News release from Ivy Tech Community College:
Indiana Statewide Community College System to Use ACCUPLACER® as Diagnostic and Placement Test
In July, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, approved the adoption of the College Board’s ACCUPLACER® program for three new computer-adaptive assessments that will be used as the sole diagnostic and placement tests in the state. The customized assessments, including online intervention and preparation tools for students, will be implemented on all Ivy Tech campuses starting January 2014. In the meantime, Ivy Tech will employ the ACCUPLACER Classic tests as the system’s primary placement tests starting October 2012. This new systemic model will align with Ivy Tech’s curriculum and assessment standards in reading, writing and mathematics, and will contribute to the state’s goals of increasing access to high-quality postsecondary education and maximizing student success.
ACCUPLACER is designed to help ensure that all students have the knowledge and skills needed to successfully enroll in and graduate from college. The assessment system will provide on-demand diagnostic and placement information, which will allow educators to plan classroom instruction according to student strengths and weaknesses.
“The new ACCUPLACER system will allow us to assess students’ skill level in order to place them in the appropriate courses to help ensure their success at Ivy Tech. In addition, we are excited about our future plans to partner with ACCUPLACER and develop customized assessments and robust preparation tools,” said Mary Ostrye, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College.
The new program, combined with focused student support services, will help:
[list type=”green”]
[li]Identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students;[/li]
[li]Measure student preparedness before and after arriving at college;[/li]
[li]Foster enhanced alignment of K-12 and higher education expectations through a suite of comprehensive reporting capabilities and data available online;[/li]
[li]Design intervention programs modeled around analysis of students’ strengths and weaknesses derived from individual, aggregate and statewide data;[/li]
[li]Reduce the amount of remediation required by students as they start college;[/li]
[li]Increase postsecondary matriculation, retention and graduation rates;[/li]
[li]Validate the statewide common cut-score policy to confirm that assessments and curricula are aligned; and
Monitor and manage the amount of overremediation through effective tools.[/li]
[/list]“Indiana’s commitment to increasing success for students in the critical sector of community colleges is part of an overall effort to ensure that Indiana’s citizens, workforce, and businesses are globally competitive,” said Steve Titan, vice president of CLEP® and ACCUPLACER. “The College Board, through the ACCUPLACER program, is pleased to be able to collaborate with Indiana on this new effort.”
Indiana joins a growing number of states, including Texas, North Carolina and Minnesota, in selecting ACCUPLACER as the statewide diagnostic and placement assessment system to help reach the states’ college completion goals.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.About the College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.
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