Dive Summary:
- A recent study by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University's Teachers College finds that the "College 101" courses offered by many institutions show promise for improving completion rates, but the models need more work to capitalize on the intended effects.
- According to two surveys cited by the report, titled "College 101 Courses for Applied Learning and Student Success," 87% of institutions offer the courses--which cover skills ranging from time management to balancing a checkbook--and nearly half of first-year students take them.
- The report says that the courses tend to fall short due to factors including structure and content, staffing choices and a range of topics too broad for instructors to go in-depth, and suggests the content should be narrowed and more interactive, and that colleges should engage academic departments in the courses.
From the article:
In an effort to improve retention and graduation rates, many institutions offer "College 101" courses alongside traditional academic ones: The goal is to teach students skills for success in the campus environment. However, a recent study by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University's Teachers College has found that while such courses hold promise for improving students' completion rates, the models must be strengthened to achieve the intended effects. ...