Lone Star College-Montgomery has been selected by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as a recipient of a $1.5 million Developmental Education Demonstration Projects grant dedicated to enhancing developmental education and adult basic education programs over the next two years both at LSC-Montgomery and LSC-Conroe Center.
This is the largest grant that LSC-Montgomery has received in more than 10 years.
“With this grant, LSC-Montgomery will have the opportunity to implement a unique team approach to student success that will set a higher standard for developmental education and adult basic education,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, chancellor of the Lone Star College System. “All of our colleges will be able to take advantage of this model and continue to transform students into the leaders of tomorrow.”
Approximately $1 million of the grant will go toward improving standards and creating new processes for LSC-Montgomery’s developmental education programs.
Encompassing more than English and math “refresher courses” for academically underprepared students, the developmental education sequence also includes student assessment and proper course placement, study skills and learning strategies, and overall student success. During the 2009-10 academic year, more than one-third of LSC-Montgomery students were enrolled in one or more developmental (pre-college level) courses.
“This program will increase student success and shorten the time it takes for developmental students to reach college level readiness,” said Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of LSC-Montgomery. “We are poised to make the administrative, operational, and programmatic changes to become a national leader in developmental student success.”
The goals outlined in the developmental education program include many facets and span several departments within the college. The plan includes “intrusive advising,” or frequent contact with students; placing tutors directly in the classroom; faculty members focused exclusively on development courses; and more.
The program also includes increased professional development for faculty and staff, which has already begun through a partnership with Texas State University in San Marcos, a national expert in developmental education. The university is providing LSC-Montgomery faculty members with specific developmental education instruction and training, even offering some an opportunity to complete graduate level coursework in development education.
LSC-Montgomery was one of only five recipients in the state of Texas chosen for this award and the only single campus.
Dr. Barbara Buchanan, academic dean at LSC-Montgomery will oversee the implementation of the grant projects.
The remaining $500,000 of the grant will be dedicated to enhancing adult basic education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs at LSC-Conroe Center by providing student scholarships and a new Internet-based curriculum. Building on existing partnerships, Education Service Center Region VI will provide expanded adult education and basic ESOL instruction, and the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board will ensure that the workforce components in the program reflect regional workforce needs.
“Whether the student needs ESOL courses, adult basic education, or a workforce certificate, this grant will help provide a complete pathway for them to move into a workforce certificate program, credit coursework, or a successful career,” said Linda Head, associate vice chancellor for workforce development for LSCS.
For more information about the developmental education portion of the grant, please contact Dr. Barbara Buchanan at Barbara.L.Buchanan@LoneStar.edu. For more information about the adult basic education or ESOL program portion of the grant, please contact Nadezhda “Nadia” Nazarenko at Nadezhda.M.Nazarenko@LoneStar.edu.
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
With more than 62,000 students in credit classes in spring 2010, and a total enrollment of nearly 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the second largest and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. LSCS consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.