Initiatives

Bridge Program

The Bridge Program provides support, advisement, and educational success planning for academically at-risk students. Students who score in a certain range on the COMPASS assessment are required to meet with the Bridge Program Coordinator before courses can be taken. This meeting helps students increase awareness of college requirements, prepare for college courses, and plan for future success.

Moving Up

Moving Up is a program designed as a brief refresher for students in basic English and mathematics skills so that they can retest the COMPASS assessment and increase their scores. It is a two-week initiative that has students learn and practice English and math skills daily before retesting using the COMPASS. Though this program is not offered currently, it was implemented from 2010 to 2012. During that time, this program successfully moved up many students into higher-level developmental and college-level courses. The two Intermediate School Districts we worked with have since integrated this program into their regular college preparation curriculum.

Advance Program

The Advance Program is a successful, cost-effective program designed to use our current placement assessment as a secondary assessment for those students who place into developmental courses in reading, writing, and/or math. If first-time students place into any of these categories, they are allowed one free retest in order to test out of a developmental course. Even though a relatively small amount of students take advantage of the retest option, many of the students who do benefit greatly from it.

Math Booster

Designed for students who believe they can, with a little polish, move up a level in a developmental course or move out of developmental courses altogether. Math Booster is a two-week program. The first week is numerical literacy, and the second week is Algebra. At the end of each week, students will retake the COMPASS test as well as Delta's division placement tests. Math Booster is offered at no charge to students.

Math Cubed

Delta has three developmental math courses:

MTH 092 : Basic Math            MTH 096: Pre-Algebra            MTH 097: Algebra I

This normal sequence takes one and a half years to complete. Using an immersion model, we have set up the sequence so it can be completed in only one semester.

Computer Rental Program

The program is designed for students who might not have access to a computer at home. They can rent the computer for the semester for $130. The computer is then returned to the college at the end of the semester.

ISLCs

Integrated Studies Learning Communities (ISLCs), linked with Structured Learning Assistants (SLAs) and Counselors, are course structures that provide students a holistic approach to academic success. Students who sign up for ISLCs take their courses with the same cohort of students for an entire semester. Studies show that this format, along with extra support offered by SLAs and Counselors, helps students bond with peers, learn more, and enjoy their college experience. ISLCs are offered as two, three, or four courses linked together. Students interested in ISLCs should look for a Learning Communities note within course descriptions.

MyAlert

MyAlert is an early intervention and retention initiative providing outreach, support, and referral for at-risk students. Faculty are encouraged to refer struggling students to this voluntary support program. Once referred, students are contacted by a staff member in order to plan for and implement positive change for student success.