University System of Georgia Identifies Corequisite Models with Maximum Benefit for Dismantling Systemic Inequalities in Higher Education
As an original member of the Complete College America Alliance of States, the University System of Georgia (USG) has taken an approach known as corequisite support. In the corequisite model, students immediately enroll in credit-bearing courses while receiving the extra support they need to complete gateway college-level courses. Since USG implemented the corequisite approach statewide in 2018 and 2019, it has more than tripled the percentage of students who have successfully completed gateway math courses and significantly increased the percentage who have completed gateway English courses. Most notable is the increase in success for Black and Latinx students who pass their college-level math and English courses near or above the pass rate for all students, effectively closing gaps that existed prior to adoption of corequisite support.
Download CCA’s Report on Why Corequisite Works
To determine which coreq model resulted in the maximum benefit for students, USG compared the actual success rate for each combination to the expected success rate. While students in all corequisite models succeeded at higher rates than they did in traditional prerequisite remediation, some combinations benefited students more than others. Learn more about the USG research looking at the impacts of coreq models including:
- Same instructor, college-level and corequisite classes
- Different instructor, college-level and corequisite classes
- Number of corequisite hours
Log in or create a free profile to get immediate access to the report. To download, click the tile at right.
Students at USG are benefiting from corequisite support. Since the system implemented the model statewide in 2018 – 2019, far more of the 26,000 students who have received corequisite support have successfully completed gateway courses than the students who previously received traditional prerequisite remediation. USG has scaled coreq across their 26 public state institutions, including small, medium, and large colleges or institutions; open access and highly selective schools; rural, suburban, and urban schools; community colleges; research universities; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and Hispanic-Serving Institutions demonstrating that corequisite support is a solution for all.
COREQUISITE SUPPORT SHOULD BE THE NORM FOR DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION AT EVERY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.
This work is more important than ever. Students of color, first generation students, and adult learners are disproportionately impacted by outdated remedial course sequences. Black and Latinx students in particular are disproportionately enrolled in remediation, making them more likely to get stuck in long remedial course sequences that lead many to stop out before they complete gateway courses.
By focusing on the shortcomings of the structures in higher education rather than the perceived shortcomings of students, the corequisite approach has resulted in improved outcomes and helped close institutional performance gaps.
As higher education grapples with its own role in perpetuating racial inequality and looks to new approaches that lead to greater equity, corequisite support must be a part of the solution.
CCA’s team of strategists have years of experience helping states and institutions implement coreq at scale, and we’re ready to help you roll up your sleeves and start shifting policy, perspective and practice.
Join the Movement
As part of its efforts to build momentum toward college completion and eliminate institutional performance gaps, particularly for historically excluded students and students experiencing poverty, CCA is continuing to work with Georgia and other states and systems across the nation to replicate this success. CCA will support these states, systems, and institutions to assess what is working, identify what needs to improve, and redouble efforts to ensure that every student—not just those deemed “prepared”—succeeds.
You can find more information about corequisite support from CCA’s previous report, No Room for Doubt, which outlines a decade of data on the effectiveness of corequisite support as well as new insights on how to implement and scale.
If you are looking to get started with corequisite support or go deeper with your implementation, CCA stands ready to help you identify next steps. Reach out to your Strategy Director today at info@completecollege.org.
Coreq Works
No Room for Doubt: Moving Corequisite from Idea to Imperative
A decade of data on the effectiveness of the corequisite model and new insights on how to implement and scale.
No Room for Doubt Action Checklist
This action checklist offers guidance for leaders implementing the corequisite model for the first time or those who are looking to deepen their practices to address challenges that stand in the way.
