Minutes for Math Issues 2/8/02, Maria Sanford Hall, CCSU, 10:30-1:00
 
Present:  Larisa Alikhanova (Three Rivers), Kathy Bavelas (Manchester), Alice Burstein (Middlesex), Elaine Dinto (Naugatuck Valley), Lori Fuller (Tunxis), Miguel Garcia (Gateway), Alice Grandgeorge (Manchester), Pat Hirschy (Asnuntuck), Joe Karnowski (Norwalk), Mark Leach (Housatonic), Bob Lynott (Naugatuck Valley), Barbara Paskov (Manchester), Slav Sharapov (Quinebaug Valley)
 
 
COMMON NUMBERING
Miguel handed out a response to questions about common course numbering  (attach). He will work with chief academic officer for additional information.
 
Alice B. said apparently each campus can make changes. She can make changes through curriculum committee and then send changes to Phil.  Other campuses are not doing the same.  We should get a statement in writing from Phil to clarify.
 
The role of math issues is to serve as an advisory committee for the system perspective of math course changes.
 
Elaine asked if there is some way we can be sure that math is definitely going to be in Phase III?  Can we volunteer to be one of the first to put our "stuff” together? 
 
Pat said we should be getting our students, counseling staff etc. prepared for the changes by noting on our syllabus what the new course number is going to be.
 
Each school should provide a list of the changes (like grids from matyconn website).
 
Joe brought up question about statistics course – changing its prerequisite at Norwalk - it must go through Norwalk’s curriculum committee.
 
No further changes as of yet on the Accuplacer bands.
 
 
TECH PREP
Discussed highlights document from tech prep directors meeting.
 
CSU said they will not accept intermediate algebra as a college level course.  Pat feels that we should all be administering the Accuplacer.  What if Accuplacer places student below a course that they have taken?
 
Miguel feels that since the Accuplacer is an entrance exam it should not be used as an exit  exam.
 
Also we should articulate one course instead of two.  Pat suggested elementary algebra instead of intermediate algebra.
 
Tech prep requires someone from college to go out to high schools to discuss. 
 
The only way to be sure high schools are teaching what they are supposed to is for someone from the college visit the school; this must be done each year.
 
How many students are coming to our community colleges after tech prep?  Miguel will ask Phil to answer or direct us to who can give us this and other info about tech prep.  Pat asked about Partnership programs  - how do students get placed into this without Accuplacer?  This raised questions about whole high school partnership program - each of us will find out how this done at our school.
 
 
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Is it legal to require prerequisite?  Some on committee thought that we could not require and that there are waiver forms that students can sign to enroll in a course.
 
 
NEW BUSINESS
Alice B.  - courses in proposal (for common core curriculum?) are intermediate algebra or statistics.   The group proposes possibly requiring one mathematics credit-bearing course.  Alice will email a copy of memo so we can take to our deans.  We would like to have a common policy proposed and then discuss it in math issues committee.
 
 
Submitted by Joe Karnowski