Released: October 6, 2022
More equitable course placement process to begin with Spring 2023 registration, which begins Nov. 8
Santa Fe Community College announces that the college will launch a new placement initiative to better serve students effective with the Spring Registration period, which begins on November 8. Instead of relying on the results of one standardized placement exam, the college will now consider other factors to determine a student’s readiness for college-level classes.
President Becky Rowley, Ph.D., said, “The college is excited to move forward with this initiative, which honors the historic mission of community colleges and provides an open door to educational opportunities and empowerment of our students. The new placement initiative allows the college to assess students in a more equitable and holistic manner.”
The college has discussed revamping its placement method for several years. Composed of SFCC faculty, staff, and administration members, SFCC’s Multiple Measures Task Force examined evidence and findings from similar institutions across New Mexico and the nation to make the recommendation to revise the placement process.
The College will adopt a variety of placement measures – including an emphasis on high school GPA, and various discipline-specific skill assessment tools – to give students a clear path toward their educational goals. Students needing support in their beginning-level college courses in English and Mathematics will have co-requisite courses available to them. In time, new “foundational courses” will replace SFCC’s existing developmental education courses for students entering with more significant needs for academic support. Together, these changes are intended to move SFCC students into college-level work sooner, which enhances retention and promotes completion.
“In the past several years, the college has supported more pro-active, collaborative advising to help guide students to pursue their dreams in a manner that best serves the student’s needs,” President Rowley added. “The new placement initiative is an important step in helping our community gain even higher levels of access and support from our college as they pursue careers and transfer.”
This new placement initiative is part of a larger on-going institution-wide effort to further serve students, community members and regional economic and workforce needs, all of which were impacted significantly by the Coronavirus pandemic. These efforts include expanded online and hybrid class offerings, as well as additional tuition and general assistance from sources like the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship and the Santa Fe Community College Foundation. This initiative also aligns with the transformative work that the college is engaged in as a member of the Collaborative Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS), a nonprofit working to transform the student experience and streamline administrative processes. SFCC is part of the collaboration along with Central New Mexico College, Clovis Community College, Mesalands Community College, Northern New Mexico College and San Juan College.
For more than 35 years, Santa Fe Community College has been the gateway to success for individuals and the community by providing affordable, high quality educational programs that serve the social, cultural, technological, and economic needs of a diverse community. SFCC is a designated Best for Vets and Military Friendly school. The college serves more than 12,000 students per year in its credit, noncredit and adult programs. For further information, visit sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1000. Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn.
