College Readiness

Eileen DeLuca, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs
Florida SouthWestern State College

Presented for the

COLLEGE READINESS CONFERENCE
February 21, 2015

Table Discussion
How is the culture of high school different than the
culture of college?
What are the norms, rules, and expectations of high
school?

What are the norms, rules, and expectations of college?

What do entering freshman find most surprising or
challenging about their first semester in college?

College Expectations Survey

Survey e-mailed to FSW students in their 2nd, 3rd,

or 4th semester.
Likert scale items and open-ended.

Majority of respondents were 19 years of age or

younger.

There were/are many

opportunities to turn in late work
and still receive full credit.

In High School

In College

There were/are many

opportunities to receive extra
credit at the last minute.

In High School

In College

I felt/feel comfortable seeking

assistance from other students.

In High School

In College

I depended/depend on others to
structure my course schedule.

In High School

In College

Parents or teachers
reminded/remind me of
responsibilities or deadlines.

In High School

In College

I needed/need to
study often to do well.

In High School

In College

Completing homework was/is a key

factor in my success.

In High School

In College

Teachers approached/approach
me if they thought/think I needed
assistance.

In High School

In College

Critical thinking was/is

a necessary skill for
success.

In High School

In College

Time management
was/is a necessary skill
for success.

In High School

In College

Written
communication was/is
a necessary skill for
success.

In High School

In College

Oral communication
was/is a necessary
skill for success.

In High School

In College

Being able to solve mathematics problems

and apply mathematics principles was/is a
necessary skill for success.

In High School

In College

Use of academic technology was/is

a necessary skill for success.

In High School

In College

Being able to work

effectively in groups
was/is a necessary skill
for success.

In High School

In College

Success
depended/depends
on thoroughly
reading the
textbooks.

In High School

In College

Success depended/
depends on using
note-taking strategies.

In High School

In College

Success
depended/depends
on attending class.

In High School

In College

In what ways did high school prepare you for college?

Note-taking and time management.
Taught me basic fundamental skills.
It didnt prepare me at all.

Telling me I couldnt copy and paste articles.

It prepared me in signing up [for college] and all of the
requirements to get into college.

In what ways did you feel unprepared for college?

Time management and study skills.
The amount of work.
Critical thinking. I am so used to FCAT prompts or other prompts that are telling
me what to write about.
In high school there are so many tests that is seems as if the goal is to simply
pass them. College focuses on students actually learning through projects and
reports.

The shift of how my life might change and the amount of communication
between students and professors that is required to be successful.

When you first began college, what surprised you most about your
college courses?
How quickly the lessons began on the first day of class.

They are extremely fast paced. Most professors won't slow dont or let
you record lectures, making note taking extremely difficult.
Note taking was solely up to you, and no outline of what was the
important points.

When you first began college, what surprised you most about
your college courses?
They actually challenged me with difficult problems.
More forced oral speaking than in high school.

That you had to actually study for tests and read the textbook.
All the open and useful resources.

If you could go back to high school, what topics or skills would you
want your teachers to spend more time on to prepare you for
college?

Time management
Math and English
Math and writing because they never get in depth with it, they just
teach us things that we never use in college.
Details about how to ask the right questions and how to ask for help
when needed.
I would definitely like to have focused more in math. Even though I am majoring
in history, it seems like I cant get away from math.

Not anything from the teachers, I wish I took a typing class.

Reactions?
Take aways?

Senate Bill 1720: Changing the Landscape of College Admissions

During the spring 2013 Florida Legislative Session, the Florida

Senate introduced Senate Bill 1720 which included revising
requirements for the common placement test to assess basic
computation and communication skills of students who intend
to enter a public postsecondary education degree program.

SB 1720 and subsequently, some of its components, were

realized in section 1008.30(4)(a) Florida Statute. The statute
provides that a large number of students will now be exempt
from college placement testing.

Section 1008.30(4)(a) Florida Statute

A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in

the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned
a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is
serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United
States Armed Services shall not be required to take the
common placement test and shall not be required to enroll in
developmental education instruction in a Florida College
System institution.

Section 1008.30(4)(b) Florida Statute

A student who takes the common placement test and

whose score on the test indicates a need for
developmental education must be advised of all the
developmental education options offered at the
institution and, after advisement, shall be allowed to
enroll in the developmental education option of his or
her choice.

Developmental Strategies (Options)

Compressed

Modularized
Contextualized
Co-requisite

Equivalencies
Former Course Numbers
through Fall 2010
MAT 9002

Former Course Numbers

through Summer 2014

MAT 9013

MAT 0018

MAT 9024

MAT 0028

Current Course Numbers

MAT 0057

REA 9001
REA 9002

REA 0007

REA 9003

REA 0017

ENC 9010

ENC 0015

ENC 9020

ENC 0025

REA 0019

ENC 0022

FSW Placement Test Scores for College-Level Placement

(new scores effective 10/22/13)

COURSE

PLACEMENT TEST-P.E.R.T.

ACT-E

SAT-R

ENC1101

103 - WRITING &

106 - READING

17 - ENGLISH &
19 - READING

440 - CRITICAL READING

MAT1033

114 - MATH

19 - MATH

440 - MATH

MGF1106/MGF1107

123 - MATH

23 - MATH

540 - MATH

MAC1105/ STA2023

123 - MATH

23 - MATH

540 - MATH

MAC1106

135 - MATH

25 - MATH

560 - MATH

A score of 262 on Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 provides college placement in reading and writing
http://www.fsw.edu/testing/placement

Fall 2011
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (as of 3/26/12)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

3,160

516

16.33%

Reading

2,307

1,170

50.72%

Writing

2,374

1,360

57.29%
Source: Local Banner Data

Spring 2012
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (as of 3/26/12)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

2,181

420

19.26%

Reading

1,755

1,015

57.83%

Writing

1,712

1,144

66.82%
Source: Local Banner Data

Summer 2012
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (as of 9/6/12)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

1,598

529

33.10%

Reading

1,281

829

64.72%

Writing

1,273

940

73.84%
Source: Local Banner Data

Fall 2012
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants- As of 8/5/2014)
(

P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

4,140

1,066

25.75%

Reading

3,170

1,824

57.54%

Writing

3,237

2,220

68.58%
Source: Local Banner Data

Spring 2013
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (As of 8/5/2014)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

2,165

555

25.64%

Reading

1,699

906

53.33%

Writing

1,674

1,081

64.58%
Source: Local Banner Data

Summer 2013
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (As of 9/13/13)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

1,791

562

31.38%

Reading

1,483

770

51.92%

Writing

1,448

957

66.09%
Source: Local Banner Data

Fall 2013
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (as of 1/3/14)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

4,727

1,498

31.69%

Reading

3,457

1,808

52.30%

Writing

3,516

2,243

63.79%
Source: Local Banner Data

Spring 2014
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (as of 5/9/2014)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

1,912

603

31.54%

Reading

1,498

745

49.73%

Writing

1,469

993

67.60%
Source: Local Banner Data

Summer 2014
P.E.R.T. Data-ESC Applicants (as of 7/11/2014)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

1,356

497

36.65%

Reading

1,124

619

55.07%

Writing

1,086

761

70.07%
Source: Local Banner Data

Fall 2014
P.E.R.T. Data-FSW Applicants (as of 1/30/2015)
P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

3,099

1,197

38.63%

Reading

2,471

1,402

56.74%

Writing

2,389

1,650

69.07%

Source: Local Banner Data

Spring 2015
P.E.R.T. Data-FSW Applicants

as of 2/13/2015)

P.E.R.T. Subtest

Test Taken

# Placing
College Ready

% Placing
College Ready

Math

1,109

427

38.50%

Reading

878

458

52.16%

Writing

851

573

67.33%
Source: Local Banner Data

PERT Preparation Guide

PERT Study Guide

https://college.measuredsuccess.com/mscollege/help_resources/P.E.R.T_Study_Guide.pdf
Math Sample Test
https://college.measuredsuccess.com/mscollege/practiceTest2/math/question1.html
Reading Sample Test
https://college.measuredsuccess.com/mscollege/practiceTest2/reading/question1.html
Writing Sample Test
https://college.measuredsuccess.com/mscollege/practiceTest2/writing_mc/question1.html

College Readiness MOOC

Broward College developed a College Readiness massive online open course
(MOOC).
The course uses a modularized and game-based approach to deliver content in
reading, writing and mathematics.
The College Readiness MOOC is
a game-based tool to help students prepare for the PERT.
a supplemental instructional tool for students enrolled in developmental
courses.
a supplemental instructional tool for students enrolled in credit courses.

College Readiness MOOC

The MOOCs are now available at the following link:

http://www.broward.edu/academics/online/Pages/FreeCollege-Readiness-MOOC.aspx

Section 1008.30(5) Florida Statute-Meta-Majors

By December 31, 2013, the State Board of Education, in consultation
with the Board of Governors, shall approve a series of meta-majors and
the academic pathways that identify the gateway courses associated
with each meta-major. Florida College System institutions shall use
placement test results to determine the extent to which each student
demonstrates sufficient communication and computation skills to
indicate readiness for his or her chosen meta-major. Florida College
System institutions shall counsel students into college credit courses as
quickly as possible, with developmental education limited to that content
needed for success in the meta-major.

Meta-majors
Arts, Humanities, Communication, and Design
Business
Education
Health Sciences
Industry/manufacturing and construction
Public Safety
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Social and Behavioral Sciences and Human Services

Meta-majors
The goal of the meta-major declaration is to provide
students with advising and tracking that will lead to an
overall decrease in the number of excess credits
students earn in their path towards degree completion.

During the admissions process, FSW students complete

a Type Focus Assessment, a self-appraisal and choose a
meta-major.

Meta Majors Gateway Courses

Arts, Humanities, Communication, and
Design
Gateway Courses = MGF 1106, MGF 1107, MAC
1105, STA 2023

Business
Gateway Courses = MAC 1105, STA 2023

Education
Gateway Courses = MGF 1106, MGF 1107, MAC
1105, STA 2023

Health Sciences
Gateway Courses = MGF 1106, MGF 1107, MAC
1105, STA 2023
SB 1720 Developmental Education Implementation Plans

Industry/Manufacturing and Construction

Gateway Courses = MGF 1106, MGF 1107, MAC
1105, STA 2023

Public Safety
Gateway Courses = MGF 1106, MGF 1107, MAC
1105, STA 2023

Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics
Gateway Courses = MAC 1105

Social and Behavioral Sciences and Human

Services
Gateway Courses = MGF 1106, MGF 1107, MAC
1105, STA 2023

Meta-Major Declaration-Fall 2014

Meta-Major Declaration-Spring 2015

The Cornerstone Experience

The Cornerstone Experience (SLS 1515)

Cornerstone Experience (SLS 1515) is a course to help students successfully transition to college
life. The course is designed to support students as they become self-reliant learners who use critical
thinking to achieve academic and career success. Some of the topics we ask students to think
critically about include
Selecting Occupations and Majors
Habits that Lead to Success
Learning Styles
Time Management and Goal Setting
Note-taking and Test-taking Strategies
Use of Technology

The First-Year Experience at FSW

http://www.fsw.edu/fye

Thank you!
Eileen.DeLuca@fsw.edu
239-985-3498