Purpose
The purpose of the Developmental Education program is to provide students with the fundamental academic, social, and behavioral skills necessary to begin college-level studies. The program offers a series of courses in reading, English, and mathematics that prepare and guide students who, for many reasons, do not qualify for immediate admission into their desired course of study.
Developmental courses are foundational classes offered to help students learn what is needed to successfully complete the college's program requirements. A majority of enrolling students will require remediation to learn the skills necessary to successfully begin college-level coursework in at least one subject area. The college addresses this problem by providing extensive programs of study designed to help students develop and strengthen specific sets of skills to achieve their maximum potential and enhance their chances for academic success.
When appropriate, students must take individual placement tests prior to enrolling in the college. Based on the scores of these tests students may also be required to take developmental classes in order to fulfill individual preparatory needs. The college will then create an individualized program of study which includes coursework that is designed to provide the student with the appropriate level of remediation in reading, English, and mathematics. Many students may need only one course which can be completed in a single semester, while others may need a series of courses that require additional semesters to complete. Grades in developmental courses will be calculated into a student's overall grade point average, although credits from these courses do not transfer to other institutions.
Goals
The goals of the developmental education program are as follows:
- Demonstrate basic computer and keyboarding skills.
- Demonstrate improved academic skills in the areas of reading, writing, and/or mathematics.
- Develop an awareness of the need for lifelong learning.
- Develop a broader vocabulary and critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate responsible behavior.