Colleges report improved student success in spite of more remediation
Kevono Hunt
Issue date: 3/1/06 Section: News
Colleges report improved student success in spite of more remediation
More first-time freshmen entering Oklahoma's public colleges and universities are enrolling in remedial courses, according to a report presented to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Despite the increase, the report also showed that most institutions report lower remediation rates.
Remedial courses are non-credit courses required in Oklahoma public colleges and universities for students who do not demonstrate minimum competencies in one or more of four areas: math, reading, English and science. Students who score below 19 on an ACT subject test in those areas must either enroll in a remedial course or undergo additional testing in that subject area.
The 2004-2005 Annual Student Remediation Report showed that from 1996-97 to 2004-05, the remediation rate for first-time freshmen direct from Oklahoma high schools dropped from 37.3 percent to 36.2 percent. The new figure is lower than the 38.7 percent for all first-time entering freshmen.
In last year's remediation report, 35 percent of first-time entering freshmen direct from Oklahoma high schools required remediation, while the remediation rate for all first-time entering freshmen was 37.4 percent.
The student remediation report revealed that a higher percentage of older freshmen (21 years of age and older) require more remediation than their younger counterparts. Last year, 46.7 percent of older freshmen enrolled in remedial courses compared to 35.8 percent for first-time entering freshmen younger than 21 years of age.
Higher education officials cite improved data coding for much of the increase for both freshmen direct from high school and older freshmen.
"Reducing the need for remediation among our college freshmen, regardless of age, is extremely important for our state," Chancellor Paul G. Risser said. "Students not properly prepared in high school will be at a clear disadvantage when they get to college and may not be able to graduate in a timely manner. On the flip side, however, remedial courses do provide another opportunity for students to acquire a college education."
More first-time freshmen entering Oklahoma's public colleges and universities are enrolling in remedial courses, according to a report presented to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Despite the increase, the report also showed that most institutions report lower remediation rates.
Remedial courses are non-credit courses required in Oklahoma public colleges and universities for students who do not demonstrate minimum competencies in one or more of four areas: math, reading, English and science. Students who score below 19 on an ACT subject test in those areas must either enroll in a remedial course or undergo additional testing in that subject area.
The 2004-2005 Annual Student Remediation Report showed that from 1996-97 to 2004-05, the remediation rate for first-time freshmen direct from Oklahoma high schools dropped from 37.3 percent to 36.2 percent. The new figure is lower than the 38.7 percent for all first-time entering freshmen.
In last year's remediation report, 35 percent of first-time entering freshmen direct from Oklahoma high schools required remediation, while the remediation rate for all first-time entering freshmen was 37.4 percent.
The student remediation report revealed that a higher percentage of older freshmen (21 years of age and older) require more remediation than their younger counterparts. Last year, 46.7 percent of older freshmen enrolled in remedial courses compared to 35.8 percent for first-time entering freshmen younger than 21 years of age.
Higher education officials cite improved data coding for much of the increase for both freshmen direct from high school and older freshmen.
"Reducing the need for remediation among our college freshmen, regardless of age, is extremely important for our state," Chancellor Paul G. Risser said. "Students not properly prepared in high school will be at a clear disadvantage when they get to college and may not be able to graduate in a timely manner. On the flip side, however, remedial courses do provide another opportunity for students to acquire a college education."