An Emerging Issue in Higher Education
An Emerging Issue in Higher Education, Part 1
Randy Bromley
Grand Canyon University
History and Politics in Higher Education
EDU-805
Dr. Sherion Jackson
October 26, 2011
An Emerging Issue in Higher Education “In 2001, nearly one-third of first-year college students in the United States were required to take remedial classes (Bettinger and Long, 2009)” Post secondary remediation has become a debated subject. Opponents argue it wastes taxpayers’ money, diminishes academic standards, and discourages faculty, while proponents argue it satisfies an important and substantial niche in higher education, meets the needs of college freshmen, and yields higher graduation rates (Bahr, 2008).
The National Education Writers Associations (National Education Writers Association [EWA], 2010) states remediation traces its roots to colonial times and outlines how Harvard University, in the 17th century, provided tutors for those considered less-prepared. Today, remediation takes many forms; testing to identify learning gaps, tutoring, modified curriculum, and no credit refresher courses. While the controversy continues, research by Bettinger and Long (2009) concludes that students who received remediation in math were 15 percent more likely to complete a college degree in four years and those in English remediation were 9 percent more likely to do so.
In conclusion, remediation, also known as developmental education, skills courses, or college preparation courses, has become a hot topic. Opponents argue remedial education is evidence that today’s college students are academically weak and should not be admitted into colleges. Proponents argue remediation is necessary component of higher education; a tradition with deep roots, and helps students complete their degrees successfully. Remedial education, therefore, has become an emerging issue in higher education.
An Emerging Issue in Higher Education, Part 2
Randy Bromley
Grand Canyon University
History and Politics
Randy Bromley
Grand Canyon University
History and Politics in Higher Education
EDU-805
Dr. Sherion Jackson
October 26, 2011
An Emerging Issue in Higher Education “In 2001, nearly one-third of first-year college students in the United States were required to take remedial classes (Bettinger and Long, 2009)” Post secondary remediation has become a debated subject. Opponents argue it wastes taxpayers’ money, diminishes academic standards, and discourages faculty, while proponents argue it satisfies an important and substantial niche in higher education, meets the needs of college freshmen, and yields higher graduation rates (Bahr, 2008).
The National Education Writers Associations (National Education Writers Association [EWA], 2010) states remediation traces its roots to colonial times and outlines how Harvard University, in the 17th century, provided tutors for those considered less-prepared. Today, remediation takes many forms; testing to identify learning gaps, tutoring, modified curriculum, and no credit refresher courses. While the controversy continues, research by Bettinger and Long (2009) concludes that students who received remediation in math were 15 percent more likely to complete a college degree in four years and those in English remediation were 9 percent more likely to do so.
In conclusion, remediation, also known as developmental education, skills courses, or college preparation courses, has become a hot topic. Opponents argue remedial education is evidence that today’s college students are academically weak and should not be admitted into colleges. Proponents argue remediation is necessary component of higher education; a tradition with deep roots, and helps students complete their degrees successfully. Remedial education, therefore, has become an emerging issue in higher education.
An Emerging Issue in Higher Education, Part 2
Randy Bromley
Grand Canyon University
History and Politics
References: Attewell, P., Lavin, D., Domina, T., & Levey, T. (2006, September/October). New evidence on college remediation. The Journal of Higher Education, 77(5), 886-924. Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-151257870.html Bahr, P. R. (2008). Does mathematics remediation work?: A comparative analysis of academic attainment among community college students. Research in Higher Education, 49(5), 420-450. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ797088&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ797088 Bettinger, E. P., & Long, B. T. (2009). Addressing the needs of underprepared students in higher education: Does college remediation work? Journal of Human Resources, 44(3). Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/papers/w11325.pdf Howell, J. S. (2011, May/June). What influences students’ need for remediation in college? The Journal of Higher Education, 82(3), 292-318. Retrieved from http://www.csus.edu/indiv/h/howellj/papers/RemediationCSU_JHowell.pdf National Education Writers Association. (2010). Big Picture: Remediation quandary for colleges. Retrieved from National Education Writers Association: http://www.eva.org/site/Pageserver/pagename=resources_highered_remediation