2008 Woodie Awards
Students need basic skills
Iris Floyd
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: News
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A research group released a report stating that basic skills "are those foundation skills in reading, writing, mathematics, learning skills, study skills, and English as a Second Language which are necessary for students to succeed in college-level work."
But why is this important to Solano Community College students? As it turns out, California community colleges, including SCC, are failing to fully provide these basic skills to students.
The group, known as the Research and Planning Group of the California Community Colleges, released their report as a result of the report put out by Sacramento State on February 2007, entitled "The Rules of the Game." The Sac State report basically projected a shortage of college-educated workers and said that "of the 60 percent that are seeking a degree or certificate, only one-fourth succeed in transferring and/or earning an associate's degree or certificate within six years."
In other words, according to Josh Stein, head coordinator of the Basic Skills Program, California community colleges are "actually failing our students quite badly and the things we need to do to be able to survive are not what we are giving students."
In the wake of this report, a basic skills initiative was born.
"What basic skills is about, ultimately, is giving people the skills to survive in life regardless of where they go next," Stein said. 'The basic skills initiative is about making sure that once someone steps foot onto our campus, we are doing everything we possibly can to support them in the acquisition of skills that they need for the rest of their life."
What most students may not already know is that they are already a part of the program because of the assessment tests. For example, for English, you take a test and are given a raw score. Then placement takes place, where you scored between this range and that range, which would then put you in, say, English 370.
After that point, however, it appears that students are left to their own devices to learn the basic, or rather, the developmental skills needed in order to move up to transfer-level class. But Stein is hoping to change this by expanding the program's services.
But why is this important to Solano Community College students? As it turns out, California community colleges, including SCC, are failing to fully provide these basic skills to students.
The group, known as the Research and Planning Group of the California Community Colleges, released their report as a result of the report put out by Sacramento State on February 2007, entitled "The Rules of the Game." The Sac State report basically projected a shortage of college-educated workers and said that "of the 60 percent that are seeking a degree or certificate, only one-fourth succeed in transferring and/or earning an associate's degree or certificate within six years."
In other words, according to Josh Stein, head coordinator of the Basic Skills Program, California community colleges are "actually failing our students quite badly and the things we need to do to be able to survive are not what we are giving students."
In the wake of this report, a basic skills initiative was born.
"What basic skills is about, ultimately, is giving people the skills to survive in life regardless of where they go next," Stein said. 'The basic skills initiative is about making sure that once someone steps foot onto our campus, we are doing everything we possibly can to support them in the acquisition of skills that they need for the rest of their life."
What most students may not already know is that they are already a part of the program because of the assessment tests. For example, for English, you take a test and are given a raw score. Then placement takes place, where you scored between this range and that range, which would then put you in, say, English 370.
After that point, however, it appears that students are left to their own devices to learn the basic, or rather, the developmental skills needed in order to move up to transfer-level class. But Stein is hoping to change this by expanding the program's services.
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