Post on 25-Dec-2015
Noncredit ESL: Finding a Pathway to a Better Future
ASCCC Spring 2008 Plenary SessionASCCC Spring 2008 Plenary SessionAd Hoc Noncredit CommitteeAd Hoc Noncredit Committee
Presenter: Sara McKinnonPresenter: Sara McKinnonCollege of Marin ESL DepartmentCollege of Marin ESL Department
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Major Countries of Origin: Top 13 out of 50
(Total from 50 countries out of 654 students in all three programs)
Percentage from each country
1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 4% 5% 12% 24% 30%
Germany Thailand Nicaragua Colombia Korea China Iran Vietnam Brazil Peru
El
Salvador
Guatemala Mexico
Where are our students from?
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
Educational Backgound
in each Noncredit Level
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1-3 years 4-6 years 7-9 years 10-12 years 13+ years
1-3 years 10% 5% 8% 1% 2% 2%
4-6 years 17% 14% 13% 17% 9% 9%
7-9 years 21% 25% 24% 15% 13% 11%
10-12 years 32% 36% 21% 29% 28% 28%
13+ years 19% 21% 34% 37% 48% 50%
level 10 Level 20 Level 25 Level 30 Level 35 Level 40
Noncredit serves all students regardless of educational background:
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
number of students
Semesters
Enrolled/Waiting List/Dropped Fall 2002 - Spring 2007
Enrolled690 902 728 806 951 867 1111 1294 993 1227 1229 1058 1447 1534
Waiting List256 166 201 114 88 39 146 307 179 220 346 306 152 201
Dropped114 180 27 237 255 19 260 296 51 363 225 47 347 210
Fall 2002
Spring
2003
Summer
2003
Fall 2003
Spring
2004
Summer
2004
Fall 2004
Spring
2005
Summer
2005
Fall 2005
Spring
2006
Summer
2006
Fall 2006
Spring
2007
The open-entry/open-exit system:
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Percentage of students enrolled on the first day
who stay to the end of the semester
Fall 2004-Spring 2007
Percentage of students49% 41% 40% 46% 60% 60%
Fall 04 Sp 05 Fall 05 Sp 06 Fall 06 Sp 07
Although noncredit is open-exit, 60% who began the first day
remain at the end of the semester!
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Percentage of students who got off the waiting list and
were still in class at the end of the semester
(Fall 2004-Spring 2007)
Percentage of students 64% 50% 61% 49% 69% 53%
Fall 04 Sp 05 Fall 05 Sp 06 Fall 06 Sp 07
The advantages and disadvantages of open-entry/open-exit for waitlisted students
Of 431 students surveyed: 19% waited 3-4 months
45% waited 1 to 2 months 7% waited 5-6 months
22% waited less than one month 6% waited over 6 months
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Percentage of Students
Number of Times Students Took Each Level (Percentage)
Fall 2004 - Spring 2007
1 Time59.4% 63.3% 61.6% 65.6% 75.1% 61.3%
2 Times32.2% 26.4% 19.4% 23.8% 22.1% 26.8%
3 Times5.7% 7.7% 10.8% 7.5% 1.2% 6.3%
4 Times1.8% 2.1% 6.7% 2.8% 1.6% 3.8%
5 Times0.9% 0.5% 1.1% 0.3% 1.3%
6 Times0.2% 0.4% 0.5%
Level 10 Level 20 Level 25 Level 30 Level 35 Level 40
While noncredit allows for course repetition, the majority of students move on after taking
the class only once or twice.
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
Reasons for taking ESL classes
2007 Survey at College of MarinNoncredit
485 students
Credit133
students
Improve their lives and ability to work now 65% 82%
Better English for a better job 59% 49%
Take other credit classes outside ESL 19% 27%
Working towards a vocational certificate 23% 24%
Working towards AA/AS degree 16% 29%
To transfer 9% 26%
Based on 458 responses in 2007,
finding time for school is a major factor:
21% work more than 40 hours/week
40% work 31-40 hours/week 17% work 21-30 hours/week
8% work 11-20 hours/week 14% work 0-10 hours/week 15% of the women have children
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
Concerns of Noncredit ESL Students considering the move to Credit ESL Classes
85% concerned about the credit ESL class
schedule not matching their needs
78% concerned about not having a strong
enough English level and about having to
complete homework regularly
76% concerned about the cost
72% concerned about making the commitment
they think is required of credit ESL students
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
Addressing Student Concerns Scheduling
How do I juggle family, work and school? Preparation
Is my English good enough? Cost
What if my work schedule changes? Commitment
Will I be able to attend all the classes and complete the homework assignments?
Strategies to encourage students to move on to Credit ESL
Added a college ESL preparation course in 2004
Instituted the credit placement test in class at the end of every semester
Made sure an ESL Counselor visited classes
Asked credit ESL teachers to talk to our classes
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
Successful Transitions!!!
65% or a total of 288 students made the jump to credit:
72% of these moved to credit
28% of these moved to credit through Community Ed
35% continued their lives better prepared than before
Between 2004-2007, 438 students were enrolled in the College ESL Preparation Classes.
College of Marin Program Review Data 2007
For more information:Sara McKinnon, ESL Department
College of Marin835 College Ave.
Kentfield, CA 94904sara.mckinnon@marin.edu
415.485.9411 ext. 7924