By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
For decades, no matter what major you chose to study in college, almost every student had to pass a college algebra class. Whether the course was taken in high school for dual credit or at the college itself, college algebra was a required step to a degree. Times are changing.
Barton Community College Executive Director of Foundational Education Stephanie Joiner said the Kansas Board of Regents is moving away from the thought that every student needs college algebra.
"In college algebra, if you tested at a basic level, it took three semesters of remediation to get you into college algebra," said Joiner. "Studies have shown students often stop out before they get through that college algebra course. Those three semesters can be a barrier. The idea is how do we support students and develop skills they need."
KBOR is looking at alternate math classes to take, depending on your major, like statistics or contemporary math.
Barton Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said there will be many meetings with the college’s high school partners to make sure everyone is set up to accommodate algebra, statistics and contemporary math classes.
"Sometimes 40-year-olds don't know what they want to be when they grow up," said Simmons. "So now we're talking about students preparing for college and picking a degree, picking a major, and an associated math that goes with that. It used to be everyone thought they took algebra. That's not the case now. There will be a lot of advisement."
Joiner added Barton will work to make sure instructors and resources are available to all of the college’s campuses and high school partners.