Overview
Students who are deemed not-yet-college-ready based on their scores on the Texas Success Initiative assessment are advised into a developmental education course that is co-required with a college credit course. The goal is to help students complete a college credit English composition or gateway Math course in their first semester with the help of just-in-time remediation. This co-requisite model also has been adopted by the Biology Department to help students successfully complete Anatomy and Physiology as part of their prerequisites to enter ACC’s Health Sciences programs.
Accomplishments
Integrated Reading and Writing (INRW)
- The INRW program offered 79 pairs of co-requisite courses between fall 2021 and fall 2022, providing students the opportunity to complete credit-bearing work while becoming TSI-complete in an environment that supports faculty collaboration on curriculum and student support. During this period, 761 students successfully completed their requirements to become TSI-ready while completing a foundational credit-bearing course. See below for a broader look at our success in helping students complete their first college-level English course by the end of the first year. This data shows the presumed impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning and college-readiness.
- The INRW program has also successfully piloted a program supporting students who are not yet at the exit level to take a co-requisite pair of courses: an INRW 0420 section paired with a Humanities Great Questions Seminar section. This was developed through a tightly integrated curriculum developed and curated through collaboration between INRW and Great Questions faculty.
- Between fall 2021 and fall 2022, seven sets of these co-requisite sections were offered, allowing 102 of these students to successfully complete their TSI requirement while also taking a class that includes student success components that support their readiness for college.
Mathematics
- The Mathematics Department has offered more than 10 varieties of co-requisite courses for our five college level gateway courses. The department has developed two levels of co-requisite offerings to accommodate both student demand and student need.
- For students requiring more support, the Math Department has developed an entry level co-requisite course. These courses, offered in all five gateway courses, have a 3-4 semester credit hour support course paired with our gateway course to give students additional support. There were 66 sections of these entry-level co-requisite courses in fall 2022. These co-requisite courses have helped more than 800 students reach their goal of earning a credit in a college level math course.
- Mathematics has also developed upper developmental co-requisite offerings for students who are close to TSI-complete in mathematics. These co-requisite courses offer 1-2 semester credit hours of support for students needing a nudge to get over the hurdle of earning the college-level math credit. There were 145 sections of these courses over the 5 gateway courses, helping more than 1,500 students earn that college-level math credit.
- See the table for a longitudinal look at the Math Department’s efforts to help students complete their college-level math class by the end of their first year. Evidence of the impact of COVID-19 is also found in this data.
Biology
- The paired courses BIOL 1308/2401 offered by the Biology Department have proven to be a successful alternative preparation pathway for students aiming to succeed in Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II (A&P 1 and A&P 2). Typically, students are required to take an assessment test to determine their readiness for A&P 1 (BIOL 2401). However, in the past, students were asked to take BIOL 1308 as a preparatory course before attempting the assessment test. By pairing these two courses, we have created a more effective and supportive alternative pathway to help students excel in A&P 1. This paired course provides students with the extra preparatory information they need precisely when it is required, ensuring a smoother transition into A&P 1 and increasing their chances of success in the course.
- Between the spring of 2022 and the summer of 2023, we offered 64 sections of this paired course. The enrollment for these sections has been impressive, with more than 1,130 students taking advantage of this alternative pathway to prepare themselves for the challenges of A&P 1.
- Overall, implementing the BIOL 1308/2401 paired course has been a valuable resource for students seeking success in A&P 1. The enrollment numbers and positive outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of this pathway, highlighting the Biology Department‘s commitment to providing comprehensive support and ensuring student achievement in the field of anatomy and physiology.
Impact
Students who achieve their TSI status through co-requisite courses in math or English are able to begin their college career with meaningful accomplishments on their intended award plans, better assuring their academic preparedness for credit courses and their identity as students pursuing particular pathways toward their academic and career goals.
The impact of the BIOL 1308/2401 paired course has been significant. Students who previously struggled with the assessment test or felt unprepared for the rigors of A&P 1 now have a structured and supportive avenue to develop the necessary knowledge and skills. By offering this alternative pathway, the Biology Department has empowered a large number of students to pursue and succeed in A&P 1, ultimately increasing their chances of achieving their academic goals. Many students who are successful in the Biology paired courses are now prepared to take the next course in the sequence, BIOL 2402. These courses are important stepping stones for students going into the health science programs, especially the nursing associate degree program.
Next Steps
- INRW continues to work with partner programs in English and Humanities to continue to develop its offerings, and plans on expanding its -offerings for both INRW 0340 and INRW 0420. In addition, continued collaboration between faculty in the programs will allow for greater integration of the curricula in the paired courses to better assure student success and persistence.
- The Math Department continues to refine its co-requisite course offerings and respond to the challenges our students face in math anxiety and in learning in an online setting.
- The Biology Department’s future plans include examining how to best integrate the two courses (BIOL 1308 and 2401) and standardize the approach for this co-required course in the department.