Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 6/3/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   1

Editors: Photo accompanies release -- Please note local interest
SLU HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM SPELLS SUCCESS, SAVINGS 
     HAMMOND -- At the beginning of his senior year at Walker High School, Nicholas
Vidrine considered himself an  unbelievably horrible  writer. 
     He had taken the American College Test twice -- with mediocre results. His English
scores on the widely used college readiness test meant that the football letterman with his heart
set on college would have to take freshman remedial classes.
     What a difference a year makes. By graduation, Vidrine had won his high school's Youth
Authors writing contest, sharpened his English skills and raised his English ACT score from 15
to 18, two points higher than Southeastern Louisiana University s cutoff for developmental
English. 
     Vidrine s academic performance was enhanced by a special collaborative program
between Southeastern and area high schools designed to reduce the number of college freshmen
who need remedial courses. Through the SLU High School Cooperative Agreement, students can
complete developmental requirements in mathematics and English before they enter college. The
early results are promising with some students succeeding in the course and others seeing their
ACT scores improve.
     Vidrine s teacher, Tracy Amond, has taught High School Developmental English IV for
two years and calls the program  one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a teacher. 
     The rewards, however, go beyond a teacher s delight in her pupils' success, says
Southeastern President Sally Clausen. The program, offered in six schools in Tangipahoa,
Livingston and St. Tammany Parishes last year, saves students and universities time and
money.    
     A 1996 report by the Louisiana Department of Education showed that half of Louisiana's
high school graduates who go to a state public college need at least one developmental course.
Since he satisfied his development requirement in high school, Vidrine will not have to pay $537
in tuition to take Southeastern's non-credit developmental English Course. He will begin with
                                 (MORE) 
SLU HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM  -- Add One
college credit courses.
     Also, students who do not have to take developmental courses can complete their degrees 
faster, enter the workforce or professional schools and become wage earning citizens much
earlier.
      We want to drive preparation back to the public schools and technical colleges, where
there is special concentration of time to develop these skills and be successful. The university
can then concentrate its resources and talent on the college curriculum," said Clausen. 
     Dr. Barbara Allen, dean of the College of Basic Studies, said that 84 percent of the
students in the program "tested out" of developmental courses either through portfolios which
were graded by Southeastern faculty or by retaking the ACT.
     This year, English and mathematics developmental courses were taught at Walker High
School, Slidell High School and Amite High School. Mandeville s Fountainebleu High
offered the English course, while Independence High School and Mandeville High School
taught the mathematics course. Teachers in St. John the Baptist, Ascension and Washington
Parishes have expressed interest in the program. 
     High school seniors are eligible for the course if their ACT scores are 16 and below in
English and 17 and below in mathematics. Southeastern developmental education faculty share
university criteria and guidelines with teachers so that the high school courses reflect standards
and skills required in Southeastern s developmental courses.
      I can t say enough about the teachers,  said Southeastern developmental education
professor Gwen Autin, who coordinates the program s mathematics component.  They are
creative, reform teachers who are willing to do extra work. 
     Vidrine is taking psychology and English 101, Southeastern's freshman English course, 
this summer. The university will monitor his progress as they have tracked the performance of
previous program graduates, such as Frank Cannatella. Cannatella successfully participated in
the developmental English at Mandeville High in 1997. Slightly dyslexic, Cannatella regularly
had trouble with standardized tests such as the ACT. Now  a Southeastern marketing major, he
earned   B s  in both freshman English courses.
      I would recommend that everybody try (the high school developmental program), 
Cannatella said.   If I hadn t taken the English course in high school, I would have been in
remedial courses here for another semester. Now, I can stick to the schedule I need to graduate
on time.
                                 - SLU -
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