Hi all!
OK, so now the conversation has shifted to the dimension of
"admissions criteria" and the claim has become: "courses offered at
schools with more rigorous admissions criteria are more demanding
academically than the (supposedly) same courses offered at schools
with less rigorous admissions criteria."
This allows us to change the fictional examples from prior posts. For
instance, courses offered at Blowfly State University, with minimal
admissions criteria, are in the same boat (relatively speaking) as
those offered at Blowfly Community College, at least when compared to
courses offered at Yale University (or even, perhaps, the University
of North Carolina--Chapel Hill).
And, in a similar manner, courses offered at the University of
Pennsylvania--East Podunk would be about as demanding academically as
those offered at East Podunk Community College.
Thus, "students" transferring their lower-division credits from these
bottom-rung institutions of "higher" learning to a much more
selective institution should, on average, be less well-prepared
academically for upper-division coursework in the major compared to
that institution's native students.
Now, this is a testable proposition. I'll bet that there's gobs of
research we can examine!
Best,
Jeff
P.S. By the way, I'm sorry for giving these fictional "schools"
derogatory names; but I would defend myself by pointing to the
precedent already set. You see, the point here is not to put down
these "schools" or their "faculty," but simply to suggest that the
"schools" have very low admissions criteria. Thus, if I had referred
to, say, "Pile of Rat Crap State University," I certainly would not
be implying anything about the "faculty" hired to teach there or
denying that some of the "school's" "students" have average to
superior abilities (somewhat like autistic savants?). No, not at all!
I only would be indicating that almost anyone, even perhaps the
moderately (profoundly?) mentally retarded, could get admitted to the
"school" and probably advance all the way through at least the lower-
division coursework because of the "school's" very low academic
standards.
See, no insult intended, so no insult should be taken!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D.
SCC, Division Chair of Social & Behavioral Sciences
MCCCD, General Studies Faculty Representative
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottsdale Community College
9000 E. Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
Office Room #: SB-128
Office Phone #: (480) 423-6213
Division Fax #: (480) 423-6298
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