Sign up today at HCC: PREP program helps students improve reading, writing, math skills

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PREP at Houston Community College (HCC)

1. What is PREP? What does it cost?

PREP is a new, computer-based “course” for students to improve their reading, writing, and math skills as rapidly as possible to prepare them for college-level credit instruction. Each student’s PREP experience will be individually tailored to their exact needs. There will be an instructor and a tutor available in the lab to help students complete reviews and activities in a web-based program called My Foundations Lab.

While offered to students for free during Summer 2012, there will be a tuition charge starting for this course in Fall 2012. During Summer 2012, PREP will consist of PREP 0100 and require students to spend at least 16 hours during a one-week session in a computer lab. However, students can spend more hours as they want, either in the lab or at home, to advance their skills more rapidly!

2. What are the PREP course details in terms of times and locations?

For Summer 2012, students may sign up for PREP 0100 at HCC-Southwest College West Loop Campus during Summer One which starts June 4. There will be five PREP 0100 sessions with one staring each Monday of the first Summer session: June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, and July 2. Students will be expected to attend the computer lab for 16 hours that are “flexible” and can be arranged with the instructors and tutors.

For the second half of Summer 2012, students may sign up for PREP 0100 at HCC-Central, HCC-Northwest Spring Branch, HCC-Northeast Northline, and HCC-Southeast Eastside. There will be five PREP 0100 sessions at each of those locations, starting each Monday as follows: July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, and August 6.

3. How do students register for PREP? And WHY should they take it?

Students must take the COMPASS exam when they arrive at an HCC campus, testing their skills in reading, writing, and math. After the exam, they will attend a Pre-Enrollment Information Session in which their scores will be explained. These scores “place” students in appropriate courses – either at college level or if below, into “levels” of developmental education intended to help students improve their skills to college level. For math, there are three levels below college level; for writing, two levels; and for reading, three levels. Students could spend a long time and spend a lot of money and energy in developmental education if they are not prepared and motivated.

4. How is PREP different from “regular” developmental education courses?

PREP is different in that it is individualized! In regular developmental education courses, all students are expected to start at the same place and cover the same content at the same pace. Instruction often consists of “lectures” to the entire class. If you fail the course, you must start over at the beginning.

In PREP, students will start at different places, as determined by a diagnostic test and only cover the content that they need to advance. Students can move as quickly as they want and complete a 16-week course in a much shorter time depending upon their efforts. If they “fail” the course, they will only repeat the units they failed, NOT the entire course. PREP is designed to accelerate students’ progress and get them into college credit courses more quickly, courses for which they are likely to have greater interest in with greater motivation to persist.

For more information, contact Maria Straus at 713-718-5153 or maria.straus@hccs.edu