Where Do The Pieces Fit?

Placement of Basic Skills Courses in Credit and Non Credit Programs

Courses is in one of the following disciplines:

English as a Second Language (ACE) English Mathematics Reading

Courses cannot be applicable to the Associate Degree

Courses must be coded at a level below college level

Criteria for Basic Skills

In 2009, faculty across the state were asked to

take a close look at their courses that were designed to address basic skills and to sequence them so that students could be tracked as they move towards college level coursework.

Courses in mathematics, English, and reading can be up to four levels below college level. Courses in ESL can be up to six levels below college level.

Up to one level below college level can be offered in both credit and non-credit!

Where Do We Begin?

In the past, we created basic skills courses in

the credit program that would address student need for skills improvement and would generate the higher FTES credit rate.

Over time, many similar courses have been created in the non credit program to address some of the same issues.

Are these the same students?

How Did We Decide?

English N50 (3 levels below college level) English N60 (2 levels below college level) English 061 (1 level below, not a basic skills

course)

Below College Level English

ACE N42 and N43 (4 levels below college

level) ACE 052 and 053 (3 levels below college level,

not BS) ACE 102 (2 levels below college level, not BS) ACE 116 (1 level below college level, not BS)

Below College Level ESL

Math N05 and N06 (4 levels below college

level) Math N48 (3 levels below college level) Math 060/061 (2 levels below college level,

not BS) Math 080/081 (1 level below college level, not

BS)

Below College Level Mathematics

Reading N96 (2 levels below college level) Reading 097 (1 level below college level, not

BS)

Below College Level Reading

Students are on the credit campus and can

take college level courses in other areas at the same time that they are addressing basic skills needs.

We are funded at a higher rate ($4560 vs. $3230)

Advantages of Credit

Student must complete the class in a single

semester. Student is limited to three transcripted

attempts to successfully complete the course. Student pays $46 per unit to take the course

each time it is attempted.

Disadvantages of Credit

Courses are self-paced, open entry open exit Students are not limited in the number of

times they can take a course The courses are free to take to the students

Advantages of Non Credit

Students may feel there is a stigma to taking

non-credit classes College is paid at a lower rate ($3230 vs.

$4560) (Note: The cost of instruction in non credit is often lower than instruction in credit)

Classes may not be offered at the same location as the credit courses making it more difficult for students to take college level courses in other areas.

Disadvantages of Non Credit

The ARCC Scorecard will contain three

separate basic skills metrics (ESL, English Composition, and Mathematics)

These metrics include students that take a credit basic skills course 1 – 4 levels below college level coursework and successful students will complete a college level course in the same area within 6 years.

Moving to the next level in basic skills is no longer part of ARCC!

The ARCC Scorecard

In one of the original drafts of the SSTF

recommendations, credit programs would be restricted to only offering courses at 1 or 2 levels below college level coursework.

While this recommendation was removed, there continue to be statewide discussions about criteria to determine what belongs in credit and what belongs in non-credit.

SSTF and Beyond

How many levels below college level should

be offered in the credit program? Should there be equivalent level courses in

the credit and non-credit programs? Should non-credit basic skills courses be

offered on the credit campus? Would this harm enrollment at OEC (once reopened)?

Who needs to be involved in these discussions?

Thing To Be Decided?

Questions??