Dr. Vince Postell

Some applicants to Dalton State College need additional preparation before embarking on an Associate Degree program. A series of Learning Support (LS) courses is offered to meet the needs of these students. Faculty are drawn from the School of Humanities and the School of Sciences and Mathematics.

Who should take Learning Support courses?

Any student who has a placement score of less than

must take the respective LS course.

Dr. Vince Postell Coordinator

When should students take required Learning Support courses?

1. LS courses must come first.
2. A student may not take a credit course without also enrolling in all required LS classes.

(Exceptions - A student may take COLL 1101 or a physical education course provided they take at least one required learning support course.)

Corollary: If a student drops a required LS course before mid-quarter, that student will also be dropped from all credit courses he/she is currently enrolled in.

What does the course structure look like for LS courses on the semester system?

All Learning Support courses are four semester hour courses.

How are Learning Support courses graded on the semester system?

*Learning Support grades will not be included in the GPA.

What are the LS policies at DSC?

1. A maximum of twelve semester hours or three semesters, whichever occurs first, may be taken in any area.
2. Students may not accumulate more than twenty hours of college-level credit before completing all Learning Support requirements.
3. If a student does not complete requirements for an area in twelve semester hours or three semesters, whichever occurs first, the student will be placed on learning support exclusion. The student may not be considered for readmission within three years of the exclusion. Prior to suspending a student who has not exited a Learning Support area within the twelve semester hour/three semester limit, an institution may allow the student to appeal for one additional course, provided that the student is eligible to take the exit-level course and has a reasonable chance of exiting in one additional attempt.
4. If granted the additional course, the student may enroll in only the Learning Support course.

LEARNING SUPPORT MYTHS DISPELLED:.

Myth #1: As long as a student registers for one LS course, that student can complete a schedule with credit courses. FALSE! A student must enroll in all required LS courses before registering for any credit classes.

Myth #2: If a LS class is closed, the student can put off that LS course until the next semester. WRONG! Find another section, even if at an inconvenient hour. Exceptions: Students who are bona fide day students are not expected to enroll in night LS classes. Similar exceptions are made for bona fide night students. When LS classes are not offered at all for a given term, students may put off that LS class and take credit classes for which the respective LS class is not a prerequisite.

Myth #3: A student in a LS math class with a high average (even 100) may skip intermediate LS levels and enroll in core math classes. NO WAY! A student who begins with MATH 0096 must take MATH 0098 before enrolling in the core math class. The exit exam is given only to students who have successfully completed MATH 0098.

Myth #4: Students needing CPC courses in Natural Science, Social Studies or Foreign Language may take any or all of these instead of a required LS course. NOT SO! All required LS classes must be taken before enrolling in any credit classes (including CPC classes). As stated above, the only exceptions are DSCS and PE.

Learning Support Course Offerings

ENGL 0098 Learning Support English

READ 0098 Learning Support Reading

MATH 0096 Introductory Algebra

MATH 0098 Intermediate Algebra

The following guidelines place students in Learning Support:

Reading CPE below 77 or COMPASS Reading below 80--Take LS Reading

English CPE below 75 or COMPASS English below 70--Take LS English

Mathematics CPE 72 or more but below 80 or COMPASS Algebra 25 or more but below 40 -- Take MATH 0098

Mathematics CPE below 72 or COMPASS Algebra below 25--Take MATH 0096

COMMENTS:

1. Students who are doing poorly after the first week in MATH 1111, may drop the class and add Learning Support math.
2. A student who needs all three Learning Support classes can receive a full load by enrolling in the following:
3. LS Reading 4 hrs
   LS English 4 hrs
   LS Math 4 hrs for a total of 12 semester hours.
   Learning Support classes must be taken first.

*For GED or Home-Schooled students only.

Certificate Preparatory Classes

There are three new Certificate Preparatory courses to prepare Technical Certificate students for their English, reading, and mathematics courses.

Reading COMPASS < 62 Take READ 0090

English COMPASS < 35 Take ENGL 0090

Mathematics COMPASS Pre-Algebra < 35 Take MATH 0090

If the student's score on any part of the test is above the cutoff, the student may omit the Certificate Preparatory course in that area.