The Adult Education Foundations Project
The Adult Education Foundations Project offers students who test at very low levels a pathway to college coursework through free foundation courses. Many are misplaced in the developmental class sequence, often taking developmental courses instead of Intensive English Language classes. New legislation in Illinois also made developmental education curricula more challenging and accelerated, causing some students to fall behind. A team looked at markers for students testing below a fifth-grade level and created curricula for pre-developmental courses for Foundations of Math and Foundations of Language. Education Specialists completed intake to place over 500 students in the project, which took two years to build and is completing its first full year. Students now have a stronger start to college despite entering at a more challenging level. They are interacting with more staff, faculty, and campus resources and have a guided and integrated pathway to follow.
Innovators
- Rafif Abuzaghleh, Education Specialist, Learning Enrichment and College Readiness
- Yolanda Bennett, Education Specialist, Learning Enrichment and College Readiness
- Debby Blatzer, Assistant Dean, Academic Advising and Counseling
- Ashley Lindemann Aebersold, Coordinator, Advising Resources
- Patrick Lohan, Education Specialist, Learning Enrichment and College Readiness
- Lupita Medina, Director, Testing Services
- Janet Oleksy, Secretary II, Adult Basic Education
- Jennifer Pilarczyk, Coordinator, Testing Services
- Christian Torres, Learning Enrichment and College Readiness Specialist
- Kate Wachtor, Assistant Dean, Enrollment Services
- Lauren Zajac, Learning Enrichment and College Readiness Specialist