CHICAGO, April 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- When Saint
Xavier University (SXU) faculty and staff reviewed
institutional data that revealed a concerning trend in the
successful completion of first-year college mathematics courses,
they knew they needed to take an innovative approach to improve
degree progression for students who didn't test into college-level
math.
"As a Catholic, Mercy institution, we
recognize the intrinsic dignity of every student as well as their
ability to learn."
Though developmental education was devised within higher
learning institutions to help underprepared students grow
academically before being placed into college-level courses, in
recent years, data has revealed that developmental students often
face barriers to degree completion.
As the team assessed the data, they discovered that the single
biggest indicator of student retention was whether students
completed the University's math requirement by the end of their
first year.
Jumping into action, the team worked to address best practices
in mathematical pedagogy, examining better approaches to student
placement, including pathways to placement that were less dependent
on a high-stakes exam (particularly one that over-placed minority
students in developmental math). Being mindful of which programs
were more algebra-dependent and which were better suited for a
statistics course, they considered scheduling logistics,
professional development for faculty, the nuances of a math
bootcamp, and how they would evaluate
effectiveness.
After receiving a Department of Education Hispanic-Serving
Institution STEM grant (P031C210201) designed to remove barriers to
academic success, the University utilized funding to secure the
help of a consultant who shared best practices. The team examined
potential infrastructure barriers and placement protocols and
implemented an alternative model: an approach to math that was not
exam-dependent with a redesigned curriculum, professional
development opportunities for math faculty, and courses with
built-in supplemental labs and bootcamp options for students placed
into a corequisite course.
The math bootcamp consists of a four-day experience where
students spend each day with a rigid focus on various expressions,
equations and operations, progressively working their way through a
curriculum designed to prepare them for re-taking the placement
exam, which determines whether they can enroll into a standard
100-level math course.
Within two years, the University was able to completely
eliminate its reliance on developmental math, four years ahead of
schedule. Initial findings revealed a 75-80% pass rate for students
in algebra and statistics corequisite classes compared to a
previous pass rate of below 50%, with early data showing higher
success rates among all students.
"Our team has long recognized that the failure to complete a
college-level math course by the end of their first year places
students at greater risk for attrition, interrupting their college
dreams. As a Catholic, Mercy institution, we recognize the
intrinsic dignity of every student as well as their ability to
learn, and our success with math grounds us in the vision of our
founding Sisters of Mercy, which encouraged an equitable and
inclusive learning environment," said Gina
Rossetti, interim dean of SXU's College of Liberal Arts and
Education.
Course evaluations completed by students are encouraging, with
many affirming the program has provided them with the experience
and support they need for college readiness and
success.
Leveraging the success of the Math Success Project and to
continue the upward trend of ensuring students' college readiness
and success, the University is examining whether there are similar
barriers in coursework preparation for biology, chemistry and
nursing majors.
The goal is to design corequisite support that addresses
challenging, course-specific content as well as necessary skills
and their use within the programs. The team hopes to introduce
co-curricular activities such as supplemental instruction,
mentorship, internships, research opportunities,
community-building, and support among SXU students.
In creating innovative ways to overcome challenging barriers to
student success, Saint Xavier continues
to work toward creating truly transformative educational
experiences for students.
Saint Xavier
University was founded in 1846 by the
Sisters of Mercy and is a private, Catholic, four-year,
coeducational institution that provides a transformative
educational experience to more than 3,500 undergraduate and
graduate students who are prepared to become compassionate leaders
in their fields of study and their communities. As a
mission-driven, student-centered institution, Saint
Xavier opens doors to bright futures, with program offerings
through our College of Liberal Arts and
Education and College of Nursing, Health
Sciences and Business. Recognizing Saint
Xavier's excellence in education, U.S. News
& World Report has ranked SXU consistently
among the best colleges in the Midwest.
MEDIA CONTACT: Deb Rapacz, Vice President of Marketing and
Communications, rapacz@sxu.edu
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SOURCE Saint Xavier University