[MATHEDCC] Credit for Int Algebra

ted panitz (tpanitz@cape.com)
Tue, 03 Mar 1998 10:49:35 +0000

In response to George's question, the Massachusetts Board of Higher
Education several years ago passed a resolution stating that three years
of high school math should be required as a prerequisite for college
level math. The board had in mind elementarty algebra. geometry and
intermediate algebra. At Cape Cod Com. Col. we previously gave
graduation credit for elementary and Intermediate algebra. About ten
years ago we revisited our graduation requirements and changed them to
require college math for graduation with an Associates in Arts degree.
The Associate in Science degree programs chose their own math
rerquirements. The developmental math classes are now given
institutional credit for financial aid purposes so students can get
credit for full time status. They do not count towards graduation. This
is also true for our developmental english courses.
Interestingly some of the state colleges accept our intermesiate
algebra as college math for some of their programs. This despite the
Board's interest in maintaining a college level math rerquirement. In
addition a number of other community colleges use intermediate algebra
as a college math. This poses a little problem for us when our
administrtion questions our math requirements in an attempt to make
getting a degree easier for our students. We have been able to resist
changes so far. There is currently a committee at the state level which
is examining the entire developmental structure and another committee
looking at the testing procedures used by all colleges to place
students. Hold onto you hats for those results.
Essentially our math faculty has determined that we are not even
offering the same level courses as the high schools since we meet for 45
sessions versus 180 in the high schools and the amount of material we
cover is much less. I can personally verify that as I have observed and
worked with my two sons who have gone up through calculus in high
school. We do not come close to the coverage they had in their algebra
courses.
It would seem to me then that offering intermediate algebra as a
college level course would be quite inappropriate. We use intermediate
algebra as a prerequisite for Precalculus, which is college level
algebra, and other math classes such as Statistics, Survey of Math and
Business Math. Interestingly we do not offer any courses in geometry
despite the Board's suggestion that this be a prerequisite for college
math. God forbid if we should try to add an extra course which might
benefit our students but require extra time or effort? (Sorry about the
editorial comment but I couldn't resist)

Regards,
Ted Panitz tpanitz@cape.com
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