2008 Woodie Awards
Enrollment increases slightly in reading department
Reading test scores remain the same, but enrollment in reading courses increases.
By Mary Zamora
Last update: 5/17/06 at 8:20 AM CST
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In 2003, student scores for the reading assessment portion of the Accuplacer test increased and since then have stayed the same, Adolph Lopez lll, director of the assessment center, said.
In September, Lopez was asked by The Ranger for an average score for the reading portion of the Accuplacer test.
He said the assessment center has the scores for the test but does not average the scores.
There are many different reasons why the college does not keep the average score for the reading portion of the Accuplacer test.
Institutional research Coordinator Sonia Valdez said one reason is many students take the test but do not register at this college.
"They might have sat for the reading test but didn't enroll in the class," she said in a phone interview Jan. 24, adding there are students in the assessment center's database who did not register at this college.
Valdez said some students have tested at different locations.
Also, transfer students take a few courses at this college that could be used as placement, she said.
Although the scores have remained the same, the number of students enrolling in reading courses has increased.
Reading Chair Mary Ann Greenlees said there has been a slight increase of 197 students enrolling in READ 0303, College Reading Skills, from 2000 to 2004.
According to the college factbook for 2004-2005, the enrollment in each of the reading levels has increased from 2000-2004.
The total number of students enrolled in all reading levels in 2000 was 1,787 in 81 sections and grew to 2,259 students in 103 sections in 2004, an increase of 26 percent.
According to the college factbook for 2004-2005 the total enrollment was 20,490 students, indicating 9 percent of those students were enrolled in reading classes.
And in 2004, there was a total enrollment of 22,141 students and 10 percent were enrolled in reading classes.
From 2000 to 2004, READ 0300, Basic Reading and Study Skills l, enrollment grew from 82 students in five sections to 118 students in five sections, an increase of 43 percent.
Also from 2000 to 2004, READ 0301, Basic Reading and Study Skills 2, enrollment grew from 246 students in 13 sections to 328 students in 15 sections, an increase of 28 percent.
From 2000 to 2004, READ 0302, Introduction to College Reading, enrollment grew from 476 students in 22 sections to 633 students in 31 sections, an increase of 23 percent.
And from 2000 to 2004, READ 0303, College Reading Skills, enrollment grew from 983 students in 41 sections to 1,180 students in 52 sections, an increase of 15 percent.
Greenlees said 2,200 students are enrolled in reading courses, and more than 50 percent of those students are in Reading 0303.
"When people come into college, they need to be able to read at college level, and the test shows if they can read at college level," Greenlees said.
This course focuses on finding the main idea, supporting details, vocabulary development and critical reading skills, and it offers study tips such as places to study.
Greenlees said most students enrolled in reading have difficulty in two areas: main idea and critical reading skills.
"This course brings them up to college level, so they can master reading assignments better," Greenlees said.
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