Interview with national leaders about college access, Part II

Damashek, R. (1999). Reflections on the future of developmental education, Part II. Journal of Developmental Education, 23(2), 18-20, 22. Retrieved July 4, 2004 from: http://www.ced.appstate.edu/centers/ncde/reserve%20reading/V23-2damashek%20 reflections.htm
Interviews were conducted with a number of leaders within developmental education: David Arendale, Hunter Boylan, Kaylene Gebert, Martha Maxwell, Santiago Silva, and Diana Vukovich. The dialogue points to several emerging trends: (a) mainstreaming, (b) removal of developmental education from 4-year institutions, and c) increased professionalism of developmental educators. Mainstreaming developmental education courses into college-level, graduation-credit programs of study fits into the paradigm of learning assistance and enrichment for all students. The participants in the discussion were unanimous in proposing a comprehensive academic support program that would include elements such as a learning center, adjunct or paired courses, Supplemental Instruction, tutoring, student assessment, and program evaluation. Boylan advocates funds for professional development and Gebert proposes faculty, student, and staff recognition whereas Silva includes academic advising, counseling, career services, mentoring, and especially faculty training in his list of important program components. Arendale and Vukovich propose a complete paradigm shift away from the medical model to learning support for all students. By deferring to Maxwell’s (1997) latest book Improving Student Learning, Vukovich gives Maxwell credit for providing insight into best practices based on years of experience and the best research resulting in the recommendation of a comprehensive learning assistance model. the value of such a model is that it is more easily integrated into the academic process because it is understood as service for all students. This model is not burdened by the stigma of serving only the least able students, who, for many academic, administrative, and political leaders, are seen as a drain on the institution’s academic standards.

Interview with national leaders about college access, Part I

Damashek, R. (1999). Reflections on the future of developmental education, Part I. Journal of Developmental Education, 23(1), 18-20, 22, 35. Current and former leaders of NADE were interviewed about the future.
Interviews were conducted with a number of leaders within developmental education: David Arendale, Hunter Boylan, Kaylene Gebert, Martha Maxwell, Santiago Silva, and Diana Vukovich. Each responded to a common set of questions about the future of developmental education. The interview concludes in part II which was published in the succeeding issue of the JDE.

Changing language and vision for the future

Gardner, J. N. (2000). The changing roles of developmental educators. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 31(1), 5-18. Dr. Gardner challenges the field to reinvent iteself for better service in the future.
Taken from his keynote address to a national CRLA conference, the author argues that developmental educators need to build upon their successful history of service to students by reinventing themselves with new language, programs, and partnerships with a wider audience both inside and outside of higher education. The author brings another perspective to developmental education from his former position as Director of the National Center for the Study of the First Year Experience and a national board member for organizations such as the American Association of Higher Education.

By late April 2006 a major report will be issued by the Blue Ribbon Commission, a group of leaders in the field of developmental educaiton and learning assistance. This group was inspired by the exhortation by Dr. Gardner to make a critical examination of the field and the way that the current professional associations are meeting the needs of the stakeholders. The group conducted a strategic review by analyzing the strenghts, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This report is a step towards what Dr. Gardner has encouraged the field to do, to reinvent itself for the future. A web-based threaded computer discussion site will be available in late April 2006 to collect comments about the report.