Project Status Reports

ESL Retention

—An extensive survey of non-returning, dropped, and never-enrolled students revealed that personal factors such as health, job changes, and family issues as well as financial aid problems were the biggest factors affecting ESL student enrollments. To help alleviate crowding on the morning shuttle, Mark Andrews worked with the Regional Transit Authority to schedule an early morning express bus from Lawrence to Haverhill. The schedule for evening classes was modified to include Friday evening and Saturday morning classes, allowing students to take more courses in a semester and advance more quickly through the ESL curriculum. In addition, level 3 courses were run in Haverhill to help alleviate the space crunch in Lawrence. The minimum passing grade for an ESL was changed from D- to C- in an effort to ensure that students are well prepared for the next level. In addition, a plan to increase tutoring support for ESL writing students was approved and will be implemented in Fall 2006. A faculty manual was developed with all necessary forms and procedures, and the ESL website faculty resource page was updated. Finally, more orientation activities for new, continuing, and transitioning ESL students were offered in cooperation with Student Activities, Career Planning and Development, and Advising and Counseling.