The Testing Road Show

1. The Testing Road Show An Exemplary Practice MDC TESTING

2. Presenters • Sofía Villalobos, MS Director of Testing, InterAmerican Campus • Silvio Rodriguez, MBA Director of Test Administration and Program Evaluation

3. Agenda • MDC Facts in Brief • Structure and Information Sharing • Rationale/History of the Testing Road Show (TRS) • TRS Support • Development of TRS objectives • TRS Learning Objectives Preview • Presenting the TRS • Motivating factors in updating the TRS

4. Miami Dade College’s Facts in Brief • MDC is a state-supported college with eight campuses and numerous outreach centers, the largest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most highly regarded in the nation. • MDC opened in September 1960 • Total students served during 2007-08: 161,668. • Student Profile: Ethnic mix: 9 percent, white non-Hispanic; 19 percent, black non-Hispanic; 68 percent, Hispanic; 4 percent, other.

5. Miami Dade College’s Facts in Brief • Annually awards more associate degrees than any other community college in the United States. • 76% of students with an Associate in Arts degree continue their education at a four-year college or university in Florida immediately upon graduation. • 86% of MDC graduates who transferred to the State University System had satisfactory upper division GPAs during their first year.

6. Structure and Information Sharing • Each campus has its own individual structure, but all report to College President, Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón. - Florida Trend magazine has named him “Floridian of the Year” in its January 2010 issue for his significant contributions to the Sunshine State during 2009. - Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón has appeared in a major Time magazine report on “The 10 Best College Presidents”. - He is one of a few select national Hispanic leaders to appear on CNN en Español’s Latinos in the USA (Ser Latino in EEUU) in a special report by the network’s main anchor, Patricia Janiot. - The Obama Administration nominated Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón to represent our nation at the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education.

7. Structure and Information Sharing • All campuses have Testing Departments with a Testing Director/Coordinator at each site. • Testing Directors/Coordinators report to their campus Deans and receive support from the college’s Institutional Testing Administrator (ITA) at the district level. • The ITA chairs the meeting and co-chairs the College Academic & Student Support Council – Research and Testing Committee (CASSC – R&T). • Monthly meetings are held as the main source of information sharing for Testing Directors and ITA. • Conference calls are facilitated for urgent communication regarding testing concerns/changes.

8. The Testing Road Show • A presentation created by the ITA and all of the Testing Directors to communicate changes and review testing policies with academic and student services staff. • A series of case studies are included after each objective to inform participants of challenging testing concerns. • A College Training and Development initiative presented at each campus by the Testing Director’s respective campus. • The first series of the TRS was created and presented in 2007/08 academic year and the 2nd followed in 2009/10. • Positive feedback from MDC employees ensured full participation college-wide.

9. The Testing Road Show The TRS was created because… • the testing departments need to provide updated information for student advisement and placement. • to familiarize other departments on the process of screening students to take the correct test. • proper communication regarding testing policies, ID requirements and placement rules is essential. • sharing any testing changes or updates with academic and student services areas is our responsibility.

10. Supporting the TRS • The TRS presentation was created and the objectives were submitted to College Training and Development (CT&D). • After receiving support from CT&D, e-mail blasts informed MDC staff at the campus where the TRS was to be presented. • A link in the e-mail allowed MDC employees to register to attend the TRS. • Reminders were sent out to enrollees the week of the presentation. • All participants received an on-line evaluation to complete after the TRS presenters submitted the roster.

11. The Testing Road Show Developing Objectives • The ITA and the Testing Directors shared concerns and agreed on the objectives. Here are some examples: - ID requirements - Screening students to take either an English competency test or the CPT - Placement criteria and course placement rules - Role of testing • After reaching an agreement, the work was divided.

12. Learning Objectives TRS—2007/08 • Describe the role of testing in the advisement process • Explain ACT, SAT, FCAT and other test exemption criteria • Apply important points to remember when advising students • List ID requirements for prospective and mainstream students

13. Learning Objectives TRS—2009/10 • Review the new CPT retesting policy and other test exemption criteria. • Describe the new CLAS requirements. • Apply important testing points to consider when advising students. • List ID requirements for prospective and mainstream students.

14. Presenting the TRS • The TRS is launched at the first participating campus by the Testing Director as the host and the ITA as the co-presenter. • Attendees share testing concerns/experiences and the Testing Directors provide feedback and information. • Those concerns are, at times, used to modify the TRS and added as case studies. • The TRS is then presented at the next participating campus.

15. Updating the TRS • Changes in testing procedures and fees • New tests • Placement criteria revisions • Review testing best practices • Encourage others to understand case studies presented Testing Road Show ACT 3

16. In conclusion… • Questions?