Evaluating Placement and Developmental Studies Programs at a Technical Institute: Using ACT's Underprepared Student Follow-up Report

Abstract

Many two-year institutions use the ASSET-a student success system developed by the American College Testing Program (ACT) for community college student advising, placement, and retention. The author describes using ACT's new Underprepared Student Follow-up Report (UPSFUR) as an assessment tool for retention programs. The sample comprised 1,261 records from Chattahoochee Technical Institute's ASSET database on students tested during 1995, and data included grades for developmental and diploma-level English and mathematics courses. The UPSFUR statistical analysis indicated a successful completion rate of 61% to 70% for developmental courses; students required to take developmental courses succeeded in subsequent regular courses with similar completion rates but with lower grades. The author compares these findings with others in the literature on developmental courses to conclude that the UPSFUR can be used to help determine placement program effectiveness.

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