Should remedial classes be dumped from colleges? Are the placement tests wrong?
As the cost of college soars and students are left without degrees but lots of debt, the effectiveness of remedial classes is being closely examined.
The Associated Press reports that each year, an estimated 1.7 million U.S. college students are steered to remedial classes to catch them up and prepare them for regular coursework. The students are paying regular prices for these classes but aren’t getting credit and often don’t graduate at all.
Also in some cases, the students shouldn’t even be in the classes. Some say the placement tests are flawed and colleges would do better placing by high school records.
From the Associated Press: (I bolded the good stuff.)
“Simply putting (students) in three levels of remedial math is really taking their money and time with no hope of success,” said Stan Jones, president of Complete College America.”
“The group’s research shows just 1 in 10 remedial students graduate from community colleges within three years and a little more than a third complete bachelor’s degrees in six years. Yet the classes are widespread, with more than 50 percent of students entering two-year colleges and nearly 20 percent of those entering four-year universities put in at least one remedial course, the report said.”
“At the end of the day if we could say that we are getting more students to graduate, particularly those coming into college without the requisite skills, the investment we have now is worth it,” said Bruce Vandal, director of postsecondary education for the Denver-based Education Commission of the States, a nonpartisan group that researches education policy. “I think the fact that we aren’t getting that result is why legislators and policymakers are up in arms and rightfully so.”
“The research comes as the cost of a college education continues to grow. The College Board said last fall that the average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges rose an additional $631, or about 8 percent, compared with a year ago. The annual cost of a full credit load has passed $8,000 — an all-time high.”
“Legislation passed earlier this month in Kansas prohibits four-year universities from using state funds to provide remedial courses.”
“Beth Gulley, an associate English professor who teaches remedial writing at the 22,000-student Johnson County Community College in northeast Kansas, acknowledges the remediation statistics are “pretty dismal.” But she noted it sometimes takes students longer to graduate than the span of time the statistics track.”
“I think there is lots of hope,” she said.”
“Take her assistant Brandon True, who dropped a remedial math class twice before completing it and College Algebra. Now 23, he is taking a calculus-heavy class for aspiring video game designers and preparing to transfer to a four-year institution.”
” ‘I was terrified,” he recalled of his earlier math struggles. Because of those initial struggles problems, he feels like he truly understands the remedial writing students he helps. ‘I think they choke. It’s scary.’ ”
“Research shows placement exams routinely misplace students in remedial courses, and colleges would do so far less often if they also examined high school transcripts, said Davis Jenkins, a senior researcher at the Community College Research Center at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York.”
“True knows the limitations of placement exams firsthand. He went from being identified as needing remedial writing help the first time he took the test to qualifying for the gifted writing program the second time.”
“The classes are being rethought as well. Jenkins recommends doing away with the one-size-fits-all college algebra requirement and having math classes tailored to a few broad areas of study. For instance, those studying history, law or psychology might take a math class focused more on statistics.”
” ‘It just kills their desire for learning,” Jenkins said, noting that some students are being placed in classes that make them basically redo middle school pre-algebra. “There really is a stigma, so it is clear that we need to rethink it. ‘”
“The Complete College America report also says research shows half or more of remedial students would be better off being placed in required classes and having the schools building in extra help, such as tutors or more frequent class meetings.”
“The report said institutions that have used those approaches have seen their unprepared students succeed at the same rates as their college-ready peers. Legislation passed earlier this month in Connecticut allows underprepared students to take full-credit, college-level courses with built-in supports, such as extended instruction, extra tutoring and mandatory labs.”
What do you think? Have you or your kids taken remedial classes in college? Did they benefit you?
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68 comments Add your comment
jarvis
May 30th, 2012
2:57 pm
@DB, I don’t know you (other than now knowing that you don’t care for weiners in your face which in itself is a character flaw for a completely different discussion).
Anyway back to my real point, I was not trying to portray myself as better than you. I was simply pointing out that I had a very dismal academic record until college, and I think I turned out well…..good family, good job, general happiness.
I didn’t take remedial courses in college because I don’t suffer from test anxiety, and I’d like to think that I’m somewhat intelligent. Those two attributes combined with a good test prep class led to a solid ACT score, but that in no way should be misconstrued as me being more worthy of higher education than a hard working 3.8 high school student that doesn’t test well is.
Should a lazy student or one that doesn’t test in the top 10% be able to get into Emory? In my opinion, no. But should they be able to go somewhere to prove or improve themselves so that they can someday meet their goals? I think so.
In my opinion, second chances are a good thing.
malleesmom
May 30th, 2012
3:16 pm
Standardized testing surely cannot be the only measure. Especially for non-traditional i.e. adult learner students. I am a prime example. Entered college five or six years post high school. Had not taken an algebra course since freshman year so quite a few years had gone by before taking the college placement tests. Of course I needed remedial math classes which I took in order to qualify for the college algebra course. Eventually earned a bachelor’s degree and went on to do some graduate classes as well. Based on what I’m reading in today’s posts, I should not have been allowed in at all? Give me a break.
`Higher` Education via Remedial Classes
May 30th, 2012
3:44 pm
This is a joke, right? Really, you must be pulling my leg….
Why in the thunder would a college or university offer any degree with the aid of remedial classes?
The tough freshman courses are what universities typically employee to weed out the shaft. (College athletes are, of course, an exception to the rule – as they have access to an army of tutors and soft courses, if necessary to maintain a GPA required to stay on the team).
College isn’t meant to be for everyone. If you can’t cut the academics intellectually, or don’t have the discipline to complete college class work, then you may not be college material.
That’s not to say that you still can’t be a success. For example, Bill Gates and Edward Land are both Harvard drop-outs who changed the world with their innovations.
Gus
May 30th, 2012
3:46 pm
Have those students who cannot read, write, or add at a college level attend community colleges until they are ready to participate. Four year institutions should not have to deal with them at all.
jarvis
May 30th, 2012
4:02 pm
@`Higher` Education via Remedial Classes, you realize the remedial classes are in addition to college courses not in place of them, right?
Progress
May 30th, 2012
4:06 pm
Enlightened [sic]-
I should have known you’d have brought up the old cliches of the “Free Market” and “FREEDOM” (capitalized by you for some odd reason). Yawn…
Actually, many inventions and advancements were first developed through the military (government), before they were disseminated by private enterprise, so I’d say your argument is flawed at its base. And NASA is pretty good at advancements, too.
A strong central government is what separates us from Afghanistan, which is a decentralized nation/community ruled by tribal zealots, which is exactly what the Tea Party clan (and you obviously) are hoping for in the U.S. Your brethren would love to bring a restrictive theocracy to the U.S. after diluting the government’s power. Our strong central government and its public schools, both of which you apparently hate so much, have taken us through the Civil War, both World Wars, and up until now, when conservatives are trying to disembowel them.
But if you knew anything about educational research you’d also know that it’s a fallacy that private schools deliver better education than public schools.
The only decade of failure this country has had was the one that started in 2000. And it’s probably news to you, as you seem out of touch with education, but the literacy rate is higher now in this country than it’s ever been in history. The shortcomings come in the areas of science and math, and that’s a cultural phenomenon- your type choose to distort history and reject science outright because they too often disagree with the delusions you choose to hold, and you apparently hold many.
shaggy
May 30th, 2012
5:20 pm
progress – just read your drivel. It is too sad to even comment on. Just change your handle to progressive, socialist, individual rights along with responsibility hater, or just plain old communist. You must have been sad when the USSR folded.
Biologist
May 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
@Enlightened:
“why don’t you instead point out all the great things the government run schools have given us.”
How about over 85% of the people in this country?
Including:
Richard M. Nixon[36] attended Fullerton and Whittier High Schools, California
Gerald Ford[37] attended Grand Rapids South High School, Michigan
Lyndon B. Johnson[38] attended Johnson City High School, Texas
Harry S Truman[39] attended Independence High School, Missouri
H. Ross Perot[40] attended public schools and Texarkana Junior College, Texas
Roy Jay Glauber, Nobel laureate, graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY in 1941
Frederick Reines, Nobel laureate, attended Union Hill High School, NJ, during the late 1930’s.
Oliver North, US Army Officer, political commentator, graduated from Ockawamick High School in 1961.
Ronald Reagan graduated from Dixon High School, Illinois
Dwight D. Eisenhower attended Abilene High School in Abilene, Kansas
Richard M. Nixon attended Fullerton and Whittier High Schools, California
Gerald Ford attended Grand Rapids South High School, Michigan
Lyndon B. Johnson attended Johnson City High School, Texas
Harry S Truman attended Independence High School, Missouri
H. Ross Perot
Richard Cheney graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming.
Colin Powell graduated from Morris High School, NY in 1954
Billy Graham graduated from Sharon High School, NC in May 1936
Michael Medved graduated from Palisades High School, CA
Roy Jay Glauber, Nobel laureate, graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY in 1941.
Frederick Reines, Nobel laureate, attended Union Hill High School, NJ, during the late 1930’s.
Oliver North, US Army Officer, political commentator, graduated from Ockawamick High School in 1961.
Brad Pitt, actor, graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981; d
Tom Cruise, actor, attended several public high schools including Glen Ridge High School, New Jersey during the 1970’s.
John Sununu, former one-term Senator from New Hampshire, graduated from Salem High School
John Edwards,
Spike Lee, producer, actor, graduated from John Dewey High School, Brooklyn, NY.[53]
Laura Bush attended James Bowie Elementary School, San Jacinto Junior High School, and Midland Lee High School in Midland, Texas (Graduated 1964);
William J. Clinton[55] graduated from Hot Springs High School in Arkansas in 1964,
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc., graduated from Homestead High School in Cupertino, CA in 1972; his colleague, Steve Wozniak, graduated from the same high school in 1968.
Eminem, a rapper, .
Alan Colmes, a liberal news commentator, attended public school in New York City.
Sarah Palin, vice presidential candidate
Rick Perry, Texas governor,
Shark Punch!
May 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
I’ve taught (mostly non-remedial) college mathematics for over a decade. At the freshman/sophomore levels, student motivation plays a much more significant role than previous academic preparation. When I compare students with “few” absences to those with “many” (about the only avenue I have for measuring student motivation), there is a statistically significant difference in overall performance, every single class, every single semester I’ve bothered to compute it.
The real problem is that Calculus is a sacred cow in the college math curriculum, and most remedial/service courses form a single prerequisite stream towards it. But students who terminal math courses are “College” Algebra or Trigonometry (who often happy to simply pass said courses) would be better served by more conceptual courses such as Statistics or Formal Logic. After all, should we really trust that somebody with a C+ in College Algebra can later apply that material in a real-world situation? So what’s the point?
Progress
May 30th, 2012
6:32 pm
Shaggy- So it’s communist to look back fondly at the accomplishments of the U.S. throughout history, such as keeping the Union together after the Civil War and winning World War II (against socialists)? I’m all for personal responsibility. My grandparents came here from Puerto Rico in the 50’s without a penny and without speaking a word of English. I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood in New York and went through public school the entire way to a PhD and being a college professor at a state university. My family came up from poverty and this country allowed me the opportunity to go from that environment to where I am now- all via public schooling. I think you need to get yourself an education if you think having a strong federal government equates to communism or anything else that I wrote even remotely relates to communism. Your post reveals you to be a weak minded individual.
MrLiberty
May 30th, 2012
9:09 pm
Biologist – Aside from a couple of actors, one Nobel Laureate (from the 30’s when most folks agree that public schools were considerably better than today), and two great innovators like Mr. Jobs and Wozniack, I see a bunch of either neocons, war mongers, or war criminals. Sad that you had to see past presidents as something this country or its school system should be proud of. Sorry, I’m over that delusion.
There are always going to be folks who, despite the barriers the government system throws up to real education, manage to make it. These folks were driven. I know plenty of folks who have done well despite the system But is that all that we really want to aspire to? It is like the way far too many (and given the names on your list, I suspect you might be one), constantly say in response to serious pointed criticism of the state of freedom and liberty in this country “but we are still the freest nation on earth.” A hollow statement indeed considering how great we could be. When local communities ran schools we had a far better system. Even when the states ran things they were better. Since the Feds took over things have only gone downhill, but most importantly the quality of virtually everything the free market provides has gone up while the price has gone down, and absent government manipulation of the markets, the choices have improved.
Parent
May 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Do away with remedial courses? Surely you jest! How will we have a college football team!!!!!! (I am a UGA alumnus, I tutored football players there – tried to teach them fractions)
Progress
May 30th, 2012
10:19 pm
Mr Liberty,
So you think the schools were better in the 30’s when far more people in this country were illiterate? That’s an odd conclusion.
I’d still like to know what freedom and liberty we’re suddenly lacking. Freedom and liberty in the U.S. seem about the same now as they were as far back as I can remember.
And you talk about the Feds taking control of education. I’m wondering what exactly you mean by that. The curriculum is set by the state and local school boards, as it’s always been. Teacher certification is handled by the state. The counties set the length of the school day, the number of classes during the day, the length of classes, and what classes are offered. Since Bush’s No Child Left Behind, states are forced to conduct assessments with the intention of showing progress, but the states get to pick what assessments they will give and even create the assessments for themselves. So I’m still trying to figure out what you mean when you say the Feds have taken control of education. I’m thinking that maybe you don’t know much about how the public education system operates.
Sam
June 1st, 2012
4:32 pm
I tested into honors classes because of my SAT score, but I was a mediocre high school student at best. It’s all about what you can do or what you are capable of doing. People in remediation probably need to reconsider going to college and maybe look into a vocation. Not everyone is destined to graduate from college.
Sam
June 1st, 2012
4:33 pm
Oh, and as long as students say “I hate reading. I never read,” then you will always have illiterates in remediation. Magazines and text messages do not equal reading skills!
Sam
June 1st, 2012
4:36 pm
@Higher LOL at “weed out the shaft” – I know a few people who might like their shafts weeded. (chaff)
Greg S.
June 2nd, 2012
8:16 am
When I went to college I had to take remedial math courses because I didn’t “get” the studying thing in high school. I graduated with a degree in computer science which required my taking, and passing, 10 more math courses. I graduated with honors. So, I would say remedial courses should be offered as at least some students go on to benefit from them.
Warrior Woman
June 4th, 2012
11:18 am
If you need remedial classes, you don’t belong in a 4-year college or university. Get up to speed with an adult learning class, tech school or community college at a much lower cost.