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Show THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1999 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL CAMPUS NEV,S PAGE4 Remedial courses help the unprepared Below 1000 classes are high-cost and designed to teach basics in math and English also depends on the student's ACT scores and high school transcripts. The developmental classes are anything numbered below 1000. Both Should remedial classes be taught at English and math classes are available. the university level? The federal grant is technically only Many in higher education are supposed to serve about 150 pondering this question as they consider students, "but our need is the continued need. greater," said Brown. She "The need for remedial said that the math classes classes varies each have exceeded capacity for year." said SUU Provost a long time. D. Ray Reutzel. "It When the grant can't depends of the preparation cover the need, the of the individual.· students end up paying. According to Lynne One of the three Brown, director of Student sections of MATH Support Services, there 0990, beginning hasn't been a decrease in algebra, costs need over the years. Brown students $165. These said that if anything, she has are the students who seen growth in the math area. don't fit the criteria The U.S. Department of 1 a'/ Reutie set by Student Education funds most-of SUU's vost D- R Support Services. The remedial or developmental pro fees go toward the teacher's classes. The classes are specially salary, which would ordinarily be paid for targeted at first-generation college by the grant. students, students with lower financial Reutzel said that there is currently is a incomes. students who use English as a nation wide debate on whether algebra second language and are citizens or should even be taught in college. Some nationals of the U.S. or students with involved in the debate said they feel that physical learning disabilities who need help coordinating individualized services, students should be ready for calculus when they enter college. Reutzel said according to the pamphlet put out by that this idea hasn't received much Student Support Services. support in Utah. The need for developmental classes . BY RHIANNON BENT SENIOR STAFF WRITER For example, California Polytechnic Institute in Pomona, Calif. , has implemented a policy in which students who qualify for remedial classes must take all the courses consecutively, earn a grade of 'C' or better, not drop any of the classes unless they withdraw from all classes for the entire term and complete the courses within a year. If students fail to do this, they may be dropped for a quarter or disqualified from the school. This is all in an effort to reduce the number of remedial classes. SUU has no such policy. Because SUU is funded differently from schools in California, there would be no benefit in expelling students for such a reason, said Reutzel. He added that it's not the state's responsibility because the classes should have been offered in high school. "I don't think [the policy) would work at SUU ," said Brown. "We've come to accept that even though we have mission standards, some students come in unprepared for college work. This campus wants to give students every opportunity to get an education." There is a problem that many students face. Brown said that the regular high school curriculum in math and English doesn't seem very demanding and therefore doesn't properly prepare students for college. Lohra Lee Wolden, a math specialist for Student Support Services, has taught ',,, developmental classes for 10 years at SUU and has seen the increase in need. In agreement with Brown, she said she felt that maybe students weren't getting what they need in high school. Statistics she has read indicate that, nationwide, 40 percent of ' · college-bound students aren't at the college level for math and english. Another issue Wolden mentioned was that many nontraditional students need developmental classes too. •A lot of students say they're disappointed they didn't get these classes in high school ." she said. Wolden added that developmental classes are a necessary program. "It's a great service to those who need them. I wish every student who came to college was prepared for these classes." · vivo~ sou You 're invited . cklltck wftk an attf t"Je • • Espresso and refreshments are served . Ni~bt onen1.ng . \3tb · H igh Energy Loud Music Non- Trad itional a little bit edgy r d "NO"'· satut ~~()o ?~ Southern Utah University General Ed Building # 107 .soul .cul'vlvo.. meets every Oh 1',-Ch, Saturday night at 7:00 pm • |