Mathematics Colloquium
The features of successful college calculus programs:
An overview of the CSPCC project’s main findings
Jessica Ellis
Department of Mathematics
Colorado State University
Thursday, May 14, 2015
11:10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Building 53 Room 213
Abstract
Calculus I has been pointed to as a major contributing factor in students’ decisions
to not pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines,
despite years of research and innovations focused on improving calculus instruction.
Motivated by this, the MAA has worked with researchers in mathematics and mathematics education to examine the current state of Calculus I programs across the country,
identify institutions with more successful Calculus I programs, and conduct case studies
at these institutions to understand the factors contributing to their success. In this talk
I will highlight the major findings from the Characteristics of Successful Programs in
College Calculus (CSPCC) project, many of which will be featured in a monograph to
be published later this year. First I will draw on the survey data to discuss the current
state of Calculus I across the country, particularly drawing attention to what this data
tells us about the students who persist in their STEM disciplines after taking Calculus
I and those that don’t. Second, I will summarize the key findings from our case studies.
I will conclude by discussing our current work on a follow-up grant in which we are
investigating the precalculus/calculus sequence.
About the speaker: Jessica Ellis is an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics Department
at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. She recently completed her doctoral studies in
San Diego under the advisement of Dr. Chris Rasmussen. Prior to this, she spent eight
lovely years in San Luis Obispo, earning both her BS and her MS in mathematics from
Cal Poly. Her current research interests are broadly focused on improving undergraduate
mathematics education on a large scale, specifically looking into supporting institutions
improve their calculus programs.