Mathematics Placement and Student Success: The Transition from High School to College Mathematics

Abstract: Mathematics Placement and Student Success: The Transition from High School to College Mathematics. This is a conference paper for the Education Division's 2011 ASQ STEM Conference, Advancing the STEM Agenda in Education, the Workplace and Society, held at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. It is authored by David Boyles, Chris Frayer, Leonida Ljumanovic and James Swenson of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

A team of concerned mathematics instructors at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville spent the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years working, in collaboration with area teachers of secondary mathematics, to identify and reduce obstacles experienced by students in the transition from high school to college. It is widely agreed that this transition is difficult for many students; the most tangible evidence is the unacceptably high proportion of students who require remedial instruction at the start of their undergraduate careers. We describe our experience with promoting intentional, ongoing conversations among students, secondary teachers, and university instructors, which we have found to be informative and professionally rewarding.

Keywords: STEM - K-12 Outreach - Student Retention - Partnering - Conference Proceedings - Learning Outcomes