" |
Credit towards a degree "Institutional credit" for developmental courses |
"Institutional credit" |
No credit towards a degree Some have arrangements with collaborating college so students can take a course for credit |
No credit towards a degree |
Cost to Students | Student pays for courses or uses federal Pell grants Students may be eligible for federal grants and loans |
Student pays for courses or uses federal Pell grants Students may be eligible for federal grants and loans |
Funding arrangements vary from free to partial tuition to full tuition |
Typically free of charge, but some tuition may apply |
Typically free of charge | Typically, minimal tuition is charged |
Other Support | Many colleges offer additional academic support through Learning Resource Centers, including assisted models, e.g. Plato, Destinations | Many colleges offer additional academic support through Learning Resource Centers, including assisted models, e.g. Plato, Destinations | Many colleges offer additional academic support through Learning Resource Centers, including assisted models, e.g. Plato, Destinations | Support in applying to college and completing financial aid forms Sometimes additional academic support after entering college |
Some programs offer courses in additional content areas e.g. biology |
Support in applying to college and completing financial aid forms Sometimes additional academic support after entering college |