A New Model for

Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Placement

Rationale: With the implementation of the MPSL all students must now complete a QR course. Most students choose to complete this requirement through course offered by the Mathematics department. The Mathematics department believes that the current guidelines for advising of students are so vague as to make appropriate placement difficult to determine and thus jeopardizing or limiting students success. Therefore, this proposal outlines a new procedure that will greatly simplify the placement process for both students and their advisors while insuring that Millikin students meet the QR requirements as outlined in MPSL.

Current procedures and their weaknesses: For most students the process starts by taking the Compass placement exam developed by ACT. The validity and reliability of this test is well documented. The exam is based on Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) methodology which means that the test questions a student sees is based on their responses to previous questions. In this way, a short series of questions are generally all that is necessary for the student to complete before an accurate placement can be determined.

This testing procedure seems appropriate until we realize that most of the testing is occurring during first week or at summer registration in situations that are must less than conducive to testing. In fact, many students do not realize that they were going to be tested or that the test is important relative to their mathematical placement. These facts alone may account for many of the apparent discrepancies between students previous academic performance and their placement test scores. Finally, many students are simply missed in the process and have no placement scores at all!

Suggested New Policy

1. All students, including transfers and non-traditional, will take and receive a placement score that will become part of their academic record in Banner. This will allow advisors direct immediate access to this placement information. Additionally, through Banner no student will be allowed to register for a QR course before receiving a score of "3" or above on the Compass placement exam.
2. For advising students with a score of "3" or above, a placement guide will be developed by the Mathematics department in tandem with each major to insure appropriate student placement (see attachment 1).
3. For students scoring below "3" on the placement test several options are available.

Option 1, Re-test

Simple allow students the opportunity to take the exam again in a more conducive environment in either computerized of traditional paper format. For many students, we believe that their performance will improve once they know the importance of the exam on their QR placement and knowing the format of the exam before testing.

Pros: This option allows students to become eligible to take QA courses without requiring remedial coursework and the associated loss of academic time. Additionally, with a CAT format and its test retest reliability makes this option both academically valid and logistically easy.

Option 2, Self-directed Remediation

The Compass exam package includes a separate diagnostic test. Students scoring below "3" could opt to take this test which details the areas or topics that need remediation. From this detailed list in conjunction with the learning center, a remediation plan could be developed for self-study.

Pros: Some students will certainly need to review and master materials before taking a QR course. This option allows the student to do so with out loss of academic time while concentrating on the exact materials that matches their personal needs.

Option 3, Traditional Coursework

Some students will need or want the structure that comes with traditional classes. For these students, the Mathematics will continue to offer MA 110 and MA 106 Beginning and Intermediate Algebra as part of a students remediation program.