Going Further with COMPASS

NCTA September, 9, 2010

Nichole KennedyTCSG Executive Director

of Student Affairs

General Information

– 197,000 students in Fiscal Year 2010– 26 colleges in the TCSG system– All 26 colleges in the system are using Banner as the student

information system– Award Technical Certificates of Credit (TCC), Diplomas and

Associate of Applied Science Degrees.– All Diploma and Degree programs require testing for

placement, and the majority of TCC programs require testing for placement

– All 26 colleges use COMPASS to determine course placement in English, reading, and math courses. Some colleges are using ASSET for high school outreach, and other special circumstances.

General Information

• The system realized that many colleges had different cut scores and have made an effort for more standardization.

• An example of standardization and articulation is the mini-core project with the University System of Georgia (USG) to align TCSG degree level cut scores with USG degree level cut scores

• The TCSG and the USG have a formal articulation which includes USG accepting students who exit Learning Support at an SACS/COC accredited institution. If students successfully exit Learning Support at a TCSG institution they would not have to re-take Learning Support when they transfer to a USG institution.

CPS Project

– A number of colleges have completed the ACT Course Placement Service (CPS); however, the system had not completed one in over 15 years.

– TCSG mandated placement tests are ASSET and/or COMPASS

– System determines program minimum scores – Most colleges exceed the system minimums on all

areas especially since the system minimums, in some cases, fall below Ability to Benefit (ATB) requirements.

CPS Project

– The following courses were used in the CPS:• Learning Support English, reading, and math• College Algebra, Algebraic Concepts,

Foundations of Math• Principles of Economics, Introduction to

Psychology• Composition and Rhetoric, Literature and

Composition, Public Speaking

CPS Results

• The Data, Planning and Research department at TCSG in conjunction with Academic and Student Affairs and ACT analyzed data from all 26 colleges. Data from FY 2008 and 2009 were used.

• COMPASS scores along with student grades were sent to ACT for the analysis.• Approximately 65,000 Compass writing scores were

used• Approximately 66,000 Compass reading scores were

used• Approximately 62,000 Compass pre-algebra scores

were used• Approximately 49,000 Compass algebra scores were

used

Conclusions

• Determined cut scores need to be adjusted state wide (i.e., system minimums)

• Working group is being developed to include academic affairs staff from system office, faculty from colleges, student affairs staff from system office, and student affairs staff from colleges

• Will roll out new scores by the Fall of 2011 after the semester conversion

QUESTIONS