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Focus On Basics

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
Updated 7/27/07 :: Copyright © 2005 NCSALL