University of South Carolina Libraries
Reading ai Incon By Barry J. Glenn Gamacock Staff Writer Entering freshmen enrolled in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences are being required to take a reading and writing test HlirinO thair enmmnn uwmg U1VU OUillltlCl UllCllltlUUIl. According to Dr. Richard Silvernail, associate dean of the college, the tests are being given to gain more information about the students' abilities. "In the past a professor might have said that their students were not reading as well as they used to," Silvernail said. "But we were not sure how well they read before, so it was decided we needed to Know more about what the students can do." University 1( By Mary Jean Baxley Oamccock StiH Writer University 101 generated $500,000 USC this past year while costing only it the course with the highest retur according to Dr. John N. Gardner, < University 101 began as an educatk in 1972 designed to cut a high drop-ou! freshman class. It started on a shoest today utilizes services of all de resources already in existence, Gar University 101 is now being used other colleges throughout the U.S. their attempts to solve declining en] curb the drop-out rate. r untiDivr t 4 om 1- r-?_ r? l?u nn^u li/u 1 wet; iv, ur. rj assistant vice-president for careei placement, and myself lectured al Waterloo and University of Guelp, i Canada. Both schools will be using ou as their model for their own program, Although University 101 has been a in an attempt to help students adjus another program was started more tl with a similar goal in mind. Accord David Waugh, dean of college of ? department has offered a 110 course I years. Waugh said they neither encouragc students from taking university 101 I South Cai Guitars, Am # Largest Sele I Musical Acc< 1AI -X-L vvuxcn [ in ft HSHB "Just Behind Tf I 799-6860 ad writing C7 ling freshmen in Silvernail said the tests, the Nelson-Denny reading test and an l?nrrl?nl? nmU?M/? * a._ 1 _t. A Aifiigiiau wiuuig suuipit;, uiKe a do ut 45 minutes each to complete and are being administered to incoming freshmen going through summer orientation and advisement in preparation for the fail semester. THE DECISION to administer the test was made last April by the Standards and Petition Committee of the Faculty Senate, of which Silvernail is a member. "We discussed rather lengthily the need to know more about our students ? we just had no information about them." If the results of the tests show ^ T I /* ti ciass Jinan not count toward th has no quarrel with in revenue for that the engineering $50,000, making has been in existen n rate at USC, ANOTHER VIE\ director. expressed by Dr. 1 >nal experiment institute director. 4 t rate within the was working and ou ring budget and out rate decreased a partments and to those not taking i dner said. be better as a grou as a model by said. "But, our fine and Canada in the fact that studeni -?i i uuiuciii aim tu waniea 10 improve t 101 is a truly mast have had a number aul P. Fidler, teaching the course r planning and teachers." t University of Hiers said Unive >oth in Ontario, power of this cour it University 101 response to all tyi " Gardner said, course, I'll admit round since 1972 Gardner is an extra t to college life, to several dozen r lan 10 years ago This program has i ing to Dr. John packaging and rets engineering, his ACCORDING Ti for more than 10 program was awai Ctiiilont A v^uuvtiv a vi cviuici r i nor discourage for "Outstanding Ir but that it does in 1977. rolina's Most C Music Store! plifiers, Band Instrume ction of Sheet Music in essories for all In strum for our Guitar String Sp ie September Gamecoi I MUSIC CO ie University" humanities, soc mat a student is reading or writing below an acceptable level for the college, Silvernail said the student would be directed toward a particular course to improve his chances for success. "One of the things we have done in this office since January is to take over a portion of the advisement program which we had not done before. We found some students were getting through as _4.111 A. ?- 1?5 " * ? sciiiuia emu situ luKing ?,ngusn 101." "SO WE TOOK over a portion of the advisement, particularly new students, and are getting them into the basic degree requirements early so that if we see that a person cial success e engineering degree. He said he i anyone over University 101 but 5 course does the same thing and ice longer. VPOINT on University 101 was Manning Hiers, social problems 'We ran a study on whether 101 n J:?* ?i J i luiiuuga uiuicaieu uiui uie uropimong those taking 101 as opposed it, and we found grades tended to ip than those not taking 101/' he lings could not take into account is taking 101 were volunteers who heir chances at college. I feel that Brful innovation AS a Wo of faculty who are ingenious in but we have also had some weak rsity 101 offers diversity. "The se constantly amazes me in its pes of students," he said. "Of I'm biased. I also think John ordinary director. He has spoken egional and national campuses, lad a positive aspect in Carolina tiling." ) Gardner, the University 101 ded the National Association of administrators, Region 111 Award istitutional Innovative Program" Complete nts f South Carolina ents tecial | ck ! 732 Saluda Ave. I Fivo Pnintc T W Vf HOB VISA Jaosr ial sciences now is having problems reading at a < college level, I would assume that t the advisors would discourage > them from taking, for instance, a * history course which is primarily a reading course, until their reading i levels can be brought ud. In the i meantime perhaps they would be ] placed in another course where the ! reading level was not so deman- I ding." I As to the possibility of using the i test scores as a basis for ad- i mission, Silvernail said he does not 1 think this will happen in the , College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 1<T If L.iKe an coueges we are in tne process of trying to gain a student body and I don't think the tests are going to be used to keep people out. I think what it is going to do is change what happens when they get here, so that we may admit students who are not well prepared in reading and writing. When we find this out we will channel them [MOEL Basic Jei Flare Leg Demi Sizes 28-42 StrainhtLAM ? Boot Cut Death Sizes 28-42 Straight Leg c Flare Corduro Sizes 28-38 Boot Cut Pre-1 Student Sizes 25-30 Boot Cut or Flc Pro-Washed I /-> . a a r\ i b\zes ZG-4Z MOII UUWII Corner of Lady one MOELEVYS Jl Seven Oaks Sh - ? ? ? ^ ? *?jfv . 1 tested in basics ;ither into a course or some acivity that will improve tliem and vill give them a better chance at >uccess." "IF WE ARE to keep ud the numbers that are necessary to run this institution we are not going to keep too many people out," Silvernail said. "They will be tested, and if they are found lacking in some particular area, then I think we will see more of the developmental action taking place, but those people are going to be admitted. According to Silvernail, a student who scores 390 or below on the verbal SAT is now aiitnmfltirnllv phannoloH in?A v. v? j I1IVV English 101 which is a review of high school composition skills. Hie student receives credit for the course, but cannot use it in the basic degree requirements. The current orientation program for the students began June 15 and will end July 14. Evve 1 an Sale! I mS $9.88 .. $11.88 ir ys $ 10*88 1 Washed Denim 8 $10.88 I are I ?enim$ 13^33 j .IVYS town | i Assembly Streets 1 SMPB sniioi | opping Center I xt to Allied Chemical 1