Convening Information

About Your Host

As you may know, the Charles A. Dana has further developed its approach to scaled mathematics via the Dana Center Math Pathways. The implementation of mathematics pathways work has been most effective when entire states or regions engage both community colleges and universities in the development of a common vision, clear goals for scaling reform and an enabling policy environment. While many states have engaged in this work and successful implemented math pathways, Texas has organized this work into six regions each with a regional coordinator.  Diane Troyer is the regional coordinator for the North Texas Region.  The North Region includes community colleges (Cisco College, Collin College, Dallas County Community College District, Grayson College, North Central Texas College, Ranger College, Tarrant County College, TSTC North Texas, Vernon College, and Weatherford College) and the university partners who support these colleges (U T Arlington, UT Dallas, TWU, UNT Dallas, UNT, Midwestern State, UT Southwestern Med Center, and UNT Health Science Center).  The Dana Center North Region works with the North Texas Community College Consortium as a resource for convening, communication and collaboration.  

What does Dana Center Math Pathways (DCMP) mean for the colleges and universities in the North Texas Region?  The prime focus on the DCMP is to support and implement  four principles:

Institutions implement structural and policy changes quickly and at scale.

Math Pathways are structured so that

1. All students, regardless of college readiness enter directly into mathematics pathways aligned to their programs of study.

2. Students complete their first college-level math requirement in their first year of college.

Institutions and departments engage in a deliberate and thoughtful process of continuous improvement to ensure high-quality, effective instruction.

Students engage in a high-quality learning experience in math pathways designed so that:

3.Strategies to support students are integrated into courses and are aligned across the institution.

4.Instruction incorporates evidence-based curriculum and pedagogy.

About This Convening

The North Region work will focus initially on the first two principles and begin with small group discussions focused on specific topics that will lay the ground work for scaling both the right math for each program and acceleration of successful completion of college math.  To kick off this work, a focused work session will be held on June 19, 2017 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus North Ballroom ESEC 1102A.  This initial discussion and work session will focus on three areas the colleges have identified as their highest priorities.  To that end, we are asking that each college send representatives to engage in the following group discussions that will be the main emphasis of the afternoon.  As we proceed we hope to document both the excellent practice in the region that can be scaled and capture actions and issues in white papers that can be shared across the region and/or state. 

Tentative Agenda

1.  Overview of Dana Center Math Pathways, North Regional Work, and Goals for 2017-8

2. Update on Co-requisite legislation (Dana Center, TBA) 

3. Group discussions on 3 focused topics. Each of the groups will:  Identify issues/challenges, models of best practice (region, state or other), tasks or steps to take during 2017-8, and possible strategies to capture recommendations in a white paper.  

Group 1:  Math Faculty: Co-requisite or Concurrent approaches to math acceleration. In view of the legislation currently pending, faculty discuss best practices in the state, challenges and possible actions. 

Group 2: Advisors and/or Advising Administrators:  Best practices and planning necessary to provide the training and communication necessary to support math pathways reform. 

Group 3: Academic Administrators from both community colleges and area universities: Discuss best practices, challenges and possible actions in math transfer.

4. Report out from groups and next steps. 

Location

Tarrant County College Southeast Campus

North Ballroom: Room ESEC 1102A 

2100 Southeast Parkway

Arlington, TX 76018