Only 60 days after launch, more than 70 schools are using the assessment
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the days since its official launch this past July, ETS's SuccessNavigator™ assessment has generated considerable interest among colleges and universities, with more than 70 adopting the assessment within the first 60 days of its release.
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"The exceptional rate at which these institutions of higher education have adopted the SuccessNavigator™ assessment shows their commitment to student success," says David Payne, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Higher Education Division at ETS. "Throughout the pilot and these first months of testing, the response has been overwhelmingly positive and we are pleased to be providing such a valuable solution to schools across the country."
Created by ETS, the SuccessNavigator assessment is a 30-minute online non-proctored self-assessment and development tool for incoming college students. The non-cognitive assessment uses a multi-measure approach to gauge the four critical factors that most influence student success: academic skills, self management skills, commitment levels and social support structures. Once the assessment is completed, it is immediately scored and individual score reports, providing tailored student feedback and customized action plans, are delivered to both the student and the advisor.
"According to the National Center for Education Statistics, with only a 59 percent six-year graduation rate at 4-year colleges, institutions are eager to reverse the trend," says Terry O'Banion, President Emeritus, League for Innovation in Community Colleges and Chair of the Graduate Faculty, National American University. "The SuccessNavigator assessment is that holistic and economical solution that will support institutions' goals of increasing student success and retention rates."
Because of the detail and versatility of the SuccessNavigator assessment, schools have found great value in integrating it into their student success programs. "Over two thousand students at Santa Monica College (SMC) have taken the SuccessNavigator assessment, giving us a better understanding of student abilities and psychosocial skills sets. Instructors and students find it really useful and enlightening. We feel fortunate to have found an innovative tool that fits perfectly with our student success agenda," said Brenda Benson, SMC's Dean of Counseling and Retention.
The SuccessNavigator Advisor Report provides an explanation of each student's skill level in four measured areas. The report also includes a "Next Steps" section on how to improve upon and develop all the skills necessary for success. Specific next steps can include anything from tutoring to health, wellness, and career counseling to ensure that students have the support they need to continue their education. In addition, the score report provides course acceleration recommendations in math and English for students at the upper end of cut score bands.
For more information about the SuccessNavigator assessment and how it can help reach at-risk students and improve first-year retention rates, visit www.ets.org/successnavigator.
About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, as well as conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series™ assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide.
SOURCE Educational Testing Service
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