According to the American Association of Community Colleges (2010), more than 40% of all African American students enrolled in postsecondary education are enrolled in two-year colleges. A review of the literature indicated that improving persistence and completion rates for African American students is a challenge that two-year colleges face. This…

Suggests that community colleges respond to increasing numbers of students with inadequate reading skills through informal assessment of students' ability, focus on study and discovery skills, comprehension development strategies, and the linguistic approach. Considers future needs and facilities. (DMM)

Information is provided on the Developmental Education Program offered at Cincinnati Technical College for students who have been accepted conditionally into one of the health, business, or engineering career programs at the college. Sections I and II outline the rationale for and goals of the developmental education program. Section III describes…

Cites recent publications about developmental education. Offers annotated references to nine reports, studies, and briefs that cover issues ranging from the academic success of remedial students to the effectiveness of institutions' remedial programs. (NB)

Describes an innovative curriculum project at Piedmont Community College in North Carolina called CONCUR, which designed classes specifically for developmental students, applying the principles of contextual learning by creating the context of a publishing company. Discusses motivation, grading, the reading workshop, providing books, pages…

Describes how CD-ROM technology and a subscription to a weekly news magazine were integrated into the curriculum of a community college developmental reading and writing course. Discusses how this system (1) adapts to the mix of ages, ability level, interests, and cultural experiences of students; (2) facilitates assignments on reading and writing…

The PACE (Personalized Approach to College Education) program at Community College of the Finger Lakes was designed to provide basic academic skill development in reading, English, and mathematics for students with academic records in the bottom quartile of the entering freshman class. The program emphasizes student responsibility for learning and…

Examines developmental/remedial programs at public two-year institutions across four geographical regions of the United States in order to investigate regional variations in these programs. Analyzes operational characteristics, institutional policies, and student participation and performance. Provides recommendations for practitioners,…

Examines the effects of course-based reading strategy training--student application of reading strategies to their own college readings--on developmental college learners' reading comprehension skills. Explains that this study gave one group of students learning strategies instruction and gave no such instructions to a control group. Reports…

Details a reading program in which freshmen in a developmental studies program read books to children at a local public school. Reports that the students engaged the children in pre-determined learning activities and reflected on their own, as well as others', reading processes. Discusses theoretical underpinnings of this model. (Contains 19…

Presenting 12 data tables, this report documents fall 1996 success rates for 11 developmental and developmental-type advanced and professional courses at Florida's Pensacola Junior College. Following an introductory table showing success rates for each course and defining success rate as the percentage of enrolled students who earned a grade of C…

A comprehensive developmental studies program was initiated during Fall 1980 at Navarro College to help Micronesian and other international students become acquainted with American culture and to assist them in the areas of basic skills development, English as a second language (ESL), and career planning. The program offered a special course…

Discusses role and trend information on developmental or remedial education for recent high school graduates attending Washington community and technical colleges. More specifically, it provides information on high school graduates who attended a community or technical college in the year following graduation. Also provides separate information on…

Summarizes the literature on developmental reading and writing programs by discussing strategies for addressing remedial needs and obstacles to remediation. Presents the results of internal evaluations of developmental reading programs conducted at four colleges. Defines 16 strategies used by community colleges to implement effective remedial…

Describes the rationale for and outcomes of La Guardia Community College's Critical Thinking Program. Considers the relationship of critical thinking to writing and reading. Evaluates the program's impact on students' reading, writing, and speaking skills; higher-order reasoning/problem-solving abilities; and critical attitudes toward their lives…