It’s unlikely that years from now, you will look back on your time at De Anza College and say, "wow, those placement tests were awesome."
That’s OK.
Placement tests help De Anza students use their time and money wisely. However, the Assessment Center is short on money for the upcoming spring and summer quarters. The impact on students will be immense if funds are not found quickly.
The Assessment Center administers placement tests which help students determine which classes they should take.
The Assessment Center will need $29,350 for test proctors, essay readers, printing, supplies, and maintenance to finish off the remainder of the school year.
This sum is usually provided by matriculations, programs and grants from the state. This year, the money never appeared.
The center is now straining under financial difficulties and must find its funding elsewhere. Bert Manriquez, Director of the Assessment Center, has asked DASB for funding for the whole year.
DASB had granted partial funding of $10,750, a third of the sum the Assessment Center needs.
"This is not something the DASB normally funds, we felt it was important to make sure that assessment testing is offered with reasonable frequency," said Nadine Foster-Mahar, DASB President. "We approved $10,750 in funding, which was more than 25 percent of what they needed."
DASB hopes to encourage other divisions on campus to help fund the center.
"We are hoping that the counseling, biology, chemistry, and language arts divisions see this as important, and that they share in the financial responsibility to fund at least a portion of the Assessment Center’s needs," said Foster-Mahar.
But with the recent cuts in various departments, including math and language arts, it is not always easy to get the necessary funds.
"In the [language arts] division budget, I have only $1,000 for assessment," said John Swensson, Dean of Language Arts.
The placement tests are required by the state but without their funding, it leaves De Anza in a very delicate situation. Where are we supposed to find our funding and how are we supposed to do it?
"It’s hard to say how much money the state will have in the future," said Manriquez. "It’s a cycle where money is available for a few years and now they don’t."
"Right now, we have to economize and make cuts to find money wherever we can," said Manriquez
According to Swensson, 16 percent of students will place in EWRT 1A. Before the essay tests, only 8 to 9 percent would place in EWRT 1A.
The math, science, language arts and ESL departments all depend on the placement results to place students in the appropriate classes.
"If as an institution, we chose not to read the writing samples, we would have a major reduction in students’ success and a major increase in inaccurate placement," said Swensson. "As an institution, the college has chosen to spend these funds to help all students because all students will get a better chance of success."
Even with the financial difficulties, Manriquez is optimistic.
"It’s hard right now, but I don’t think it’ll last forever," said Manriquez.
