Minutes of Math Issues Committee
Friday, October 13, 2006
Manchester Community College, AST Building, Room D229

The meeting convened at 11:15 a.m.
 
Present — Jean-Marc Cenet (Tunxis), Elaine Dinto ( Naugatuck Valley ), Teresa Foley (Asnuntuck/Capital), Miguel Garcia (Gateway), Diane Hillyer (Manchester), Pat Hirschy (Asnuntuck), Joe Karnowski (Norwalk), Rachael Schettenhelm (Gateway), Jana Sime (Manchester).
 
Pat introduced new committee member Teresa Foley, who has earned a PhD at UConn and is currently an adjunct at both Capital and Asnuntuck.
 
Minutes from September 15, 2006, were approved. Good job, Pat!
 
Tech Prep —
Elaine distributed background information on the purpose, provisions and recent changes in Tech Prep. Material included (1) the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, Public Act No. 105-332, Title II – Tech Prep Education (revised 03/01), and (2) the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV), which includes changes from Perkins III.
 
Different states interpret federal Tech Prep legislation differently. A provision in a Delaware agreement stated that students must take and pass the next level math course before retroactively receiving tech prep credit; in addition, records of students receiving tech prep credit are so noted.
 
At the September 24, 2004, system-wide Professional Staff Meeting at Naugatuck Valley CC, Mathematics faculty recommended, "Tech Prep credit for mathematics courses be granted to students only if the students demonstrate proficiency in those courses in a manner determined by the mathematics department at the granting community college." As requested, Alice Burstein sent this (and other) information from that meeting to the Central Office, but did not receive a response. At the Professional Staff Meeting on September 22, 2006, math faculty again gave their support to this statement and Alice has once again sent the resolution to the Central Office.
 
A discussion about the specifics of tech prep agreements, which differ from college to college, followed.

·         Some colleges articulate Elementary Algebra while others articulate Intermediate Algebra. An old memo from Dr. Karen Gross stated that Elementary Algebra could in fact be articulated, but some college math faculty have been told by the tech prep coordinator that this is not the case.

·         Some CC math faculty have a contract (paid by the Tech Prep grant) to work with a number of high school teachers to ensure integrity of articulated courses. Other faculty have been expected to do this work as part of their duties or additional responsibilities.

·         In at least one agreement, high school students must earn a minimum of B^– in the articulated course in order to receive tech prep credit.

·         Some colleges give an exit exam written by the college, which students must pass in order to receive tech prep credit.

·         In some CC's, placing out of the articulated course on Accuplacer is an essential component of the tech prep agreement.

·         The tech prep grant can pay for high school students to take Accuplacer or an exit exam.

·         Math faculty from the four Connecticut State Universities made it clear years ago that they are not willing to accept Intermediate Algebra from community colleges for transfer to CSU if they are unable to identify students receiving tech prep credit. It was noted however that there have been representatives from CSU and UConn at Tech Prep Steering Committee meetings. This matter will be placed on the agenda for an MBSCC (Math Basic Skills Committee of Connecticut) meeting to discuss with university colleagues whether perhaps there is a disconnect on this issue between math departments and other departments within their institutions.

·         Asnuntuck, Gateway, and Manchester faculty commented on the positive working relationship they have with their tech prep coordinators and how this benefits their students.