About one in three students in Kansas fail college algebra and that cuts into university graduation rates. Now, the board that oversees the state’s public universities wants to rethink math requirements. Daniel Archer is Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Kansas Board of Regents. He told board members Wednesday, November 16, that College Algebra is designed to prepare students for calculus, but only 20% of majors require higher-level math. He says we’re sending students down a road that’s not practical, not really needed, not relevant for their field. It’s something that doesn’t work very well.
Regents are considering a system where math requirements would align with a student’s major. Students studying political science or social work, for example, would take statistics instead of algebra.
