UW universities continue to implement strategies promoted through the Math Initiative, which are described below. Each institution also participates in the Math Steering Committee, which is now co-chaired by Kevin McLeod of UW-Milwaukee and Alex Smith of UW-Eau Claire.
Work in 2022-2023 included development and distribution of a joint statement on developed by UW, Wisconsin Technical College System representatives, and two Wisconsin mathematics professional organizations, and informational sessions with the College Board on AP Precalculus (new AP course for 2023-24) and the UW Center for Placement Testing.
Find members of the Project Team, Math Steering Committee, and Joint College Readiness in Mathematics Statement Committee members in About Us.
For information, please contact Sandra Kallio at sandra.kallio@wisconsin.edu.
Priorities 2017-2021
- Increase enrollment rates in a math course in the student’s first year.
- Reduce the number of students placed into developmental math courses.
- Improve the success of students in developmental math courses.
- Improve the success of students in their first credit bearing math courses.
- Ensure transferability of gateway math courses within UW System.
Strategies 2017-2021
- Implement common cut score for math placement
- Make data-driven decisions on multiple measures for math placement and early enrollment in gateway math
- Create or expand bridge programs, math pathways and co-requisite courses
- Implement evidence-based student success strategies, such as active learning, growth mindset, building community and increasing student engagement
- Develop gateway math common course descriptions and learning outcomes to support seamless transfer among UW System institutions as well as other Wisconsin higher education institutions
UW System Gateway Math Courses
The University of Wisconsin System Math Steering Committee representing all 13 institutions developed, vetted and finalized course descriptions and learning outcomes for the most common gateway mathematics courses/course sequences in the system and developed a document to guide implementation of co-requisites for gateway math:
UW System Math Initiative representatives since have been sharing the course descriptions and learning outcomes with Wisconsin educational partners, such as:
- Wisconsin Technical College System
- Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- Wisconsin Mathematics Council
- Wisconsin section of the Mathematics Association of America
- Wisconsin PK-12 education administrators and high school mathematics instructors
Outreach to secondary education also has included venues, such as:
- Wisconsin School Counselor Association
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
- Curriculum and instruction Cooperative Educational Service Agency district representatives
- UW-Madison Professional Learning and Community Engagement College Readiness in Math Symposium