Literacy in the open-access college

Based on a 3-year case study of an open-access community college, this monograph examines the background to, causes of, and possible resolutions for the decline of literacy in open-access colleges. Chapter 1 pres_nts a working definition of literacy; considers the natIre of literacy in a community college setting; and raises issues .oncerning the impact of the decline of college standards on t.e student, institution, and society. Chapter 2 describes the curriculum, administration, faculty, and students of the college and ilLustrates the complex and dynamic character of the study setting. Chapter 3 provides a detailed description of teaching and learning in the classroom, and chapter 4 looks at reading and writing behaviors required in class activities. Chapter 5 discusses the educational objectives of the college instructors, with a focus on the relationship of course objectives to instructor style, the emphasis on cognitive objectives in the classroom, faculty responses to low student literaby skills, and the reciprocal effects of student skills and teachsr objectives. In chapter 6, student motives for pursuing an education are examined along with the way the institution reinforces and responds to these motives. Chapter 7 examines non-classroom influences contributing to the lack of literacy skills, including inadequate advisement, student placement problems, and the absence of special services for non-traditional students. Chapter 8 considers the indirect impact of administrative priorities on classroom literacy. Chapter 9 discusses the implications of study findings for administration and instruction in open-access colleges and offers recommendations for promoting literacy. (LAL) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************