Assessments being assessed

What to do with those test results?

That’s the question facing instructional
departments as they re-evaluate student
assessment tests in light of the new
telephone registration system, due next
summer, and the impending recommenda-
tions by the Student Success Task Force,
due next spring.

“Up until now, results have technically
only been advisory — there could be a con-
versation on registration day in which a
student with a borderline assessment
could convince instructors he/she
deserved an opportunity to enrol in a
course,” says Student Success Task Force
chair Ted James.

“But because of the restrictions of an
electronic medium, there will no longer

be room for grey areas. As a result, areas
such as Math, English, Communications,
DYST, ESL and Modern Languages are
deciding now about whether passing an as-
sessment test will truly be mandatory for
enrolment.”

Re-appraising assessment tests, and their
role in course requirements, is just part of
an important evaluation process facing
the College. The goal is not just to
prevent students from failing academical-
ly, says James, but to maximize
opportunites for success throughout the
college for all students.

“There is pressure on institutions like
Douglas College to continually increase
their standards to meet the demands of

the external world,” says James. “At the
same time we’re dealing with an ever
wider variety of students who are trying
to access education.”

The Task Force’s report is due next April
and will provide a framework for long-
term planning. However, some specific
recommendations are already being
discussed.

One project is the establishment of a
tutorial centre to help students in special
circumstances (such as illness), but only
upon referral by an instructor.

Another is the establishment of student e
success courses. These would teach
students study and lifestyle skills to maxi-
mize their opportunities for success at
college. This fall the General Nursing Pro-
gram required new students to enrol in a
mandatory student success course which
could provide a model for other depart-
ments. (Look for a story on the Nursing
Program’s course in an upcoming INside.) «

No safety net with new system

College Registrar Trish Angus is con-
cerned. She wants faculty, staff and
students to appreciate the fact that al-
though the new telephone registration
system will make everyone’s life easier in
the end, we all must plan for the transi-
tion.

Students as well must plan ahead. This
will be critical because with telephone
registration, everything happens earlier.
Unlike in-person registration, Angus says
the new system does not allow many last-
minute decisions.

“There is no safety net,” she says.

If equipment and planning allow,
telephone registration will begin this
spring for summer semester. Watch the
next issue of INside for more details and

 

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implementation dates for telephone
registration.

Note: people around the College have
been referring to the new system as

“Telereg”. We can’t use that name, be- 2
cause UBC has a copyright on it. «a

Degrees continued from page 1

 

made important changes to curriculum
back then. “Students who started some
years ago can graduate with the degree.”
The Education Council and the board are
currently considering the change in
name.

A consensus of academic deans around
the province initiated the change to a
model which has operated in the U.S. for
many years. Gilgan says it should attract
more people to community colleges and
make degrees more accessible for people.

“We recognize that many students who
come here don’t go on to get degrees, for
a variety of reasons. We expect that these
degrees will be more attractive and more
people will choose to complete their two
years at Douglas College.” «