TOMBALL, Texas – Lone Star College-Tomball’s Developmental English program has received accreditation from the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE), becoming one of the first programs in the nation to be awarded the accreditation.
“NADE Accreditation is a significant accomplishment, and we are pleased to recognize Lone Star College-Tomball’s Developmental English Program for achieving this distinction,” Linda Thompson, chair of the NADE Accreditation Commission, said in a written statement. “We applaud the faculty, administrators, president and trustees, and the entire community of Lone Star College-Tomball on this achievement.”
The NADE Accreditation is valid for 10 years (through March 2028) with an interim report required during year five. An official plaque, according to Thompson, will be awarded to LSC-Tomball during a recognition event in 2018.
Caroline Jamroz, professor of Developmental English at LSC-Tomball, who served as the lead person in securing the NADE accreditation, said LSC-Tomball is excited to receive the NADE accreditation and credits the hard work of the Developmental English department’s faculty and leadership team.
“At LSC-Tomball, we have dedicated faculty create learning experiences that enable students to develop new beliefs about their abilities and their potential," said LSC-Tomball President Dr. Lee Ann Nutt. "Thanks to Caroline Jamroz’s perseverance and determination, and with the support of her colleagues, the developmental English program is now accredited by the National Association of Developmental Education. This accreditation is a formal recognition of the dedication of LSC-Tomball faculty to our students’ success.”
According to NADE, "Reviewers found overall that the faculty and staff of Developmental English Program at Lone Star-Tomball have demonstrated a commitment to the establishment of a quality program and to the success of their students through the use of continuous and systematic assessment and evaluation. The reviewers commend the applicants for persevering through the mandatory changes they have faced. In fact, it appears that the faculty and their administration used these challenges as an opportunity to set goals for what they wanted to achieve, conduct research into best practices, and restructure their program in line with these best practices.”
Another strength of LSC-Tomball’s Developmental English Program, according to the letter NADE sent to the Developmental English department informing it of its accredited status, is its commitment to placement based on institutional assessment criteria.
“Accurate assessment criteria and appropriate placement practices provide a firm foundation upon which student success can be built,” the letter said, before, adding, “Customizing criteria to address differen tdelivery formats is a logical next step that could only enhance student success, particularly in online courses. Finally, reviewers were impressed with the thorough and honest self-evaluation of strengths and weaknesses that occurred during the self-study process.”
Lone Star College-Tomball is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway, at the intersection of SH 249 and Zion Road. For more information about the college, call 281.351.3300 or visit LoneStar.edu/Tomball