Since last xxx, key faculty of Northwest Vista College have devised a way to help students avoid developmental math or get through it more quickly. Why the emphasis on developmental math?
According to the Carnegie Foundation, only 5 percent of the 13 million community college students enrolled in a developmental math course earn college level credit within one year.
“If you do not get out of developmental mathematics, you cannot acquire credits to transfer to a four-year institution, and you often cannot get access to vocational and technical training programs. The bumper sticker for this problem is, ‘developmental mathematics is where aspirations go to die.’” said Tony Bryk, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching on its website.
NVC is hoping to change those alarming stats with its Project Math Paths it has been piloting since xxx. However, the pilot received a huge help thanks to a five-year $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The grant will allow NVC faculty and staff to welcome, advise, place, and accelerate students through the math core and eliminate developmental math hours.
A group of students recently had the opportunity to experience Project Math Paths in action last week. Mary Zocchi and Matt Roy served as advisors in the “SMATing” process where math students left Math 1314 (College Algebra) to have a brief chat with the advisor to determine if they were on the right course. For instance, if the student plans to study Communications, they may not be required to take an advanced-level math course.
If the student feels they can take a math course to finish their degree or transfer quicker, then they head to “Mini Vista Central” where again they are given their options and enrolled in a different course right there. In “Mini Vista Central,” there are representatives from Admissions and Financial Aid.
NVC first year student Matt Gearhard, who recently visited Mini Vista Central, said while he didn't end up changing math courses due to financial aid issues, the process did open his eyes on what math courses he needs to take to eventually transfer to a four-year college and major in Advertising.
“(Going through this has made me more) cautious of what I'm singing up for. I wish I would have known about this sooner,” said Matt, who admitted to registering too late to have more options of math courses.
The goals for Project Math Paths:
- Implement intrusive advising for all first time in college students through “Vista Central – One Stop Shop”;
- Accelerate the developmental math sequence and advise into optimal college level math courses;
- Maximize student success by dramatically increasing optimal math placement, including math 1414, college algebra for STEM majors;
- Reduce time needed and facilitate student enrollment through the creation of “Vista Central – One Stop Shop” with imbedded support services to facilitate the enrollment process, monitor and advise student progress, and;
- Increase student enrollment, retention and core math completion.
NVC faculty Anna Harwin, Mary Zocchi and Thomas Pressly, Ph.D, had the vision for this project and prepared the grant proposal.