Fall 2009 through Spring 2013

CUNY START STUDENT OUTCOMES

Gains in Basic Skills Proficiency

November 2013

CUNY START FAST FACTS: Students Served: Fall '09 - Spring '10: 141 Fall '10 - Spring '11: 403 Fall '11 - Spring '12: 1,172 Fall '12 - Spring '13: 1,611 TOTAL: 3,327

A key program goal of CUNY Start is to help students gain proficiency in basic skill areas and, thus, minimize the amount of required remedial coursework underprepared students must take. The tables below show the number and percentage of students who gained proficiency in reading, writing, and math after completing CUNY Start. Proficiency is demonstrated by successfully passing the CUNY Assessment Tests (CAT) at the completion of the program. As of Fall 2012, math proficiency has been determined by students' performance in the math class overall and by their scores on a common departmental final exam. Proficiency gains are shown separately for the full-time and part-time programs; students in the full-time program receive both reading/writing and math instruction, whereas those in the part-time program (afternoon and evening study) receive either reading/writing or math instruction. The bar charts compare the number of remedial needs of students before and after completing the program.

CUNY Basic Skills Proficiency Gains by Skills Area

By College Program: BMCC: Bronx: Hostos: Kingsborough: LaGuardia: Queensborough: Staten Island:

Fall 2009 through Spring 2013 839 195 683 341 843 234 192

1,951 total students enrolled in the full-time program (Fall '09 - Spring '13) Of the 1,951 full-time students, 1,636 completed the program (Fall '09 - Spring '13)

Full-time Program

Students Gaining Proficiency After Completing CS

Students Initially Requiring Remediation

Subject Area

Part-time Program (N = 1,165)

(N = 1,636)

N

N

%

Reading

1,168

815

70

Writing

1,555

1,136

Math 1 (Pre-Algebra)

1,170

Math 2 (Algebra) Math (Overall)

Students Initially Requiring Remediation

Subject Area

Students Gaining Proficiency After Completing CS

N

N

%

Reading

397

265

67

73

Writing

574

394

69

798

68

Math 1 (Pre-Algebra)

441

313

71

1,624

1,144

70

Math 2 (Algebra)

582

424

73

1,634

1,108

68

Math (Overall)

589

407

69

Snapshot of Remedial Needs Before and After CUNY Start Fall 2009 through Spring 2013

1,376 total students enrolled in the part-time program (Fall '09 - Spring '13)

Full-time Program

Part-time Program (N = 1,165) 1

(N = 1,636)

Number of Remedial Needs (out of 3) Three

Of the 1,376 part-time students, 1,165 completed the program (Fall '09 - Spring '13)

100%

Two

One

None

0.3% (5)

90%

33% (541)

70%

Students had significant academic needs when entering CUNY Start: 67% of full-time students entered having failed the CAT for all three subjects and 33% had failed two subjects.

48% (781)

50%

50%

30% 20%

32% (523)

14% (221)

10%

7% (111)

0%

Pre-CUNY Start

One

None

Post-CUNY Start

28% (331)

27% (311)

40% (469)

44% (514)

70% 60%

67% (1,090)

Two

80%

60%

40%

By the end of the program, however, 48% were proficient in all three subject areas, 32% were proficient in two subject areas, and 14% in one area.

Three 100%

90% 80%

Number of Remedial Needs (out of 3)

40% 30% 20% 10%

31% (365)

20% (236) 9% (104)

0%

Pre-CUNY Start

Post-CUNY Start

1

Part-time students receive either math OR reading/writing instruction, and therefore are unable to gain proficiency in all three subjects in one semester. Notes: Data shown in the above tables and charts are for program completers only. Initial remedial need is based on CUNY Assessment Test (CAT) scores in each subject area. Proficiency gains are determined by scores on the CAT at completion of the CUNY Start program. As of Fall 2012, students needing math remediation take one depatmental final exam at the end of the semester.

THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE SENIOR UNIVERSITY DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Office of Research, Evaluation, & Program Support 16 Court Street, Suite 1700 | Brooklyn, NY 11241 http://www.cuny.edu/evaluation

   

    TART     CUNY Start provides intensive preparation in academic reading/writing, math, and “college success”  to  students  admitted  to  CUNY  whose  scores  on  the  CUNY  Assessment  Tests  in  reading,  writing  and  math  indicate  that  they  are  in  need  of  significant  remediation.  Those  who  enroll  in  the  program  temporarily  delay  starting  degree  program  studies  to  take  this  15  to  18‐week  program.  CUNY  Start  seeks both to minimize the amount of required remedial coursework underprepared students must  take,  and  to  foster  higher  levels  of  persistence  and  graduation  once  students  start  their  degree  programs.      The program consists of two phases: twelve weeks of “core instruction,” after which students re‐ take any needed CUNY Assessment Tests, and then an additional three to six weeks of instruction  as needed, also followed by re‐taking the tests. As of Fall 2012, math proficiency is determined by  students’  performance  in  the  math  class  and  by  their  scores  on  a  common  departmental  final  exam.  Students  in  the  full‐time  program  at  Kingsborough  may  also  take  a  college  credit  course  during the second phase of the program.     CUNY Start students pay a $75 student fee, rather than having to use college financial aid while in  this  transitional  program.  This  allows  them  to  reserve  their  financial  aid  allocations  for  credit‐ bearing coursework leading to graduation.      Instruction in the program is intensive: 25 hours a week in the full‐time program and 12 hours a  week  in  the  part‐time  program  of  either  math  or  reading/writing.  The  curricula  in  academic  reading/writing,  pre‐college  math  and  college  success  have  been  developed  by  instructional  experts from the CUNY central office and participating colleges. In addition, all current instructors  have spent one semester observing and participating with a lead CUNY Start instructor in his or  her classroom in preparation for teaching in the program.      Results  to  date  have  been  strong  in  terms  of  students’  basic  skills  proficiency  gains.  From  Fall  2009  to  Spring  2013,  67%  of  full‐time  students  entered  having  failed  all  three  subjects  on  the  CUNY  Assessment  Tests,  and  33%  had  failed  two  subjects.  After  completing  the  program,  48%  were proficient in all  three subject areas, 32% were proficient in two subject  areas, and 14% in  one  area.  Those  who  did not  gain  proficiency  nevertheless  made  gains  that  resulted  in  reduced  remedial needs. Outcome data from the part‐time program are similarly strong.     CUNY  Start  is  offered  at  six  CUNY  community  colleges  as  well  as  at  the  College  of  Staten  Island  and  Medgar  Evers  College.  All  eight  participating  colleges  offer  the  full‐time  program;  Hostos,  BMCC,  Bronx,  College  of  Staten  Island,  Kingsborough,  and  LaGuardia  also  offer  the  part‐time  program.    For  additional  program  information  and  to  find  out  about  applying  to  CUNY  Start,  please check www.cuny.edu/cunystart or contact [email protected].   

CUNY S

11/20/2013