WILLISTON, N.D. - Jabrie Bullard and Jeremy Ruffin, both players on Williston State College's men's basketball team, were awarded Certificates of Achievement from Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) this May after completing their first year at WSC.
ALEKS is software that designs a course shell for students based on their initial assessment taken at the start of the course. Course shells provide each student a successful learning path with positive reinforcement along the way. Students are able to learn the material at a rate that works best for them.
Funded through the Title III Grant established in 2012, ALEKS was listed as a choice in the grant to improve the retention rate from developmental mathematics courses through college algebra.
"Completing college algebra improves the chances of a student completing an associate degree," Wanda Meyer, Title III Project Director and Associate Professor for Mathematics, explained.
Bullard (Chicago, IL) and Ruffin (Fayetteville, NC) will both be returning to complete their sophomore year at WSC and play their second season as Tetons. On course to completing their Associate in Arts degrees from WSC next May, both intend on continuing their education to achieve Bachelor degrees- Bullard in Psychology and Ruffin in Sports Medicine.
ALEKS has become one of the requirements for students to complete in order to be accepted into some colleges and universities, especially in science and math programs.
"Having this recognition will help Bullard and Ruffin as they apply to transfer to a four-year university
or college after they graduate from WSC next May," Natalie Boese, Communications Specialist at WSC said. "Bullard and Ruffin are great examples of what being a student athlete is all about: prioritizing academics and participating in the community."
Bullard and Ruffin along with nine other student athletes volunteered to walk and represent WSC in 2016's Band Day Parade.
To date, seven WSC students have received the ALEKS recognition for the 2015-16 school year.
"To become certified, students had to complete all required documentation, demonstrating completion of the institutional program and course outcomes for college algebra while demonstrating a mastery level of at least 80%," stated Meyer. "I am very proud of their accomplishments."
For More Information, contact Wanda Meyer, Title III Project Director and Associate Professor for Mathematics at 701.774.4556 or
wanda.meyer@willistonstate.edu
For any information regarding WSC, please visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 1.888.863.9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.