Administration SPIN Meeting Notes
November 1, 2008

At NADE we began a discussion of administrator concerns related to developmental education. The listing of concerns led to some wonderful discussions about how to effectively and efficiently support underprepared students.  The concerns were cataloged for future discussion and an agreement to present a session at the conference in North Carolina on effective practices for delivering developmental education programs and services.  I am listing some of the concerns below so that the group can address the issues in the future. 

• funding support for developmental education programs,
• higher administration support for developmental education programs and services,
• advisement of developmental students (either students not placed into coursework initially or building support courses (transition to college courses),
• the priority of support services such as tutoring or mentoring within the college community,
• maintaining developmental course alignment with college entry level courses
• creating and maintaining developmental faculty training programs
• assessing developmental education programs through future course work, number of graduates during an academic year who began in developmental education programs (verses evaluating two, three, four, or six year graduation rates)
• developing effective summer bridge programs
• developing effective high school intervention programs
• retaining underprepared students

To date a survey of administrators of developmental education programs has been conducted to attempt to gain information about administrative structures in place and the effectiveness of those structures.  Discussions about limited funding and how best to use resources have also taken place among administrators because of the many statewide funding cuts for higher education and the impact this will have on developmental programs.  Discussions have also taken place about how to effectively administer open entry, open exit developmental education courses to shorten the time and financial responsibilities of underprepared students.