TO: Dorothy A. McIlvain, Dean, Semak College of Arts and Sciences
FROM: Jim R. Tedrow, Head, Faculty Committee on Freshman Qualifications
DATE: June 15, 20-SUBJECT: SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES FRESHMAN MATH SKILLS
At a recent meeting of the Faculty Committee on Freshman Qualifications, the Enrollment Management
representative reported that freshmen entering the Semak College of Arts and Sciences (SCAS) this year
have higher average SAT math scores than the freshmen who entered SCAS in each of the past five
years.
Much discussion centered on the significance of the increase, and we finally decided to compare the
math placement records for these same freshmen over the same time period. By doing this, the
committee believes it can determine if students are being placed into higher-level math courses as a
result of the increase in scores.
This study revealed the course placements (by percent and number) that are reported below.
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
SCAS MATH PLACEMENTS--2004-2008
MATH 100
MATH 180
MATH 250
Pre-College Algebra
College Algebra
Calculus I
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
26%
60
54%
123
20%
45
23%
53
56%
127
21%
47
21%
48
57%
128
22%
50
18%
42
58%
136
24%
56
16%
41
60%
149
24%
67