Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - DP130045
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED333783 AUTHOR: Abraham, Ansley A.
TITLE: They Came to College? A Remedial/Development Profile
of First-Time Freshmen in SREB States. Issues in Higher
Education No. 25.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1991
NOTE: 14 p.
AVAILABILITY: Southern Regional Education Board, 592 Tenth
Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318-5790.
ABSTRACT: This paper reports on the results of a survey of
remedial programs at public and private colleges and
universities in the southern region of the United States
and highlights remedial education patterns by state, race,
and gender. Responses were received from 606 of the 826
institutions surveyed (73%). Among the report's findings
are the following: (1) remedial enrollment at private
institutions in the region (32%) is only slightly lower
than the rate at public institutions (36%); (2) states that
have mandatory testing and placement policies tend to have
higher percentages of freshmen in remedial courses; (3)
remedial enrollment rates for Blacks and Hispanics are
consistently one and one-half to two times that of White
students; (4) 38.5% of entering freshmen need remedial
assistance in mathematics; and (5) remedial enrollment at
most public and private institutions has increased since
1984; two-year colleges had the most increase, doctoral
institutions had the least, but an average 25% of freshmen
at doctoral institutions needed at least one remedial
course. The report explores the implications that high
levels of underpreparation present among Black and Hispanic
students, as well as ethical questions raised by having
college-level remedial programs. It is suggested that
colleges and universities closely examine their
expectations for remedial students and the institution's
willingness to invest in the quality of program necessary
to get students ready for full time college work. (10
references, 10 tables) (GLR)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Comparative-Analysis; Higher-Education;
High-Risk-Students; Minority-Groups; Private-Colleges;
Public-Colleges; Remedial-Instruction
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *College-Freshmen; *College-Preparation;
*Developmental-Studies-Programs; *Enrollment-; *Remedial
Programs
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