Nearly 2,000 students are enrolled as first-time freshmen at The University of Memphis this fall, but many of them may not be fully prepared for the academic challenges of college, according to a recent national study by ACT.
The ACT report, titled "Crisis at Change: Preparing All Students for College and Work," stated that only 22 percent of the 1.2 million high school students who took the ACT Assessment Test in 2004 scored high enough to be considered ready for college, particularly in the subjects of English, math and science.
ACT, one of the nation's two big organizations offering college entrance tests, defined college readiness as the "ability to succeed in a credit-bearing course at a two- or four-year college without needing to take a remedial course first."
The ACT statistics indicate that high school graduates are no more ready for college than they were a decade ago.
"Not all high schools are preparing students for the transition to college," said Dr. Barbara Bekis, coordinator of the Educational Support Program. "Even though the students have met ACT admission criteria for The University of Memphis, many are required to take developmental courses, which is an indication that they did not arrive prepared for college."
Daniel Armitage, associate dean of students for residence life and dining services, said he agrees with the study's findings, but he also believes that the ACT alone isn't a true indicator of a student's potential success.
"I don't think there has been a significant change in the students that are enrolling today and the students that enrolled ten years ago," Armitage said. "A lot of factors can determine a student's success. Some people may come in (to college) with a very high ACT score and still fail."
The report stated that, among students who took a full core curriculum in high school, a large percentage were not prepared for college because their high school curriculum courses were not difficult enough.
"At a new student orientation in the summer, I asked students about their high school study habits," Bekis said. "When they were asked, 'How many hours per week did you study when you were not in class?' the general response was 'none'."
The experiences of studying are essential to being academically prepared for college, Bekis said.
Some U of M students said they could understand why freshmen might not feel academically prepared their first year."Students in high school are allowed to slack off," said Kristen Wilder, senior journalism major. "So, when they get to college, they don't know how to study."
ACT recognized in its report that not all high school graduates plan to attend college after graduation and stated, "those entering the workforce will need the same skills and knowledge as those pursuing higher education."
ACT is launching a program in response to the statistics titled, "Ready to Succeed", which will focus a nationwide effort to increase high school course quality and rigor.
The U of M offers students academic support through the Educational Support Program, which can be reached at 678-2704.
