Johnson County Community College, Underprepared Student Programs
Much of a community college’s student body is composed of people starting or returning to school who wish to gain skills or complete a degree. Many are underprepared for courses in reading, English, and math and are, therefore, underprepared for the work force. With as many as 50 percent of all new students coming to Johnson County Community College (JCCC) academically underprepared, the college implemented an in-depth research report of this problem, resulting in recommendations for its underprepared-student program.
Among the many underprepared-student programs available at JCCC are the Learning Strategies Program, an Academic Success Model for Athletes, the Academic Achievement Center, the Flex Lab, and help centers for specific disciplines, such as the Writing Center, and the Math Resource Center.
The Learning Strategies Program has been in use at JCCC for seven years and is designed to teach students practical information about how to study for a specific course, such as history, math, or psychology. JCCC has found that although general study courses are helpful, some students need to go a step beyond and learn exactly how to study for a certain class. The college discovered that those who take strategies courses get one grade higher in difficult courses and have higher retention than those who don’t take the strategies courses.
The Flex Lab is an option for those needing non-credit basic literacy skill training. Reading, writing, and math are offered for preparation for the General Educational Development test. A competency-based program is available to check a student’s progress. In addition, individualized self-paced instruction is an option.
The centers are for those trying to meet the writing and math requirements of the college. Writing within the curriculum is a philosophy at JCCC. This entails all courses requiring some writing. Instructors from the Writing Center come into many classes to teach students about writing and discuss the services the center has to offer.
Within the Writing Center, students have access to five Macintosh LC computers. The machines are equipped with self-paced software tutorials, allowing students to work alone. The center has a process package called St. Martin’s Guide to Writing, which guides students through the writing process from the brainstorming stage to the revision process. All of the LCs have Apple IIe cards and disks to allow the center to use software like MicroLab. MicroLab is a program that assesses the student’s ability to recognize errors in writing. Whether the problem deals with fragments, subject/verb agreement or commas, the 75-question test evaluates the student’s abilities in addition to giving the student a printout of areas needing improvement. The program has modules for each problem area which students can use to improve the areas. A mastery test is given when the student has completed exercises to see where improvement has been made.
A task force made recommendations such as enrollment restrictions and required advising and counseling. It is recommended that non-credit options for those not prepared for the developmental classes be extended, such as for the Flex Lab.
Another recommendation is the development of a computer system for monitoring academically underprepared students. With the system, a student’s academic history can be monitored, like a patient under a doctor’s care. All counseling appointments and the names of those providing counseling are recorded, as well as the student’s academic progress.
The tracking tests the effectiveness of programs and services for students with specific needs. In addition, a computer information system listing resources and programs was considered helpful. In the meantime, JCCC has given each faculty member a paper guide listing all support offerings at the college.
JCCC plans to conduct additional research to determine the effectiveness of services, programs, courses, and teaching methodologies for academically underprepared students and will monitor and implement the recommendations for another year.
Ed Franklin, assistant dean of student development, believes this plan is the start of a five-year path. Franklin says the plan represents JCCC’s ongoing commitment to students. Major results should be apparent by January 1994.
For information, contact Dr. Ed Franklin, Support Services, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66210-1299; (913) 469-3830.
