Today's colleges and universities are changing with the times. Programs change as do the ways that students are taught. However there is one growing program on almost every public college campus that administrators are not proud to point out to distinguished visitors -- developmental education. This article will address the good, the bad, and the ugly truth about developmental education classes. There are many ways that developmental education classes are good for both students and the institutions they serve. Developmental education classes help students who are not prepared for college-level work in reading, writing and math develop the necessary skills to succeed in college. Some of these students are nontraditional students returning to school after a long lapse and need help brushing up on skills. Other students are traditional students who did not acquire the necessary skills before graduating from high school. Developmental education classes serve an important function in