Dana Center Higher Ed In Brief

July / August 2017

Martha's Message

Excitement is in the air as another academic year begins. We applaud the hard work of the many faculty, advisors, administrators, and policy leaders who join us in helping students succeed in mathematics.

To that end, the summer was busy as state legislatures and university and college systems enacted policies that promote student success. The Texas legislature passed HB 2223, a bill requiring developmental education to move to a co-requisite model for 75% of students by 2020. Both the California State University and California Community Colleges systems are engaged in major redesigns of mathematics through enhanced college-level, credit-bearing courses.

The Dana Center Mathematics Pathways team is actively working with states and systems to provide professional learning webinars and workshops, policy implementation services for structural change, embedded student supports, and continuous improvement of content and services. Read more about our work with Cal State and learn about our support of implementation efforts around Texas HB 2223.

We continue to work across the nation with faculty, administrators, advisors, and policy leaders to ensure that all students have equitable access to and the opportunity for success in rigorous mathematics pathways that are aligned and relevant to their future aspirations, propelling them to upward economic and social mobility.

Enjoy your start to the new school year!

Martha Ellis, Ph.D., Director
Higher Education Strategy, Policy, and Services

What We Are Doing

Co-Requisites at the California State University

With several high-profile news items helping to tell the story, co-requisite education has made a considerable splash in California. Following the August 2 release of Executive Order 1110, the California State University (CSU)—the largest 4-year public university system in the United States—will adopt a co-requisite model for the delivery of developmental education beginning in Fall 2018.

Earlier this month, representatives from all 23 Cal State campuses convened at the CSU’s Co-Requisite Mathematics Summit in Los Angeles. Approximately 200 attendees learned about the strategies and best practices necessary to implement effective co-requisite courses. The Summit featured a team of the Dana Center’s experienced leaders, implementation specialists, and curriculum development experts. The team shared data, led structured facilitated discussions, and guided stakeholders in creating co-requisite mathematics programs customized to their individual institutional needs and contexts.

Read more about the Dana Center Mathematics Pathways team’s help in launching co-requisites in California.

Successes at MathFest 2017

In late July, Dana Center curriculum and implementation experts presented at the Mathematical Association of America’s annual MathFest conference in Chicago. The Center’s Rebecca Hartzler, Frank Savina, and Adam Castillo led the charge. From panel discussions exploring mathematics pathways implementations in five states to presentations covering the need for mathematics departments to partner with related disciplines to most effectively meet students’ needs, the insights shared in our sessions were well received by the mathematics and education community in attendance

Read more about the Dana Center at MathFest.

Vote for Dana Center Panels at SXSW EDU!

Dana Center staff have submitted two session proposals for the 2018 SXSW EDU conference, and we need your help! Visit the SXSW PanelPicker and cast your up-votes for “#PD2A: PD to Action – From Anywhere” and “The Perils and Promises of Growth Mindset.”

The SXSW PanelPicker is a first step toward session selection in this prestigious and competitive conference. The public is invited to vote on submissions (registration takes less than two minutes). The sessions with the most up-votes are given substantially greater weight in the selection process.

SXSW EDU Community Voting ends August 25, so don’t wait—vote for our proposals now.

Dana Center + The Smithsonian =
Best-In-Class Science Education

The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) has invited Dana Center Managing Director Carolyn Landel to join its Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Higher Education. “The Smithsonian Science Education Center has been a model and a national leader in advancing K–12 science education at scale,” said Carolyn. “I have long admired the quality of their work, the breadth of their engagement with other partners, and their willingness to stay the course to make sustainable change over time for all students. I am honored to be asked to serve.”

The Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Higher Education will advise SSEC on potential models for collaboration between higher education and SSEC to improve student engagement and achievement in science in our nation’s K–12 school system.

Read more about Carolyn’s involvement with SSEC.

The success of the Charles A. Dana Center over the years has led to substantial growth in staffing. As the Center continues to grow, we maintain a focus on engaging and employing experts and leaders of the highest caliber. We are currently hiring for several open positions across the Center’s initiatives.

Click here to take the first steps toward joining our exceptional, dedicated team.

What We Are Reading...and Listening to...

Say Goodbye To X+Y: Should Community Colleges Abolish Algebra?

If “only 48 percent [of students] graduate from California community colleges . . . within six years,“ what are the barriers to completion? NPR’s conversation with Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, makes the case that introducing math pathways-based curricula in higher education will help to lower those barriers.

Not Yet Ready For Calculus

How do we support postsecondary students interested in STEM who are not yet ready for Calculus? The Dana Center’s own Rebecca Hartzler, along with Suzanne Dorée of Augsburg College, tackle this question in MAA FOCUS, the official newsmagazine of the Mathematical Association of America.

Spotlight Resource

Engaging Partner Disciplines: Multidisciplinary Discussion Tools
Audience: Mathematics departments, faculty, and advisors

From Dana Center Mathematics Pathways: this tool is a collection of templates that faculty and administrators can use to prepare for and implement multidisciplinary discussions focused on identifying a default mathematics course requirement that is most relevant for each program of study.

Download "Engaging Partner Disciplines: Multidisciplinary Discussion Tools" here.

We were not kidding when we said the Dana Center is growing. In the past few weeks, we have had the pleasure of welcoming three new members to the team.

Doug Sovde joins the Center as Director of K–12 Education Strategy, Policy, and Services. He supports the managers of the Center’s K–12 services, online course programs, and digital platform services teams.

Afi Y. Wiggins, Ph.D. is the Director of Program Evaluation and Research. In her role, Afi leads the development of comprehensive and coherent strategies for research and evaluation initiatives.

Erich Pelletier is the Center’s newest Communications Coordinator, supporting our Higher Education initiatives through the design and dissemination of critical information and marketing efforts to a broad array of audiences.

What’s the strangest / most unusual job you’ve ever had?

Doug: I once worked in Alaska as a ground tour director for Holland America cruise lines. I rode bush planes to the cruise line’s ports of call to meet up with bus tour clients who wanted to learn about local history and culture. Along the way, I experienced many colorful incidents, injuries, and not a small amount of awe at the stunning natural beauty of that area.

Afi: Working at a call center authorizing purchasing requests for truck drivers. My coworkers and the truck drivers were the strange part. Although I was regularly entertained, I loathed that job.

Erich: I spent several summers during my undergraduate studies working at the Colorado Renaissance Festival. I also spent a year guiding whitewater rafting trips through the rainforests of Costa Rica.

Who is your favorite musical artist?

Doug: Dave Matthews. I have been to over 40 shows. I even made a pilgrimage from Seattle to Colorado once to see him play at Red Rocks.

Afi: Beyoncé! Who else? And Jay-Z! Come on.

Erich: Sonic Youth… No! Digable Planets! Hmm . . . maybe it’s Neko Case. I can never decide.

What’s your favorite way to spend a free afternoon?

Doug: If there’s time, I like to do a 30-40 mile bike ride. Then, play with my kids in the back yard until dinner. I think they’re really interesting and unusual people, so trying to soak up the time I get with them!

Afi: Watching Real Housewives or Love and Hip Hop. The worse the TV, the better it is for my well-being.

Erich: Canoeing a backwater river or lake with my daughter.

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