At the Community College of Denver, we have a summer program called
College Connection that transitions GED/HS grads to college.  It's an
intensive/accelerated 8-week program.  We are fortunate to have a
Navigator that helps students navigate the college system.  

College Connection, in addition to instruction in math, reading and
writing, offers a 1-credit college course, AAA 101 -  College 101 :
Student Experience, where students get further instructions on how to
succeed in college.  They also do a career goal exploration.  Part of
this exploration is connecting students to advisors that would guide
them in their next "journey" in the following semester, if they choose
to register for classes.

Also, our subject area instructors schedule a student/teacher
conferencing regularly to make sure students are on track.  Through
these meetings, we learn a lot of things about the students, including
personal issues.  We deal with these issues when we can and if
necessary, we refer them to professionals on campus. 


Ranee Cervania
Curriculum Specialist
Ready for College - Colorado Success UNlimited (SUN)
Colorado Community College System
9101 E. Lowry Boulevard
Denver, Colorado    80230
720-858-2801 (office)
303-620-4094 (fax)


-----Original Message-----
From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Jac-Lynn Stark
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 6:37 PM
To: The Assessment Discussion List
Subject: [Assessment 1636] Re: Assessment Digest, Vol 41,Issue 1--
Transitions: Resources, Obstacles, Etc.

Regarding Charlene Salazar's role as Transitions Liaison, the students
at your school are so lucky to have someone like you to help them! I am
a former ABE/GED teacher and currently Assistant Professor of English at
a community college, where I teach developmental level Reading and
Writing. As a GED teacher, I saw my GED grads struggle with a variety of
difficulties when they went to college, including understanding
financial aid, paying for books, knowing how to navigate the schedule,
knowing that they would still have to pay for a course if they stopped
attending a course but did not officially drop, time management, etc.,
etc. The expectations in college are very different and most students
didn't know how to navigate in this new environment. Now as an Assistant
Professor where I teach students right out of high school, as well as
GED graduates and adults returning to school, I can say that without a
doubt, support is the most important factor that
 students need to succeed. Another thing that causes difficulty is the
lack of alignment between various tests that students have to take, such
as the Accuplacer. I think that transition programs can definitely help.
Having worked in both ABE/GED, I am very interested in this discussion
and look forward to reading everyone's comments.

Jac-Lynn Stark, Boston




--- On Mon, 2/2/09, Charlene Salazar <csalazar at delmar.edu> wrote:


> From: Charlene Salazar <csalazar at delmar.edu>

> Subject: [Assessment 1561] Re: Assessment Digest, Vol 41, Issue 1--

Transitions: Resources, Obstacles, Etc.

> To: assessment at nifl.gov

> Date: Monday, February 2, 2009, 2:14 PM

> Maria -

> 

> I went over your questions for the subscribers and I hope

> that the 

> information that I provide you with will help. I am the

> Transitions 

> Liaison for the Del Mar College Department of GED

> Instruction. When I was 

> hired for this position there were no guidelines. I was

> given the 

> opportunity to design it in any fashion that I wished just

> as long as the 

> job was successful and it got done. As a former GED

> graduate, I thought to 

> myself what were the things that helped me move into

> post-secondary 

> education. The first 2 things were motivation and support. 

> 

> When students step into a different educational arena it

> can be very 

> intimidating for them; scary. Fear can make students turn

> and run in a 

> different direction. A direction that will often not

> include a college 

> education. So I told myself that when I met with a student,

> I was going to 

> do everything in my power to motivate, support, and

> encourage these 

> students. I try to make my students feel comfortable and

> confident and I 

> do that by informing them of my educational journey of GED

> student to 

> college graduate. I don't sugar coat anything and let

> them know that it 

> will be tough and challenging, but so very rewarding in the

> end.

> 

> Changing a student's "I can't" mind set

> to an "I can" allows them to start 

> peeling away the layers of fears they have developed. I

> tell my students 

> that there is no way they can move forward if they have one

> foot stuck in 

> the past. Whatever it was that led them to this GED program

> doesn't matter 

> anymore. They are here to get a GED, enter college, and/ or

> workforce and 

> they must focus on the here and now.

> 

> Another thing that works for me is making sure all our

> students know who I 

> am. I teach new student orientation, attend awards

> assemblies, do 

> classroom visits, and eat lunch with them whenever my

> schedule permits. So 

> by the time a student comes in for a transitioning

> appointment, they 

> already know me and feel comfortable talking to me. 

> 

> Knowledge is my best resource. I must be knowledgeable

> about everything 

> the transtioner is going to have to deal with:

> 

> 1. Knowing all the key people in every department on

> campus(s)

> 2. College Majors - does Del Mar College have associate and

> certificate 

> programs in the students field of interest

> 3. Admissions requirements and placement tests such as the

> THEA and 

> COMPASS

> 4. Tuition Costs

> 5. Financial Aid - What is it and how do I apply for it? 

> 7. College Advising - Placement test scores and will the

> student have to 

> enroll in remedial courses, degree plans and class

> schedules.

> 8. Registration

> 

> Availability is also key. I have an open door policy and

> make myself 

> available to all our students day or night. For example: If

> a student is 

> trying to register and doesn't know where to go or who

> to talk to, they 

> can call me on their cell phones and I will walk them

> through the whole 

> process over the phone. You have to let your students know

> that you care 

> and you are there.

> 

> If you ahve any other questions, please send them my way.

> 

> Charlene Salazar-------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Assessment mailing list

> Assessment at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please

> go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment

> Email delivered to jaclynn10 at yahoo.com



      
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