Student Success

hands of three students holding calculators

Math Start

Project Status: Monitor/Assess

The Math Start initiative will strive to address various student success metrics for students who test in developmental math courses.  PSU data indicates that full-time first-year students who test at Math 95 or lower persist at a rate 15% lower than their peers. Further, about a third of the students who take Math 95 will not complete the course, and many who do not pass leave PSU without a degree. Additionally, there are equity gaps for Hispanic/Latinx students. The Math Start Initiative aims to determine if there are alternatives to Math 95 at PSU and a viable option for students placed into Math 95 or below to start at college-level math.

Accomplished

  • Created a Math Start Initiative website and email: mathstart@pdx.edu
  • Scheduled 4 UNST 199: Qualities in Math Confidence courses for Summer 2024 for any incoming new student
  • Met with advisors on multiple occasions to discuss the initiative and course offerings
  • Began assessment work
  • Presented about the Math Start Initiative at a national conference
  • Received IRB approval
  • Removed the word “test” from the website when referring to the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment

In Progress

  • Continuing to work with advisors on communications to students regarding timing of when to take math courses
  • Working with math education doctoral students on focus groups with UNST 199: Qualities in Math Confidence students
  • Continue to pilot UNST 199: Qualities in Math Confidence and Math 199 corequisite for AY 2024-2025

Project Team

Sponsor: Erica Wagner
Project Manager: Lexi Valbjorn
Team: Shoshana Zeisman-Pereyo, Andrea Garrity 
Collaborators: Matthew Carlson, Michael Smith, Steven Boyce, Gerardo Lafferriere, and Mathew Uretsky