Re: at risk class

["Bell, Barbara" <BBell@ACS2.FMARION.EDU>]

This 1-hour module for basic writers interests me, too, especially since our 
state legislature has mandated that public universities "phase out" our 
remedial courses (the same group that just approved 100% performance-based 
funding, but that's another story...).  

The obvious question that follows is:  what do we do with those students who 
would have placed into our 4-hour basic writing course under the previous 
system?

Our administration is determined to continue admitting those students (more 
bodies = more $), and has suggested they go right into the first semester 
comp course, and maybe spend "some extra time in the writing center..."

This whole scenario scares me for a number of obvious reasons -- I'm 
concerned that this approach would set up remedial students to fail over and 
over again, and that the burden of preventing this disaster would fall 
squarely onto the Writing Center.

I realize that this isn't a new trend, but it's frustrating all the same.  
Any advice on how to handle this "suggestion" (since it hasn't become 
policy...yet), or possible alternatives?

Barbara
bbell@fmarion.edu