Noncredit ESL: Finding a Pathway to a Better Future

ASCCC Spring 2008 Plenary SessionASCCC Spring 2008 Plenary SessionAd Hoc Noncredit CommitteeAd Hoc Noncredit Committee

Presenter: Sara McKinnonPresenter: Sara McKinnonCollege of Marin ESL DepartmentCollege of Marin ESL Department

Dong, Connie and Athena

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Major Countries of Origin: Top 13 out of 50

(Total from 50 countries out of 654 students in all three programs)

Percentage from each country

1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 4% 5% 12% 24% 30%

Germany Thailand Nicaragua Colombia Korea China Iran Vietnam Brazil Peru

El

Salvador

Guatemala Mexico

Where are our students from?

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

Educational Backgound

in each Noncredit Level

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10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1-3 years 4-6 years 7-9 years 10-12 years 13+ years

1-3 years 10% 5% 8% 1% 2% 2%

4-6 years 17% 14% 13% 17% 9% 9%

7-9 years 21% 25% 24% 15% 13% 11%

10-12 years 32% 36% 21% 29% 28% 28%

13+ years 19% 21% 34% 37% 48% 50%

level 10 Level 20 Level 25 Level 30 Level 35 Level 40

Noncredit serves all students regardless of educational background:

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

number of students

Semesters

Enrolled/Waiting List/Dropped Fall 2002 - Spring 2007

Enrolled690 902 728 806 951 867 1111 1294 993 1227 1229 1058 1447 1534

Waiting List256 166 201 114 88 39 146 307 179 220 346 306 152 201

Dropped114 180 27 237 255 19 260 296 51 363 225 47 347 210

Fall 2002

Spring

2003

Summer

2003

Fall 2003

Spring

2004

Summer

2004

Fall 2004

Spring

2005

Summer

2005

Fall 2005

Spring

2006

Summer

2006

Fall 2006

Spring

2007

The open-entry/open-exit system:

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Percentage of students enrolled on the first day

who stay to the end of the semester

Fall 2004-Spring 2007

Percentage of students49% 41% 40% 46% 60% 60%

Fall 04 Sp 05 Fall 05 Sp 06 Fall 06 Sp 07

Although noncredit is open-exit, 60% who began the first day

remain at the end of the semester!

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Percentage of students who got off the waiting list and

were still in class at the end of the semester

(Fall 2004-Spring 2007)

Percentage of students 64% 50% 61% 49% 69% 53%

Fall 04 Sp 05 Fall 05 Sp 06 Fall 06 Sp 07

The advantages and disadvantages of open-entry/open-exit for waitlisted students

Of 431 students surveyed: 19% waited 3-4 months

45% waited 1 to 2 months 7% waited 5-6 months

22% waited less than one month 6% waited over 6 months

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

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10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

Percentage of Students

Number of Times Students Took Each Level (Percentage)

Fall 2004 - Spring 2007

1 Time59.4% 63.3% 61.6% 65.6% 75.1% 61.3%

2 Times32.2% 26.4% 19.4% 23.8% 22.1% 26.8%

3 Times5.7% 7.7% 10.8% 7.5% 1.2% 6.3%

4 Times1.8% 2.1% 6.7% 2.8% 1.6% 3.8%

5 Times0.9% 0.5% 1.1% 0.3% 1.3%

6 Times0.2% 0.4% 0.5%

Level 10 Level 20 Level 25 Level 30 Level 35 Level 40

While noncredit allows for course repetition, the majority of students move on after taking

the class only once or twice.

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

Reasons for taking ESL classes

2007 Survey at College of MarinNoncredit

485 students

Credit133

students

Improve their lives and ability to work now 65% 82%

Better English for a better job 59% 49%

Take other credit classes outside ESL 19% 27%

Working towards a vocational certificate 23% 24%

Working towards AA/AS degree 16% 29%

To transfer 9% 26%

Making the Leap to Credit Classes

Based on 458 responses in 2007,

finding time for school is a major factor:

21% work more than 40 hours/week

40% work 31-40 hours/week 17% work 21-30 hours/week

8% work 11-20 hours/week 14% work 0-10 hours/week 15% of the women have children

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

Concerns of Noncredit ESL Students considering the move to Credit ESL Classes

85% concerned about the credit ESL class

schedule not matching their needs

78% concerned about not having a strong

enough English level and about having to

complete homework regularly

76% concerned about the cost

72% concerned about making the commitment

they think is required of credit ESL students

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

Addressing Student Concerns Scheduling

How do I juggle family, work and school? Preparation

Is my English good enough? Cost

What if my work schedule changes? Commitment

Will I be able to attend all the classes and complete the homework assignments?

Strategies to encourage students to move on to Credit ESL

Added a college ESL preparation course in 2004

Instituted the credit placement test in class at the end of every semester

Made sure an ESL Counselor visited classes

Asked credit ESL teachers to talk to our classes

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

A way for students to visualize the sequence from noncredit to credit.--College of Marin

Successful Transitions!!!

65% or a total of 288 students made the jump to credit:

72% of these moved to credit

28% of these moved to credit through Community Ed

35% continued their lives better prepared than before

Between 2004-2007, 438 students were enrolled in the College ESL Preparation Classes.

College of Marin Program Review Data 2007

For more information:Sara McKinnon, ESL Department

College of Marin835 College Ave.

Kentfield, CA 94904sara.mckinnon@marin.edu

415.485.9411 ext. 7924