Math 1010 has been, statistically speaking, a class that has been failed by Salt Lake Community College students at a higher rate than other classes.
The associate dean of mathematics, Suzanne Mozdy, looked over the curriculum and noticed a lot of overlap between Math 990 and 1010. Eventually, the math department decided to replace Math 990 with a new course, Math 980.
This new course would allow students to go straight from Math 980 into 1030 or 1040.
“A lot of people don’t have to take [Math] 1010 anymore,” Mozdy says.
Math 1010 teaches factoring, which is used extensively in some higher-level math classes. However, Math 1030 and 1040 do not use factoring, which is why students who need these classes for their requirement no longer have to take 1010.
The change also eliminates some of the redundancy that students may have experienced when going from Math 990 to 1010 or from Math 1010 to another class.
“[We’re] giving people the math they need … [and] shortening time for [degree] completion,” Mozdy says.
Students may also see a benefit with transferring to another school. The changes correspond with a statewide push for better transitions between higher education institutions in Utah.
Students who need higher-level courses like Math 1050 and above will still need to pass Math 1010 or test into the course with the Accuplacer exam.
Mozdy has some advice for students who are entering SLCC this fall and have not yet taken the Accuplacer.
“The placement test is not a pass-fail thing. Students shouldn’t be afraid to take it,” she says. She adds that students can also study for the test and use practice scores to get a better idea of where they stand.
Any student who has questions about the math requirements for their degree can talk to an advisor for more information.
