Math 110 College Algebra, Mathematics Competency and related issues

1
Math 110 (College Algebra), Mathematics
Competencyand related issues
2
Mathematics Competency

• Competency in mathematics can be earned in one of
  three ways
• Score on placement exam at Math 112
  (Pre-calculus) or Math 114 (Calculus) level.
• Earn three credits in a mathematics or
  statistics course with a grade of C (or S)
• Test out via Math 110 competency test

3
The current picture for all degrees
4
Concerns with Math 110

• Data needs to be analyzed but
• Fall of 1998 (for 90 Math 110 students selected
  from 902)
• 56 of 90 have Math 110 as their last math
  course
• 30 of the 56 needed to repeat Math 110
• 34 of 90 took additional math courses
• 15 of the 34 repeated 110 before continuing
• 1 of the 34 took 110 and 112
• 1 of the 34 took 110, 112, and 114
• Note that 45 students out of 90 needed to repeat
  Math 110

5
Those who continued took

• Of the 34 out of 90 who took additional
  mathematics courses
• 2 of 90 took Math 112
• 1 of 90 took Math 112 and 245
• 1 of 90 took Math 111 and Math 112
• 1 of 90 took Math 112 and Math 114
• 29 of 90 took one of the following
• Math 111 only
• Math 111 and 245
• Math 245 only

6
Summary of Concern

• Students struggle with Math 110 and, even when
  they successfully complete it, it is not clear
  that it serves them well.

7
Some Ideas for Discussion

• Disallow Math 110 from meeting GE-IB.
• Provide students with a menu of 4 credit
  courses to meet their B.A. math competency AND
  GE-IB.
• These courses might include
• Math 101 (Mathematical Ideas), an enhanced survey
  of important ideas in mathematics for the general
  university audience
• Math 104 (Finite Mathematics with Applications),
  this class already gives competency at the B.A.
  level
• Math 245 (Introduction to Statistics), with
  addition of topics such as Chi-Square Analysis
  and Analysis of Variance.

8
The New 4 Credit Courses

• Math 101 Mathematical Ideas
• Become a 4 credit course including topics such as
  Number Theory, Infinity, Geometry, Topology,
  Probability, Chaos Theory,
• Math 245 Statistics
• Become a 4 credit course in order to meet both
  math competency as well as GE-IB

9
The New Picture
10
Related Questions/Issues

• Should students who need Calculus preparation
  BEGIN in Math 112 and then proceed to Math 114?
• Does the current Math 111 course adequately
  service business, biology, geology, economics,
  etc. students?

11
People to Contact

• Andrew Balas (Dept. Chair)
• 836-3673, abalas
• John Drost (Task Force Chair)
• 836-2527, drostjp
• Ambassadors
• Marc Goulet 836-3517, gouletmr
• Jo Ingle 836-5272, ingleja
• Don Reynolds 836-2767, reynolds
• Vicki Whitledge 836-4176, whitlevm