in this issue

ABE Transition: Making College a Reality

By Wilda Theobald and Jeanne Harrington Lombardo
Rio Salado College

ABE Transition team and students: (back row) Tom Kowalczyk, Abbas Algherawi, Jeanne Harrington Lombardo, and Maureen Cornett. (front row) Wilda Theobald, Alison Toren and Janet Brandon.

 

The Rio Salado College Transition Program began in the summer of 1998 as a response to the need for higher educational opportunities among the college's Adult Basic Education students. The program focuses primarily on students taking GED (ASE) preparation classes or students in Rio's ESOL program.

The intent of the program is to transition Adult Basic Education students into college academic, professional or occupational classes.

The Transition Program recognizes the many barriers adult students face. These might include economic problems, lack of academic preparedness, or limitations with the English language. The Transition Program offers support services to address these needs and others.

Program Advisors help students make informed choices about their courses. They also offer workshops and independent study opportunities designed to orient the student to the college environment and enhance the total college experience.

As the program grows, we are seeing increased numbers of continuing students. As the requirements have become stricter, students who participate in the program are better prepared and more likely to continue.

Students typically register in upper level ESL classes leading to ENG107 (equivalent of ENG101), Remedial Math and Reading classes, Computer, 100 level English, Math and Communications. A number of students go into Occupational or Professional classes. We also highly recommend the CPD (Counseling and Personal Development) classes for our GED students.

Some points to note:

• For fiscal year 2000, 85% of students who registered received the Transition scholarship to cover the cost of tuition for up to 6 credit hours. 20% of those students who received the scholarships were 2nd award recipients.
• For fiscal year 2000, 90% of students who received advisement went on to register and take classes.
• 40 students last fiscal year enrolled in 3 classes or more and achieved a 90% pass rate.

Success Stories

The Transition numbers would seem to speak for the efficacy and vitality of the program as it enters its third year. Personal stories also illustrate its success.

Maureen Cornett received a Transition scholarship the first semester the program was in operation, Spring '99. She has taken a full load each semester since that time and maintained a GPA of 3.46. Maureen has completed 54 credits and is taking another 14 this semester. She plans to transfer to a university where she will be pursuing a degree in education.

Abbas Algherawi began with the program in Fall '99 and was awarded the Transition scholarship. However, acting on our suggestion to apply for financial aid, he was awarded a Pell Grant, which he received again for Spring 2000 and Fall 2000. He transitioned into ENG108, COM100 and CRE101 the first semester and has been pursuing general studies and computer classes the last two semesters, taking 8 credits a semester.

These are only two of the stories that put a human face on the Transition Program.