GATEWAY COURSE SUCCESSTransforming Remediation

Bruce VandalTwitter: @BruceatCCA

2

Too many students

start college in

remediation.

3

Too many entering freshmen need remediation.

51.7%of those entering a 2-year college enrolled in remediation

19.9%of those entering a 4-year college enrolled in remediation

Source: Fall 2006 cohorts

4

Too few remedial

students ever

graduate.

5

Most remedial students never graduate.

Source: Completion data: fall 2006 cohorts; graduation data: 2-year, fall 2004 cohorts; 4-year, fall 2002 cohorts

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Student attrition is at the heart of the matter.

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Few Ever Get to Gateway

70% of students placed into remediation fail to enroll in

a gateway course in two academic years

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Guiding Objective

Students complete gateway courses and enter programs

of study in one academic year

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Policy Objectives for Gateway Course Success

1. Design STEM and non-STEM math options.2. The default placement for most students

will be gateway courses.3. Provide additional academic support as

corequisite, not prerequisite.4. Establish a placement range instead of a

single cut score.

14

Mathematics must be aligned

with programs of study.

“College Algebra was designed explicitly to meet the needs of students who are preparing to take Precalculus and Calculus.”

University System of GeorgiaMathematics Task Force:

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College Algebra’s Only Purpose :Preparation for Calculus

College Algebra Calculus

STEM

STEM

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Providing Academic Support as a Corequisite

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One Semester Redesigned Gateway

Extra Time

• 45 minutes after class

• Additional class periods

Mandatory Tutoring

• Paired proctored labs

Sequenced

• 5 weeks prep plus 10 weeks gateway content

Gateway

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One Semester Corequisite Results

Institution Subject Traditional Model

Corequisite Model

CC of Baltimore County Accelerated Learning Model English 33% 74%

Austin Peay State University Structured Assistance

English 49% 70%

Quantitative Reasoning 11% 78%

Statistics 8% 65%

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One Year Corequisite

Gateway

Semester 1 Semester 2

Gateway ContentAcademic Support

College Success Skills

STEM

Quantitative Reasoning

Statistics

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One Year Corequisite Results

Carnegie StatwaySuccess in gateway math within

one academic year

Traditional Model Statway

5.9%

51.0%

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Aligned and Parallel Support in Technical Certificate Programs

Technical

Program

Math and

Language Skills

Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology

• Work Keys/Keytrain• Required, Proctored Lab• Competency-based, Self-paced

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TCAT Results

79% Graduation RateAll Complete Academic Support

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Placement into gateway courses and programs

of study

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Multiple Measures Can Help Determine Appropriate Support in Gateway Courses

• High school Performance (GPA/Senior Year Courses)

• High School Transcripts• Placement/Entrance Exams• “Grit”

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Using Non-Cognitive Variables, Like Grit

• Grit, like cognitive ability, falls within a normal distribution.

• The higher education system was built for students with high grit and high academic ability.

• We don’t know if we can teach grit – but we can remove the unnecessary barriers that prevent student success.

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Current Model Enrolls Most Students into Remediation

Perc

ent

of S

tude

nts

Student Placement Data

30%70%

GatewayRemediation

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New Model Enrolls Most in CollegePe

rcen

t of

Stu

dent

s

Student Placement Data

30%10% 60%

GatewayTest Prep or

Technical Certificate

Gateway Course with Corequisite

Support

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A Broad Placement RangePe

rcen

t of

Stu

dent

s

Student Placement Data

Less than 2.0 HS GPA or

ACT Below 14 or

Equivalent

2.0 – 2.5 High School GPA or ACT 14-18 or

Equivalent

2.5 High School GPA or ACT 19 or

Equivalent

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Goal of Assessment Reform : More Students in Gateway Courses

DON’T:• Try to build the perfect test• Create a new rigid system for sorting students

DO:• Dismantle unnecessary barriers by placing the

vast majority in gateway courses• Accept that the majority of students need

some support – cognitive and non-cognitive• Provide that support in the college-level

gateway course – as a co-requisite

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Policy Objectives for Gateway Course Success

1. Design STEM and non-STEM math options.2. The default placement for most students

will be gateway courses.3. Provide additional academic support as

corequisite, not prerequisite.4. Establish a placement range instead of a

single cut score.

GATEWAY COURSE SUCCESSTransforming Remediation

Bruce VandalTwitter: @BruceatCCA