Ranger AMARILLO COLLEGE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1930
VOLUME 89 | ISSUE 10
March 28, 2019
Rethinking remedials
College removes developmental courses
By JEREMY STITSWORTH Staff Reporter
Amarillo College is charting a new course in its approach to developmental education. Instead of taking remedial classes before beginning college-level studies, underprepared students will receive special assistance through concurrent classes, supplemental instruction or extra tutoring. What are now developmental courses will become co-requisite classes at the start of the fall 2019 semester. Classes such as intermediate algebra and basic reading and writing will now be fully integrated into college level courses such as college algebra and general psychology. Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez, a psychology professor, has taught classes that use the co-requisite approach and says it has been wildly successful. “So, what happens is they take my book for my psychology
22.3% 9.5% 51.7%
of community college students enroll in remedial courses.
of those students finish remedial as well as college-level courses in two years.
of students originally enrolled in remedial courses graduate in three years.
Information courtesy of Complete College America
class and use it in the course, and they go through it and we teach them how to identify the main idea of the text, what is important to look for and how to comprehend what they read,” she said. Rodriguez also said that she has been teaching classes this way for a few years, even before this decision was made. “I’ve been teaching these classes for about seven years now and I can tell you that it really makes an impact on getting your degree faster,” she said.
Infographic by STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger
Dr. Edythe Carter, a math professor and dean of academic success, says there are many benefits that come from this change. “Students can start earning credits right away and with classes being integrated together, it’s like you get two for one, which saves money as well,” she said. Carter added that the courses could also benefit students who have graduated high school but didn’t go straight into college since they can serve as good
refreshers. Carter said that the math classes will be offered all year to further accelerate the process of attaining a degree. “The classes are eight weeks long and are offered in the fall and spring. We’ll also have them in the summer, but they will be six weeks instead of eight,” she said The change will mean that students who in the past would have had to take several semesters of developmental classes before beginning
academic credit classes will now start immediately in college-level classes in their majors. “I wish they would’ve done that when I was taking math,” said A.J. Ward, a social studies major. “I could have graduated by now.” The move to adopt this new approach began in 2017, when the Texas legislature passed a law requiring colleges to gradually increase the number of co-requisite classes. Similar changes in remedial education are taking place in other states. Rodriguez said in addition to saving money, this approach also boosts the self-esteem of students. “I see students in my psychology class who are in the co-requisite class and they are excited. Excited that they are learning and reading from a college course book just makes them feel like they are achieving something worthwhile,” she said. “Just to be a part of that and seeing them advance and grow is something really special.”
Construction underway 101 Reasons Week
Encouraging youth to vote
By MARISSA RIVERA Staff Reporter
Where is the best and biggest computer lab on the Washington Street Campus? Starting fall 2019, the answer to the question of “Where” will be “Ware.” Construction is underway on a new computer lab in the basement of the Ware Student Center. The total cost for this project is around $2.1 million, according to Steve Smith, vice president of business affairs. The money comes from the general budget and reserve funds and will pay for the remodeling of the basement along with new computers, software programs and furniture. The lab will house new Apple and Windows computers equipped with the appropriate programs for the classes at AC. “It is a pretty decent mix, with 20 to 30 macs and close to 40 to 100 window computers available down there,” Shane Hepler, chief information officer, said. Hepler was a part of the lab design process. He said the way the lab is designed will encourage students to collaborate. There will also be rooms for faculty to
By JEREMY STITSWORTH Staff Reporter
STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger
Construction on the new computer lab is expected to be finished before the 2019 fall semester.
reserve for classes, changeable rooms for guest speakers or competitions and rooms for students to record videos with new equipment. “I think that Amarillo College is doing its best to maintain a very proactive and beneficial program,” Kendra Jenkins, a mass media major, said. Jenkins said she recalls numerous times she has been unable to complete audio editing projects because she arrived after the mass media labs had closed. “A 24/7 facility would benefit all of us because a lot of the editing programs we use are expensive and provided by AC, so we depend on the labs,” Jenkins said.
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According to Smith, student usage of the new lab will determine the hours of operation. “It could be up to a 24-hour lab, but to start out it might close at 10 or 11 at night. If there is a lot of demand, we will extend it,” Smith said. Smith said he is looking into new student ID cards with magnetic strips to give students access to the lab after hours if AC decides to open the lab 24-hours. There will also be a lift available to give students with disabilities outside access to the labs through the side entrances. The lab could open up new student work opportunities, since students may be hired to staff the lab and help with computer equipment. www.acranger.com
Amarillo College is hosting a week-long event from March 25 – 29 called 101 Reasons Week. The event is meant to drive students to become more socially aware and active in their communities. Each day will have a different theme associated with it, for instance Tuesday was Engage an Issue Day where students gathered to play games and learn more about the issues found in communities around the city of Amarillo. Issues such as poverty, education, foster care and many others are featured at the event. Aaron Faver, a social science professor and event coordinator, said that he hopes to not only bring in the older age group but also young students to get involved. “We really need to have students get involved because this is their world and they will be the ones to make the changes in the future, they have the power,” he said. Faver also mentioned that the event will be having a voter registration drive to give students the opportunity to get registered for many
important elections and city proposals such as the upcoming Master Plan proposal. Angela Badillo, a social work major, said that she thinks it’s great to see something like this and that it is very much needed these days. “I am actually studying to be a social worker one day and just to have a chance to make an impact on someone is really special to me. Helping families, the needy, kids, I just think it’s good to help people and this is a way to make them see what is going on around them,” she said. Kevin Kite, an art major, said it was a good idea to have a voter registration drive at the school. “The way I see it now nobody has an excuse not to vote. I have kids and I am always telling them that they will be the ones to make the rules one day and this is exactly what I mean,” he said. The voter registration drive will be held on Thursday, March 28th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. out in the Oeschger Family Mall in front of the Ware Building and Palace Coffee and the week will wrap up with guest speaker, Dave Kelly, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Oak Room.
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