The Transitional Bilingual Learning Community (TBLC) program was inaugurated in spring 2002, with the first cohort launched in fall 2002. Each cohort of approximately 25 students participates in a two-semester full-time college credit program. Unlike other programs (General Educational Development, Adult Learning, English as a Second Language) at Truman College, TBLC students receive college credit for the majority of the courses taken while enrolled in the TBLC program. Except in the English class, both English and Spanish are used for instruction in the early stages of the program. Spanish language instruction gradually diminishes during the second semester. The goal is for students to be able to undertake English credit courses by the time they complete the program.
Institution:
Truman College
Academic Level:
Associate
Issue Area:
Academic Program
Issue Area:
Retention
Year:
2008
Designation:
Examples of Excelencia
Designation:
Finalist
Key Personnel:
Martin, Carlos
Address:
Truman College
Address 2:
1145 W. Wilson Ave, Rm 1435, Office H8
City:
Chicago
State:
IL
Zip:
60640 Goal/Mission:
Since most TBLC students do not qualify for traditional financial aid due to their undocumented status, the TBLC program assists them with other financial aid opportunities. The Harold Washington Scholarship covers the cost of tuition for students who do not qualify for federal financial aid. Those receiving the scholarship must be enrolled as full-time students (12 credit hours or more each semester) and maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average. Since fall 2002, 20 TBLC students have qualified for and received this scholarship each year.
Outcome:
The goal of the TBLC program is to enable Spanish-speaking immigrant students to undertake credit courses in English by the time they complete the two-semester program. Approximately 88% of 145 TBLC students have completed the two-semester, full-time college credit program. Based on student interviews and academic records, projections are that, by spring 2010, 63% of TBLC students (cohorts 2-6) will have completed Associate degrees and/or transferred to four-year institutions. After finishing the first two semesters of the program, students in cohorts 2-6 had a retention rate of 87.8% and an overall grade point average of 2.77. The TBLC retention rate was almost 70% after five years, and the rate of full-time student enrollment was 60%. Twenty-six students have graduated with Associate degrees or transferred to four-year universities, including those graduating in spring 2008. Most of them graduated with honors. The TBLC program has been institutionalized at Truman College as part of the Student Success and Leadership Institute (SSLI) department. As a result of TBLC’s success, other new learning communities will be established in fall 2008: a Math and Science Learning Community, a QUICK Learning Community for developmental classes and a second TBLC program starting fall 2009. Also a 2007 Semi-Finalist.
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