Developmental Studies

Wilkes Community College's open door policy students of varying educational needs and abilities to the college. The goal of the developmental education program at Wilkes is to offer opportunities for students to enhance their academic skills by eliminating any recognized deficiencies that will impede success. The program is designed to help students improve skills in reading, English, and mathematics. The main objective is to provide students with training (or retraining) in these basic skills so that they have a solid foundation for achieving a successful academic future.

All entering students, whether recent high school graduates or persons returning to school, are given basic skills tests to determine their need for developmental courses. Depending on tests scores, students will be assigned to appropriate developmental education courses. These courses are required and are prerequisites for certain other courses. Developmental education course grades are not computed into grade point averages and do not count toward hours required for degree, diploma or certificate programs.

Students who do not place into developmental education courses but feel the need for refresher courses in English, reading, or mathematics may choose to take any one or all of the developmental education courses.

The instructional method used for developmental education courses is a combination of lecture and lab with an emphasis on mastery-based learning--which means that students continue studying skills until they master the skills. Students willing to put forth the necessary effort should be able to succeed.

Developmental education courses encourage academic skills development and personal growth through small classes, close interaction with instructors, carefully sequenced units of study, recognition of diverse learning styles, immediate and specific feedback, and reinforcement of positive attitudes