Dissertation
Examining relationships between matriculating community college students' preparedness for college-level courses and factors that affect enrollment in developmental education courses
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/D8DW9H
Abstract
High school senior preparedness for community college level courses has decreased significantly over the last two decades. A large group of students are "placing" into developmental college courses, which delays their entrance into college-level courses each year. Students placing into developmental courses are typically not retained in college. The following study examined what factors contributed to recent high school graduates placing into developmental college courses at Community College X (CCX) located in the Northeast region. Literature comprised student readiness, developmental courses, and course placement tools to identify factors related to students' placing into developmental courses in a mid-size community college in the Northeast region of one specific county. The study was conducted using archival data from one community college and researched data from the fifteen public schools in which the college students matriculate. Relationships were evaluated to determine factors that contributed to students placing into developmental courses. Several statistical correlations were pertinent to this study. Some correlations did not indicate a relationship between a students' preparedness for college level courses and other socioeconomic factors. Reports on high schools with the highest quality ranking and highest median household income showed that at least 50% of their students tested into developmental courses at CCX. As the schools dropped in quality ranking and median household income, the percentage of students placing into developmental classes rose significantly. Most students start to research their college entrance plans during their third year of high school. This is almost always too late for students to attempt to place into college-level courses. Results of this study indicated that all students in high school should be educated on how to learn; however, they may need to learn and practice this key skill at a much earlier age.
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Details
- Title
- Examining relationships between matriculating community college students' preparedness for college-level courses and factors that affect enrollment in developmental education courses
- Creators
- Elizabeth DiRienzo Brenner - DU
- Contributors
- Joyce A. Pittman (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xiii, 74 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 7981; 991014632067204721