Remedial courses & drop out statistics

I've heard some startling statistics recently...

While President Obama's $12 billion initiative to produce some 5 million community college graduates by the year 2012 may be encouraging to some, statistics tell of an uphill battle:

• 30% of college students drop out following their first year
• half who enter college never graduate
  
• drop-out rates are significantly higher in community colleges, where nearly 1 million students are enrolled in remedial classes-- mainly, math and English (reading & writing)
  
  

A department chair to whom I've recently spoken told me that while our college is hiring more adjuncts in the Basic Skills Department (due to a leap in enrollment), the current freshman drop-out rate is nearly 70%! We're only retaining some 30% of incoming students, yet the number of new students enrolling in remedial classes more than makes up the difference. That's mind boggling!

"Schools can increases graduation rates if they have strong leadership, if they're devoted to making student success a priority-- and if they work at it," says Mark Schneider, a vice president of the American Institute for Research.


What might be happening in our society that is behind these statistics? What changes would you suggest PCCC make, to retain students and keep them on track for graduation?