Content area
The purpose of the study was to collect and analyze data to assess the effectiveness of the developmental education program for postsecondary occupational students at Dona Ana Branch Community College (DABCC), New Mexico. Specifically, the study examined (1) overall occupational graduation rates since the inception of the developmental program; (2) graduation rates of developmental and nondevelopmental students in occupational programs; (3) after graduation employment of developmental and nondevelopmental students; and (5) the number of students who successfully completed the developmental program and entered occupational programs. A subsidiary analysis compared graduation and employment performance of developmental students with a comparison group of students who were referred but did not complete developmental education.
The population included students enrolled in one-year occupational programs in Building Trades, Heating, Retail and Welding at DABCC from 1975 to 1982. Demographic, employment, graduation and test score data was compiled from student, program and follow-up maintained at DABCC.
Results indicated that developmental students were quite similar to nondevelopmental students in terms of demographics and background variables. DABCC noted a small increase in occupational graduations since the inception of the developmental program, and students who completed developmental education graduated from occupational programs at rates equal to, if not higher, than nondevelopmental students. Both developmental and nondevelopmental students encountered similar employment patterns after graduation. Students in the developmental program made achievement gains of one to two grade levels in periods of nine to twelve weeks. Over 60 percent of the trades applicants at DABCC from 1979 to 1982 were referred to the developmental program for skill deficiencies. Only a third of the referrals completed the developmental program, but students who successfully completed developmental studies graduated at significantly higher rates (70%) than referrals who did not complete developmental studies (45%).