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A Pilot Study of Holistic Assessment and Course Placement in Community College: Findings and Recommendations

Author(s):
Rikoon, Samuel H.; Liebtag, Travis; Olivera-Aguilar, Margarita; Robbins, Steven B.; Jackson, Teresa
Publication Year:
2014
Report Number:
RM-14-10
Source:
ETS Research Memorandum
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
21
Subject/Key Words:
Developmental Education, SuccessNavigator, Course Placement, Community Colleges, Remedial Education, Acceleration (Education), Mathematics

Abstract

Overall, students for whom SuccessNavigator recommended acceleration passed their mathematics courses at higher rates than those receiving a cautionary recommendation. This finding was true in particular in college level and credit-bearing courses. Substantial differences in passing rates were also observed across campuses between the two acceleration recommendation groups. Our results are supportive of using SuccessNavigator acceleration recommendations to inform mathematics course placement in community college samples. We also found the SuccessNavigator academic success index to be predictive of overall college grade point average (GPA). Institutional recommendations and study limitations are discussed.

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