April 2, 2014 Page 1 of 14 Enhancing institutional flexibility in determining college-readiness in mathematics: A resource for the NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING COMMITTEE ON THE TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE This resource is an edited version of the document shared by staff of the New Mathways Project with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s negotiated rulemaking committee as the committee considered changes to the rules for the Texas Success Initiative, the state’s project to better serve students in need of additional developmental support as they enter higher education. The information in this document was shared with committee members before the committee’s meeting on April 2, 2014. Issue Many colleges and universities in Texas are implementing multiple mathematics pathways, with the intention that in following these various pathways, students will become better prepared to pursue their chosen programs of study. Typically, in Texas and nationally, students seeking business or STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) degrees are required to complete calculus, while many students in the liberal arts, social sciences, fine arts, and health fields are referred to courses in statistics or in contemporary mathematics (e.g., quantitative reasoning and mathematics for liberal arts courses). Prerequisite developmental courses have traditionally been designed with the assumption that all students are following the mathematics course pathway that leads to calculus. Now, in response to the efforts to align college-level mathematics courses with programs of study, institutions of higher education in Texas and beyond are redesigning developmental prerequisites to better align to the college-level mathematics courses needed for students’ actual programs of study—not all of which require calculus. Institutions of higher education, including the 50 Texas community college districts participating in the New Mathways Project, seek clarity and flexibility in the Texas Success Initiative rules to determine when a student is college-ready in mathematics when he or she completes developmental mathematics coursework other than intermediate algebra. Specifically, how should institutions determine when a student is college-ready when that student takes developmental coursework aligned to statistics or contemporary mathematics—that is, coursework designed to prepare students for non-STEM pathways? Background The movement toward multiple mathematics pathways began with recommendations from the professional associations of mathematics, including the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC). The movement is strongly supported by the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM), which includes the MAA, the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the American Statistical Association, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Many colleges and universities across Texas and the nation are joining this movement. The New April 2, 2014 Page 2 of 14 Mathways Project is one instantiation of an approach using multiple mathematics pathways to support underprepared college students. The NMP is a joint initiative of the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Association of Community Colleges. In 2012, all 50 community college districts in the state unanimously agreed to participate in the NMP and increased their association dues to TACC to support NMP development and implementation. Since that time, the Texas Legislature has appropriated funds, and private funders, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Greater Texas Foundation, Houston Endowment, the Kresge Foundation, and TG, have contributed to the project. The NMP is a systemic approach to improving student success and completion that implements processes, strategies, and structures based on four fundamental principles: 1. Multiple pathways with relevant and challenging math content aligned to specific fields of study 2. Acceleration that allows students to complete a college-level math course more quickly than in the traditional developmental math sequence 3. Intentional use of strategies to help students develop skills as learners 4. Curriculum design and pedagogy based on proven practice and research-based definitions of rigor The NMP courses are designed to enable students placed into developmental mathematics to complete a credit-bearing, transferable mathematics course on an accelerated timeline, while building skills for long-term success in college and in life. The figure shows the structure of the NMP courses. For more information about the NMP courses, please see the Overview of the NMP: Focus on Curricular Materials document. April 2, 2014 Page 3 of 14 Current TSI Rules At present, Texas Success Initiative (TSI) rules (rule 4.59) require that once a student is “TSI complete,” he or she must be eligible to enroll in any college-level course. Institutions implementing the NMP this year have identified a key challenge: students who complete the NMP Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning course are ready to take statistics (Math 1342/1442) or contemporary mathematics (Math 1332), but they are not yet fully prepared with all the algebraic skills they need to succeed in college algebra (Math 1314). The implementing colleges would like more flexibility in the TSI rules and reporting requirements to allow them to certify a student is TSI-complete for a pathway. That is, they would like to ensure that developmental students who complete Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning go on to statistics or contemporary mathematics, while those students who go on to college algebra first complete intermediate algebra (or an equivalent non-course-based option). Institutions can currently work around this challenge by classifying a student as TSI-complete when the student successfully completes the associated college-level course. This approach is analogous to the co-requisite model, in which students simultaneously enroll in supplemental developmental support and a college-level course. There are two drawbacks to this approach: (1) Students who transfer after their developmental course will not be viewed as college-ready at a receiving institution and may need to take additional developmental coursework; (2) Students who are not TSI-complete often need special institutional override or approval to enroll in a college-level course, complicating registration and limiting scalability of pathways programs. Proposed Rule Change To address these issues, the implementing NMP colleges and the Dana Center propose that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board include the following institutional option for determining college readiness: Allow institutions to classify a student as "TSI-complete for a pathway", that is, "ready for college algebra" or "ready for statistics or contemporary math." The proposed change ensures that students in both developmental programs and collegelevel programs are prepared for the courses needed in their fields of study. If a student changes pathways, he or she may need to take additional coursework to become TSIcomplete for his or her new field of study. This proposed change would ease implementation and scale-up of multiple mathematics pathways in Texas, as students could be classified as TSI-complete before registering for a college-level course. College readiness for a pathway can be easily tracked and automated in registration systems. The proposed change also supports rule 4.59’s requirement that “An institution shall, as soon as practicable and feasible, indicate a student's readiness in reading, mathematics, and writing on the transcript of each student.” It is important to note that the proposed rule change would not require colleges and universities to offer particular prerequisites or multiple pathways. The change would, however, provide the flexibility that institutions seek to align developmental mathematics April 2, 2014 Page 4 of 14 and college-level mathematics courses, to simplify enrollment and advising processes, and to accurately track student progress. If you have any questions about this document, please contact Jenna Cullinane (jenna.cullinane@austin.utexas.edu), higher education policy and strategy lead at The Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin. April 2, 2014 Page 5 of 14 SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES Professional organizations of mathematics, a number of Texas higher education institutions, and institutions and policymakers in other states offer examples and support for three key ideas for improving undergraduate education in mathematics: (1) Offer multiple mathematics pathways aligned to students’ programs of study (2) Align prerequisite developmental courses to college-level mathematics courses (3) Provide institutions flexibility to innovate and implement accelerated mathematics pathways that lead to improved student success. (1) Offer multiple mathematics pathways Mathematics Professional Associations The Mathematical Association of America’s Committee on the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics (CUPM) recommends that departments broaden general education coursework beyond college algebra to meet student needs, asserting: “Unfortunately, there is often a serious mismatch between the original rationale for a college algebra requirement and the actual needs of the students who take the course. A critically important task for mathematical science departments at institutions with college algebra requirements is to clarify the rationale for the requirements, determine the needs of the students who take college algebra, and ensure that the department’s courses are aligned with these findings.” For students taking general education or introductory courses in the mathematical sciences (not majoring in the mathematical sciences or mathematics-intensive partner disciplines), the Committee recommends courses in quantitative literacy, liberal arts mathematics, finite mathematics, college algebra with modeling, or introductory statistics—that enable students to build quantitative and logical reasoning skills while honing analytical communication skills. — Mathematical Association of America, Undergraduate Courses and Programs in the Mathematical Sciences: CUPM Curriculum Guide 2004, p. 27. http://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/CUPM/cupm2004.pdf The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) recommends that all students develop quantitative literacy. For students in non-mathematics-intensive majors, quantitative literacy includes applying mathematics, statistics, and technology to research, model, and interpret real-world problems and solutions. —American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, Beyond Crossroads, pp. 39–40. April 2, 2014 Page 6 of 14 http://beyondcrossroads.matyc.org/doc/PDFs/BCAll.pdf In recent convenings with 17 Texas universities participating in the NMP Transfer Champions Initiative, the Dana Center found: • All 17 participating universities offer at least 2 mathematics pathways that are aligned to the needs of students majoring in STEM fields and in non-STEM fields. • Seven of these universities (indicated with ** in the table below) offer at least 3 mathematics course pathways aligned to the needs of students in the social sciences and health fields, the liberal and fine arts, and in STEM fields. Colleges and universities participating in the New Mathways Project transfer initiative Two-Year (codevelopers) Four-Year (primary transfer partners) Austin Community College The University of Texas at Austin** Texas State University Brazosport College University of Houston University of Houston–Clear Lake El Paso Community College The University of Texas at El Paso Kilgore College The University of Texas at Tyler** Stephen F. Austin State University** Texas A&M University–Commerce Lone Star CollegeSam Houston State University Kingwood University of Houston–Downtown** Midland College Texas Tech University** The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Alamo Colleges— The University of Texas at San Northwest Vista College Antonio Texas A&M University-San Antonio South Texas College The University of Texas–Pan American** Temple College Texas A&M University–Central Texas University of North Texas** —The New Mathways Project, Transfer Champions Initiative http://www.utdanacenter.org/higher-education/new-mathways-project/the-newmathways-project-in-texas/transfer-champions-initiative David M. Bressoud, Eric M. Friedlander, and C. David Levermore (leaders or former leaders of mathematics professional associations) recently addressed the challenges of improving postsecondary education in mathematics in an article for SAIM News and MAA Focus written on behalf of the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics—which includes the April 2, 2014 Page 7 of 14 Mathematical Association of America, the American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. They argue: “Among the challenges we face is the need to find new ways to educate students who are poorly prepared for post-secondary mathematics. This includes new teaching methodologies and technology, as well as changes in curricula at all levels. We must do more to adapt the mathematics we teach to the career needs of the students we teach.” Their recommendations cite the NMP and related work on the Statway and Quantway courses as promising strategies for improving success in collegiate mathematics for underprepared students. —David M. Bressoud, Eric M. Friedlander, and C. David Levermore. (2014 January 10). “Meeting the Challenges of Improved Post-Secondary Education in the Mathematical Sciences.” Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics (TPSE Math). Retrieved on March 19, 2014, from http://www.tpsemath.org./meeting_the_challenges. A longer version of this essay was published by the Mathematical Association of America and can be found here: http://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/MathReport2PCAST.pdf Texas Colleges and Universities Example: The University of Texas at Tyler UTT advises students to fulfill core curriculum requirements with relevant coursework for their major. Excerpted from their advising guide: • Math, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Majors You must take Calculus I (Math 2413). • Liberal Arts Majors We recommend you take Contemporary Math I & II (Math 1332 & 1333) to satisfy your core. These courses are specifically designed with you in mind and strongly recommended. That is, they are for majors that do not require any specific mathematical knowledge. As a result, the topics in these courses are chosen to be interesting and relevant, requiring only basic skills from high school mathematics courses. • Business, Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Management, Computer Information Systems Majors You must take Mathematics for Business and Economics I (Math 1324). • Nursing, Health & Kinesiology Majors We recommend you take Statistics I & II (Math 1342 & 1343) to satisfy your core. April 2, 2014 Page 8 of 14 —The University of Texas at Tyler, “Planning for the Core Curriculum.” https://www.uttyler.edu/nursing/college/undergraduate/bsn.php Example: The University of North Texas UNT’s mathematics department developed a visual aid to describe the alignment of recommended mathematics courses with fields of study. Students can follow their major’s path from prerequisites and placement through credit-bearing courses: • Social Sciences, Humanities, Public Affairs and Community Service, Journalism, Music, Merchandising Hospitality, and Tourism majors take a contemporary mathematics course or elementary statistics. • Business and BA economics majors take college math for business and business calculus. • Mathematics, science, and BS economics majors take Calculus and the related calculus-prep sequence. —University of North Texas, “Which UNT Math Class is Right for Me?” https://transition.unt.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/FO_WhichMathClass-1.pdf Example: The University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin allows students to fulfill core mathematics and statistics requirements with courses applicable to their field of study. Although a broad range of courses meet general requirements, specific majors may require additional coursework and/or restrict the number of acceptable courses. This University policy effectively facilitates pathways. —The University of Texas at Austin School of Undergraduate Studies, “2012–2014 Core Requirements” https://www.utexas.edu/ugs/core/requirements/2012-2014 —Department of Mathematics, “Mathematics Course Descriptions” https://www.ma.utexas.edu/academics/courses/descriptions —Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, “Courses: Undergraduate Course Inventory” http://ssc.utexas.edu/undergraduate/courses-undergraduate April 2, 2014 Page 9 of 14 Example: The New Mathways Project Forty-seven Texas community college districts have committed to begin implementing the New Mathways Project by 2016. Ten institutions are implementing the statistics pathway in the 2013-2014 academic year. Thirteen additional colleges will begin implementation in 2014 or 2015. Another 23 will begin implementing in 2015 or 2016. —Statewide Implementation of the New Mathways Project http://www.utdanacenter.org/higher-education/new-mathways-project/the-newmathways-project-in-texas/statewide-implementation-of-the-new-mathways-project Other States and Systems The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education adopted differentiated pathways by establishing three tiers of college readiness for mathematics. First-time students seeking to enroll in general education mathematics, college algebra, and calculus without developmental coursework must meet different ACT, SAT, and COMPASS benchmark scores. The Council justifies their position accordingly: “A three-tiered approach to mathematics was used to establish mathematics readiness levels for various fields of study. For example, a survey of Kentucky institutions found that most majors in the liberal arts and social sciences fields do not require college algebra. A mathematics readiness score for those majors was investigated and subsequently established based on student performance in the liberal arts mathematics courses.” —Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, “College and Career Readiness in Kentucky” http://www.cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/159216BD-E814-48A1-979E8955E3C1DA8D/0/COLLEGEANDCAREERREADINESSINKENTUCKYandSenateBill1forBoardOrie ntationBook.pdf Two recent statewide mathematics taskforces in Georgia and Ohio have recommended the use of multiple mathematics pathways. The University System of Georgia Mathematics Task Force recommends that campuses align enrollment in introductory mathematics with existing STEM and non-STEM pathways to better suit students’ intended program of study. The task force contends that there needs to be a modernized curriculum to match career needs: “A half-century ago, most students who took college mathematics were preparing for careers in engineering or the sciences, and calculus was the clear entry point for these STEM programs of study. Today, almost all students need a deeper understanding of basic mathematics and how to apply it in unfamiliar settings. They April 2, 2014 Page 10 of 14 also need sufficient knowledge of statistics and data analysis to make sense of and to manage the inescapable reality of uncertainty in both physical systems and human affairs. Thus, many more students need to study mathematics, especially in courses that teach them how to use mathematics to make sense of the world around them, to prepare them for responsible citizenship, and to prepare them for success in an increasing diversity of majors.” —University System of Georgia Mathematics Task Force, University System of Georgia: Transforming College Mathematics, pp. 3, 5. http://www.utdanacenter.org/wpcontent/uploads/USG_Transforming_Remediation_Mathematics_Final_Report.pdf The Ohio Higher Education Mathematics Steering Committee is charged with developing mathematics pathways and will release a final report in Spring 2014. More information about recommendations for prerequisites is provided below. —University System of Ohio Boards of Regents, “Rethinking Postsecondary Mathematics” https://ohiohighered.org/sites/ohiohighered.org/files/uploads/math/Math-FINAL.pdf Complete College America identifies aligned mathematics as a best practice among “game changer” colleges. They argue: “College algebra has one purpose: calculus. For many students, algebra is a serious obstacle to college success. Instead, we should use statistics and quantitative literacy, which better align with most non-STEM programs of study.” —Complete College America, “The Game Changers: Guided Pathways to Success” http://www.completecollege.org/gameChangers.html (2) Align prerequisite developmental courses to college-level mathematics courses Mathematics Professional Associations The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) issued a position statement supporting differentiated prerequisites for developmental pathways, resolving: • “The prerequisites of a mathematics course should be those appropriate to providing a foundation for student success in that course; • The course description and learning outcomes of a mathematics course determine the prerequisite level of mathematical literacy, skills, and knowledge necessary for successful completion of the course; April 2, 2014 Page 11 of 14 • The content in intermediate algebra courses is generally required to master the content of algebra-based STEM courses; and, • The content of an intermediate algebra course is not required to master the content for most non-STEM college-level mathematics courses.” —American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, “AMATYC Position Statement on the Appropriate Use of Intermediate Algebra as a Prerequisites Course, p. 2. http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.amatyc.org/resource/resmgr/amatyc_in_anaheim/ama tyc_position_paper_on_int.pdf Texas Colleges and Universities The University of Texas–Pan American is currently developing a pre-statistics developmental course. As proposed, the course will prepare students for elementary statistics but not be applicable towards degrees requiring college algebra. —The University of Texas–Pan American, “Proposal for Probability and Statistics (Pre-Stats)” The University of Houston–Downtown has different prerequisites and conditions for its introductory math courses, College Algebra and College Mathematics for Liberal Arts. College Algebra requires Intermediate Algebra proficiency, while College Mathematics for Liberal Arts only requires Beginning Algebra. Page 186 of the University’s course catalog outlines the distinction. —University of Houston-Downtown, Undergraduate Catalog 2013/2014, p.186. http://global.dt.uh.edu:8080/catalog/20132014/2013_2014_Undergraduate_UHD_Catalog.pdf Other States and Systems Colorado granted the Colorado Commission on Higher Education statutory authority to establish developmental coursework criteria, differentiating mathematics pre-requisites by field of study as necessary. -Colorado Department of Higher Education, Approved Policy, Part E: Statewide Remedial Education Policy http://highered.colorado.gov/Publications/Policies/Current/i-parte.pdf The task force chartered to study Colorado’s developmental education policy recommended differentiated placement, concluding: “Students are currently placed in remediation regardless of what field they plan to study. More than half the students who need remedial courses need help in math. April 2, 2014 Page 12 of 14 Yet many of these students have not chosen a major related to the math they are being required to learn. This recommendation asks students to plan a course of study based on their Individual academic aspirations. It also allows them to change their minds at any point – if they do, they would need to meet the math required in their new chosen field.” —Colorado Commission on Higher Education, “Changes to Colorado’s Remedial Education Policy Proposed by the Remedial Education Policy Review Task Force” http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Groups/RemedialReview/Meetings/Handouts/w ebremedialsummary.pdf The Ohio Higher Education Mathematics Steering Committee has made the following recommendation and rationale for modifying prerequisite courses in mathematics. The Committee released a final report in Spring 2014. “Recommendation: Increase departmental flexibility in determining prerequisite courses and credit hour requirements for OTM courses Generally speaking, entry-level course prerequisites should be those that are needed to provide a foundation for student success in that course. The course description and learning outcomes of a mathematics course should, therefore, identify the prerequisite level of mathematical literacy, skills and knowledge necessary for successful completion of the course. We know, however, that the content in Intermediate Algebra courses, for example, while generally required to master the content of algebra-based STEM courses, is not required for most nonSTEM college-level mathematics courses. Consequently, there is a need to broaden prerequisites for certain mathematics courses.” —University System of Ohio Boards of Regents, “Rethinking Postsecondary Mathematics” https://ohiohighered.org/sites/ohiohighered.org/files/uploads/math/Math-FINAL.pdf Four California State University campuses (East Bay, Sacramento, San Francisco, San José) are implementing the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s Statway™ accelerated statistics pathway (See below for more information about Statway). —Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, “Participating Statway™ Institutions” http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/statway/participating-institutions April 2, 2014 Page 13 of 14 (3) Provide institutions flexibility to innovate and implement accelerated mathematics pathways that lead to improved student success Professional Associations LearningWorks, a California Community Colleges research organization, identifies a number of successful pathways efforts underway in its Changing Equations report. Although research is still ongoing, LearningWorks cites the early results as promising and capable of producing “change more transformational than the incremental improvements yielded by prior reforms.” —Burdman, P. (2013). Changing Equations: How Community Colleges are Rethinking College Readiness in Math. (pp. 17). Oakland, CA: LearningWorks. http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/LWBrief_ChangingEquations_WEB.pdf Texas Colleges and Universities Preliminary data from Fall 2013 of the New Mathways Project shows that students enrolled in the NMP co-requisite courses (Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning and Frameworks for Mathematics and Collegiate Learning) attained college readiness at a higher rate than did previous (non-NMP) cohorts at those colleges implementing NMP. Of the students enrolled in NMP, 65 percent completed the developmental portion of the pathway, and 55 percent enrolled in the college-level course in one year. These rates triple or quadruple the success rates of traditional developmental mathematics pathways at participating institutions. Outcome Results of NMP TSI Complete (successfully completed developmental math) Enrolled in College-Level Math 65% 55% Comparison Group (Traditional Dev. Ed) 2 levels below- 20% 3 levels below - 26% 2 levels below - 9% 3 levels below - 12% —The New Mathways Project, “Preliminary Report Fall 2013.” (available upon request) Austin Community College’s own developmental pathway course has also shown success. Developing Mathematical Thinking offers students in non-STEM fields an alternative to Intermediate Algebra. Students not only successfully complete (receiving a grade of C or above) Developing Mathematical Thinking at a higher rate than Intermediate Algebra, but those who complete Developing Mathematical Thinking succeed in Math 1332 at higher rates than other students. April 2, 2014 Page 14 of 14 Completion of developmental math courses Completion of college-level math course Developing Mathematical Thinking Group Int. Algebra Comparison Group College Ready Comparison Group 77% 50% N/A 84% (Math 1332) 71.8% (Math 1332) 69% (Math 1332) —Austin Community College Math Department http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/0385/0385data_Apr2011.pdf Other States and Systems The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is advancing two mathematics pathways, Statway™ and Quantway™. (The original—version 1.0—releases of the Statway™ and Quantway™ courses were created by The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin under sponsorship of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and are copyright © 2011 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin. STATWAY™/Statway™ and Quantway™ are trademarks of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.) Carnegie’s Statway and Quantway courses offer differentiated developmental curriculum for students in non-STEM fields. Both pathways have shown success at raising rates of student completion with success (receiving a grade of C or above) while keeping students on an accelerated timetable: Program Successful Peer Group Completion Rate Completion Rate Statway™ 52% 15.1% (After one year) (After two years) Quantway™ 52% 20.6% (After one semester) (After two semesters) —Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Community College Pathways: 2012–2013 Descriptive Report, pp. 7–10. http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/sites/default/files/pathways/CCP_Descriptive_Report_ Year_2.pdf If you have any questions about this document, please contact Jenna Cullinane (jenna.cullinane@austin.utexas.edu), higher education policy and strategy lead at The Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin.