College Preparatory Coursework
The Florida Legislature created, by statute, College Preparatory Programs in all of Florida’s community colleges effective July 1, 1985. All degree and certificate-seeking students are tested prior to registration. Edison State recognizes the ACT-E, SAT-R, and FCELPT tests for purposes of evaluation. The FCELPT is routinely given to entering students.
Students must present scores on the above tests that have been earned within the two (2) years prior to admission to Edison State. Further testing on the FCELPT may be necessary if the scores are more than two (2) years old.
Students must enroll in college preparatory communication and computation instruction if test scores are below the specific levels. (Please see Assessment Services in the Student Services section for more information.)
Students scoring above the specific scores on the placement test may enroll in college credit instruction. Students scoring below the specific scores on the placement test are required to enter college preparatory instruction. College preparatory instruction does NOT count toward meeting degree requirements.
Students who test into college preparatory instruction and subsequently enroll in college preparatory instruction must successfully complete the required college preparatory studies by the time they have successfully accumulated 12 hours of college-level coursework, or they must maintain continuous enrollment in college preparatory coursework each semester until the requirements are completed while performing satisfactorily in the degree earning coursework.
Students cannot enroll for more than three (3) attempts in each course to complete college preparatory instruction. Students enrolled in a college preparatory course who drop the course after the drop/add period are considered to have utilized one of the three attempts allowed to complete that course.
Students who must enroll in the same college preparatory course a third time shall pay fees at 100 percent of the full cost of instruction. Students who withdraw or fail a class due to extenuating circumstances, or who have a financial hardship, may be granted an exception to the 100 percent full cost of instruction. (Please see Petitions in the Student Records section for more information) Students must provide written documentation of financial hardship, disability or extenuating circumstances that resulted in the withdrawal or failure. Such documentation shall be submitted to the College Registrar for consideration.
Students are permitted to enroll in college preparatory instruction concurrently with credit instruction in courses for which they are qualified. College preparatory students may not enroll in the following categories of college credit courses while completing their college preparatory coursework:
- College preparatory students who are deficient in mathematics may not enroll in any college-level mathematics course or courses that require mathematics skills beyond the skill level of the student.
- College preparatory students who are deficient in English and/or reading skills may not enroll in English or humanities courses that meet the Gordon Rule requirements, or any courses that require communication skills beyond the skill level of the student.
- College preparatory students who are deficient in all three areas may enroll in college-level courses such as orientation courses, college success courses or courses that are not dependent on college-level computation and communication skills.
College preparatory instruction is provided in reading, writing and mathematics. There are three levels of reading, three levels of English and two levels of mathematics.
College preparatory reading instruction includes the recognition of main ideas, supporting details, meanings of words in context, author’s purpose, tone, valid arguments, explicit and implicit relationships within and between sentences, and the ability to detect bias, to distinguish fact from opinion and to draw logical inferences and conclusion.
College preparatory writing instruction includes grammatical concepts and usage, punctuation, word choice, and paragraph and essay development.
College preparatory mathematics instruction includes arithmetic and introductory algebra including real numbers and their properties and basic operations, linear expressions, factoring of algebraic expressions, solutions of linear equations and inequalities, graphing, and quadratic equations.
All college preparatory classes are 4 credit hours. There may be a required lab component that must be completed in the College Prep Center. The hours of the College Prep Center are posted every semester. The student’s lab component can be completed any time the College Prep Center is open.
Also offered through College Prep Center is an opportunity to refresh basic skills in English, math, and reading. Students who are reviewing for a second attempt at the Florida College Entry Level Placement Test (FCELPT) are invited to come to the open lab and to meet with an Instructional Assistant who will provide a practice test. Using the practice test to make a diagnosis of the student’s weaknesses, an Instructional Assistant will assign some refresher activities for the individual student. The student can work at his or her own pace. If Internet activities are assigned, students can access them anywhere Internet service is available. After reviewing, a second practice test will be available to the student.
Academic Success Centers
Edison State College is committed to its students and their success and to help them become better learners. To this end, each campus of Edison State College has established a Academic Success Center whose mission is to provide a variety of programs and tools to enable Edison State students to achieve academic success. Each Center is unique to its campus location but all provide a highly supportive environment for student academic engagement. The College Prep Center, The Math Center, The Writing Center and the Peer Tutoring Center are all located within the Academic Success Center. These individual centers facilitate learning and academic achievement by using individual and small group tutoring sessions. All services in the Centers are free to registered Edison State students.
In the Academic Success Center students will find the SOAR (Students Opportunities for Achievement and Rewards) Program. SOAR welcomes all students in a supportive environment that provides them with essential resources and services that range from daily study skills workshops to individualized attention with an academic coach. Free workshops cover a variety of life management skills that pertain to academic success. A sampling of workshops include: Be Scholarship Savvy, Fear of Math, Follow Your Dreams, Learn to Remember, Tackle Test Anxiety, and Time Management. Workshops are scheduled during day and evening hours to meet the needs of all students.
Students can take advantage of the Learning Styles Assessment tool to help them identify their best learning preferences. They can also watch the excellent selection of academic skills DVDs or gather resources from the many themed bulletin boards scattered around the campus.
When students need individualized attention that relates to their academic experience at Edison State State, they can take advantage of the Coaching Program. Students meet one-on-one with a SOAR Coach to discuss challenges, work on educational and career goals and celebrate successes.
Faculty refer students to SOAR through the Early Alert system when the students are having academic problems and are exhibiting poor study habits. The SOAR staff receives the referrals, contact the students and invite them to come in for individual consultations to discuss possible interventions to help them successfully complete their course work.
Eligible students can take advantage of the Single Parent Program. This is a grant-funded program that provides benefits such as scholarships and book vouchers. Students much be on financial aid and be single. They must have custody of their children and be majoring in an Associate of Science or Certificate Program and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Career Exploration resources are available for students who are uncertain about their majors. Free assessments help students select a major based upon their interests and personality. Assistance is also provided for resume and cover letter writing and interviewing techniques. Students may also learn about job descriptions and educational requirements for thousands of occupations. Students may register for the Edison State JobNet, where they can view hundreds of area jobs and career listings, and post resumes for participating employers.
Office of Adaptive Services
Edison State College offers students with documented disabilities programs to equalize access to the educational process. The Coordinator for Students with Disabilities provides support services in the provision of educational accommodations to self-identifying students. Documented students needing accommodations and modifications are provided appropriate direct services such as note taking, test proctoring, and scribing.
Student Support Services Program
The Student Support Services Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This program is designed for students whose parents did not graduate from a four-year college/university and whose family income may hinder them from remaining in college without financial assistance. A potential Student Support Services student must be enrolled at Edison State , AA degree seeking, planning to transfer, and must have a demonstrated academic need. The student must be a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S., or a permanent resident of a territory of the U.S.
Student Support Services assists selected, qualified participants with:
- Course and transfer advisement
- Scholarships for limited income participants
- Tuition fee exemptions for peer mentors
- Cultural and educational activities
- Workshops on relevant topics
- Computer skills lab
- Peer mentoring program
- Math and English tutoring services
- Career exploration
- Enrichment program
Upward Bound
The Upward Bound Program, established at Edison State College in 1999, is a grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Upward Bound is designed to provide a comprehensive academic guidance and skills development program to selected eligible students from five target high schools in Lee County (Lehigh Senior High, Fort Myers High, East Lee County High, Riverdale High and Dunbar High School). It is an intensive program that requires participants to attend monthly meetings at the Lee County Campus during the academic year, weekly tutoring as needed, and a six-week summer school program. To participate in the program, students must meet eligibility requirements to include: being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; being from a low-income household as established by the federal government; and/or being a potential first generation college student. Students are selected as ninth or tenth graders and must make a commitment to stay with the program until they enter into a postsecondary educational program.
Cultural Diversity
Edison State College supports the rich cultural diversity represented by its student body. The Edison State College Multicultural Task Force is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse campus community which promotes awareness, understanding, and acceptance. It also values and celebrates diversity among administrators, faculty, staff and students at Edison State College. Edison State College celebrates cultural diversity with diversity workshops, student events and displays during Latin American History Week, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and an annual Multicultural celebration. A variety of multicultural student clubs are available to students including: the African-American Student Association (Lee Campus), Latin American Student Association (Lee Campus), Multicultural Club (Collier Campus), International Club (Charlotte Campus), the Haitian Student Association (Lee Campus), and the West Indian Student Association (Lee Campus). Students are encouraged to consult their Student Handbooks for more information on multicultural events and activities. Student activity and student organization information is also available in the Student Development Offices at the Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Campuses. |