WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 1705 (Irwin, 2022) was enacted to advance equitable access to transfer-level mathematics and English courses for California Community college students by preventing colleges from requiring students to enroll in remedial non-transferable math courses [4];
WHEREAS, Only 21% of Latinos and Native Americans and 16% African-Americans in California high schools are considered proficient in math, meaning they are less likely to perform well in transfer-level mathematics and less likely to pursue careers that require proficiency in math [1]; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that students who enter college without proficiency in foundational mathematics, such as Algebra and Precalculus, experience significantly lower success rates in university-level Calculus, while students who receive targeted remedial instruction and academic support demonstrate improved outcomes in higher-level mathematics courses [2]; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urge the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to recommend that faculty implement short courses every semester focused on educating students on the science behind learning, study skills and building academic confidence since confidence in one's abilities to learn and succeed heavily influences their educational aptitude [5,6];
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges collaborate with the Academic Senate of California Community Colleges to urge colleges to heavily advertise remedial math support and courses on study skills, the importance of studying, and building academic confidence through campus outreach and at local high schools to ensure current and future college students are prepared to thrive in higher-level math courses necessary to pursue ambitious careers; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage student body associations to urge that those enrolled in remedial math have access to tutors specifically trained to tutor remedial math and serve as academic mentors, with each class having its own assigned tutors.
Citations:
https://www.ppic.org/publication/student-achievement-on-californias-k-1…
https://accelerationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Watson-et-al…
https://www.naceweb.org/career-development/trends-and-predictions/under…
https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/Files/Educational-Services-… port/ab-1705-implementation-guide-3-14-23-a11y.pdf
https://www.ifl-news.pitt.edu/2024/05/cultivating-confidence-fostering-…
https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/positive-conditions-math-le…