Courtesy of the DSC Marketing Dept.<\/p>\n
For 31-year-old freshman Holly Ruffolo, going to college was an intimidating prospect. She realized she was off to a late start in college, but views earning her Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration as the first step toward advancing her professional development.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the scariest things about going to school is you don\u2019t know where anything is or what help you can get on campus,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that many students really can\u2019t understand what is available until they have been immersed in the college life for a period of time. But for some that might be too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruffolo sped up her acclimation by enrolling in a seven-week, one-credit hour course called College Resources or SLS1101, a product of Daytona State\u2019s Quality Enhancement Plan, also known as the QEP initiative. The course engages students with the Learning Commons academic resources: the Library, Academic Support Center and the Writing Center to help them successfully complete a critical ENC 1101 gatekeeper course, \u201cIntroduction to Composition.\u201d Students take both courses concurrently and success in one seems to be fostering success in the other.<\/p>\n
Research shows that timely completion of gatekeeper courses \u2014 initial college courses in the core subjects of mathematics and English composition \u2014 positively effects student outcomes such as attainment of certificates and degrees and transfer to four-year institutions.
\nAfter developing SLS1101 as part of the College\u2019s re-accreditation last year with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, three sections of the course were piloted spring term and yielded promising results.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf the more than three dozen students who enrolled in the pilot courses, 90 percent went on to successfully complete ENC1101,\u201d reported Dr. Tom Bellomo, who is leading the QEP implementation. \u201cWe want to take a modest approach in interpreting all of the data. In satisfying accreditation standards with our regional agency, we aren\u2019t pressured to discover a \u2018magic bullet.\u2019 What is important is that our investigation yields useable feedback, that we uncover what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not\u2014with the litmus test being student learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
While initial results are encouraging, they simply validate existing research that ties effective use of college resources to student success. DSC is demonstrating that students who use the academic resources showcased in the course achieve greater success rates in gatekeeper English and Math. A previous limitation on success rates has the lack of broad-base use of campus resources. The new course engages students with these resources and helps students experience their value first-hand.<\/p>\n
For Ruffolo, the course was critical to her success. \u201cIn ENC1101, you have to write a research paper,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout enrolling in College Resources and learning how to effectively do library research, search journal entries, or even get constructive criticism when you need it, I wouldn\u2019t have known what to do or how to do it. This class certainly helped me to become a better, more successful student.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than 500 students have already enrolled in the course for fall semester. A core value, as articulated in DSC\u2019s Strategic Plan, states \u201cThere is no value more important than the success of our students. Our main goal is to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and drive to succeed in the classroom, the workplace, and in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information about College Resources, speak with your academic advisor or contact Dr. Tom Bellomo, (386) 506- 3611, BellomT@DaytonaState.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Courtesy of the DSC Marketing Dept. For 31-year-old freshman Holly Ruffolo, going to college was an intimidating prospect. She realized she was off to a late start in college, but views earning her Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration as the first step toward advancing her professional development. \u201cOne Continue reading New fall course getting positive initial marks<\/span>