Where We Are … Lansing CC

We have heard the same type of ‘statistics’ cited as evidence that developmental mathematics is a failure. “Too many students place into remedial mathematics” … “remedial mathematics blocks students from completing a college math course” … and similar data mcnuggets.

Here at Lansing CC, we are working on a different narrative, with a story of student success within a department willing to make fundamental changes because we think those changes will result in a better experience for our students — as opposed to ‘because the state (or chancellor) told us we had to’.

Here is a representation of the progress we have made:

Source: Lansing CC Center for Data Science, Feb 2018

This chart is showing the proportion of students enrolled in credit level mathematics out of the total (including developmental). Within 5 years, we have doubled the rate of students taking credit math courses.

Here is a chart of our basic curriculum:

The progress is the result of several changes and decisions:

Eliminating pre-algebra as a course
Replacing beginning algebra with math literacy
Using math literacy as the prerequisite to the quantitative reasoning (QR) and statistics courses
Removing intermediate algebra from the list of general education courses for an associate degree

The only co-requisite work involved (so far) is within developmental courses (Math Lit with Review; Fast Track Algebra).

Another piece of good news is that we have slightly more students in the initial STEM path courses (college algebra & pre-calculus) than we do in the QR and statistics courses.

Early in April, I will be delivering an AMATYC Webinar on “Dev Math: Past, Present, and Future”. In that webinar, the conclusion will be some thoughts on what a brighter future could be for us … including a specific vision for the curriculum in the first two years. I hope you will consider being a part of that webinar (tentatively scheduled for April 3, afternoon).

Developmental Mathematics Revival!

Bringing a new vitality to college mathematics 2011 to 2019