How should colleges determine whether students are placed into developmental or college-level courses? Each year, colleges place millions of students into developmental math and English courses upon enrollment. To do so, colleges most often use a high-stakes placement test, which numerous research studies have shown to be highly inaccurate in…

This paper uses qualitative and quantitative data to compare the outcomes of students at Chabot College who participated in an accelerated, one-semester developmental English course and their peers who participated in a two-semester sequence. The sample included first-time students who entered college between summer 1999 and fall 2010; students…

Students who are seriously academically deficient, those who are underprepared in all subjects, face many academic challenges as they begin their coursework in higher education. However, students also face nonacademic and personal issues that create additional barriers to success. The results of this study suggest that increases in student success…

In fall 1980, a block scheduled developmental semester was offered for the first time at the Boyce Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County. The program was composed of three integrated courses: "Man, Time, and Social Change," a social science elective; "Basic Writing Techniques," a developmental English course; and…

A study involving 42 randomly selected students enrolled in a developmental course at Trident Technical College in Spring 1979 was conducted to determine the impact of career information on students' career awareness, motivation, and academic achievement. Two sections of the course were designated as the control group and received only regularly…

A study was conducted to compare the academic success of students who completed developmental education courses at Northwest Technical College with that of students who did not take such courses, but whose placement test scores indicated that they should. Subjects of the study were selected from 499 students who were advised, based on their test…

In fall 1992, a study was conducted at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College, in Ohio, to gather data on student performance in the developmental English program and propose appropriate rates of academic progress for different groupings of students. Academic records were analyzed for all 877 students enrolled in developmental English…

Compares classical multiple regression with Bayesian m-group regression, including cross-validation of both methods, in a study to predict first-quarter grade point average in various curricula for community colleges students who had completed developmental studies programs. Finds informal counselor prediction the largest contribution to…

Investigates the effectiveness of developmental skills courses in terms of grade point average, credits earned, retention, goal attainment and degree earned. Suggests that developmental skills courses had no effect on student achievement in any of the measured areas. Contains 9 data tables and 17 references. (JDI)

A study was undertaken at Willmar Community College (WCC), in Minnesota, to assess the effectiveness of the developmental writing program and to identify which demographic and educational characteristics predicted final grades in college-level English courses. The study sample included all students who enrolled at WCC during the 1992-93 academic…

Classical multiple regression was compared with Bayesian m-group regression, complete with cross-validation. The setting was a post-developmental studies situation in a comprehensive community college. A secondary purpose of the study was to incorporate an advisor prediction of grade point average (GPA) as input into both regression procedures.…

A joint study was undertaken by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery College (MC), in Maryland, to determine the characteristics of MCPS graduates enrolled at MC and patterns in their developmental course placement. Data were collected for 13,575 MCPS graduates from 1992 and 1993 who enrolled in regular semester terms within…

A study was conducted at Laramie County Community College to assess the performance of developmental students and evaluate the effectiveness of the college's testing and placement system. The study tracked students entering in fall 1993 whose placement scores identified them as developmental to determine actual enrollment and performance in…

A study was undertaken at Arizona's Pima Community College (PCC) to determine the extent to which entering students took writing, reading, and mathematics placement tests and followed placement recommendations, as well as the relationship between the completion of recommended courses and subsequent academic performance. The study sample consisted…

In winter 1995, a study was conducted at Rochester Community College (RCC), in Minnesota, to examine the effectiveness of a study skills class (SS198). Specifically, the study sought to determine if the course met established criteria of retaining 50% of completers in good academic standing for 1 year, to compare retention rates to non-enrolled…