Community College Baltimore County, Maryland
Notes from Committee Meeting
May 21, 2007
- Donna McKusick and Terry Hirsch presented the data from a
longitudinal study of students enrolled in developmental writing
classes in fall 2002 and spring 2003. While the rates of failure
and of dropping out of the sequence of classes was not as severe as it
was in the data from 1988 and 89, it stilled showed less than 25% of
students placed in 051 had passed 101 within the next four years.
Less than 44% of students placed in 052 had passed 101 within four
years.
- After some discussion, the group agreed that we would recommend
to the department at its August meeting that we conduct a mainstreaming
pilot starting in fall 2008.
- A discussion of what we can do in the companion course that
developmental students would take when they are mainstreamed into 101
produced a wide range of ideas. We discussed reading/writing
learning communities, studio courses, the possibility of placing
developmental students in 101 and not requiring that they do anything
other than 101. It was pointed out that Catonsville used to offer
a five-credit version of 101 for students placed in developmental
writing. We mentioned our reservations about Accuplacer as an
assessment instrument. It was pointed out that our students often
need help in understanding how to be a college-level student. We
discussed these and many more good ideas that might improve the
effectiveness of 052, but we didn't get to far in discussing ideas for
what we ought to do in the companion course.
- We next discussed the idea of offering a small-scale informal
"pilot of the pilot" in fall of this year. A handout, attached,
described this proposal. The group agreed that it would be a good
idea to offer five sections of this "pilot of the pilot" this
fall. Peter will email the department seeking five volunteers.
- It was agreed that the "pilot of the pilot" should be offered to
all students placed in 052, not just the upper half and not excluding
those placed in RDG 052.
- Because we will gain considerable information about what does and
doesn't help mainstreamed students to succeed in 101 from the "pilot of
the pilot," we decided not to attempt to select a model for the
large-scale pilot until January of 2008.
- Peter mentioned that he had been in correspondence with
- Peter reported that he will be pursuing grant possibilities to
support the mainstreaming project, beginning with a FIPSE proposal this
summer.
- Finally, the committee enjoyed a lunch provided by Donna McKusick's office. The chicken on focaccia was especially delicious.