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Curriculum documents for department meeting – April 8, 2021

  1. Aligned learning outcomes on course outlines proposals:
    1. MAT 1190 (Professor Benakli)
    2. MAT 1190CO (Professor Benakli)
    3. MAT1275(Professor Carley)
    4. MAT 1275CO (Professor Carley)
    5. MAT 1375 (Professor Tradler)
    6. MAT 1475 (Professor Africk)
    7. MAT 1575 (Professor Africk)
    8. MAT 2440 (Professor Thiel)
    9. MAT 2540 (Professor Thiel)
    10. MAT 2572 (Professor Carley)
    11. MAT 2680 (Professor Zhou)
  2. MAT 1475 experiment proposal (Professor Bessonov)
  3. MAT 2675 experiment proposal (Professors ElHitti and Zhou)
    • Linear algebra self-study modules as alternative option to MAT 2580 pre/co-requisite
  4. Computer Science program minor curriculum change proposal (Professor Halleck)
  5. Zero-textbook-cost (ZTC) courses—verification (Spring 2021 textbook list):
    1. MAT 1375
    2. MAT 1475
    3. MAT 1575
    4. MAT 1630
    5. MAT 2675
    6. MAT 2680
  6. Last Curriculum Committee meeting: April 29; proposals due April 22

MAT 1275CO Data for Curriculum Committee meeting March 26

From Professor Parker:

The attached files contain summaries of the 1275-1375 progression over the span from F18 to F19. (I do not have Summer ’19 data.) These summaries attempt to answer two questions that have arisen in meetings over the past week.

Q: Regarding the 1275 retake policy – how have students historically performed when retaking 1275 with an “F” versus with a “W” or “WU”?

A: There are two files that deal with the data regarding students who retook 1275: one summary for students who retook the course after receiving an F; and another summary for those who retook after receiving a W or WU. Each file breaks out separate results for CO vs. NO.

 

Q: Regarding 1375 passing rates – what (if any) difference is there in the performance of students coming from CO vs. NO?

A: There is a third file that summarizes results from 1375 by looking at:

  1. those who were retaking 1375,  
  2. those who (most likely) placed into 1375 (or otherwise had at least a one semester gap),
  3. students who came from 1275 (with separated CO vs. NO)

Students Retaking 1275 After an ‘F’ Grade:

Fall 2018 – to – Spring 2019 Data:

Total Enrolled 1275 F18 : 2120
Selected grades from initial semester: ['F']
CO ONLY
Total restricted enrollment: 1103
Students who received: ['F'] : 256 / 1103
['F'] & did not continue in S19 : 123 / 256
['F'] & continued: 133 / 256
['F'] & continued & withdrew: 22 / 133
['F'] & continued & failed: 48 / 133
['F'] & continued & passed: 63 / 133
the grade distribution for students who received ['F'] in F18 & passed in S19 :
A      1
A-     1
B+     7
B      4
B-     6
C+     4
C     20
D     20
Total Enrolled 1275 F18 : 2120
Selected grades from initial semester: ['F']
NOT CO
Total restricted enrollment: 1008
Students who received: ['F'] : 218 / 1008
['F'] & did not continue in S19 : 108 / 218
['F'] & continued: 110 / 218
['F'] & continued & withdrew: 17 / 110
['F'] & continued & failed: 30 / 110
['F'] & continued & passed: 63 / 110
the grade distribution for students who received ['F'] in F18 & passed in S19 :
A    0
A-   1
B+   6
B    3
B-   8
C+   3
C   19
D   23

Spring 2019 – to – Fall 2019 data (summer data has not been processed):

Total Enrolled 1275 S19 : 1628
Selected grades from initial semester: ['F']
CO ONLY
Total restricted enrollment: 1114
Students who received: ['F'] : 278 / 1114
['F'] & did not continue in F19 : 190 / 278
['F'] & continued: 88 / 278
['F'] & continued & withdrew: 16 / 88
['F'] & continued & failed: 23 / 88
['F'] & continued & passed: 49 / 88
the grade distribution for students who received ['F'] in S19 & passed in F19 :
A    1
A-   1
B+   3
B    5
B-   2
C+   5
C   16
D   16
Total Enrolled 1275 S19 : 1628
Selected grades from initial semester: ['F']
NOT CO
Total restricted enrollment: 478
Students who received: ['F'] : 107 / 478
['F'] & did not continue in F19 : 72 / 107
['F'] & continued: 35 / 107
['F'] & continued & withdrew: 7 / 35
['F'] & continued & failed: 13 / 35
['F'] & continued & passed: 15 / 35
the grade distribution for students who received ['F'] in S19 & passed in F19 :
A    0
A-   0
B+   0
B    0
B-   0
C+   3
C    7
D    5

Students Retaking 1275 After a ‘W’ or ‘WU’ Grade:

Total Enrolled 1275 F18 : 2120
Selected grades from initial semester: ['W', 'WU']
CO ONLY
Total restricted enrollment: 1103
Students who received: ['W', 'WU'] : 191 / 1103
['W', 'WU'] & did not continue in S19 : 127 / 191
distribution for those who did not continue:
W     69
WU    58
['W', 'WU'] & continued: 64 / 191
['W', 'WU'] & continued & withdrew: 26 / 64
['W', 'WU'] & continued & failed: 17 / 64
['W', 'WU'] & continued & passed: 21 / 64
the grade distribution for students who received ['W', 'WU'] in F18 & passed in S19 :
A     1
A-    1
B+    3
B     2
B-    1
C+    2
C     3
D     8

Total Enrolled 1275 F18 : 2120
Selected grades from initial semester: ['W', 'WU']
NOT CO
Total restricted enrollment: 1008
Students who received: ['W', 'WU'] : 143 / 1008
['W', 'WU'] & did not continue in S19 : 106 / 143
distribution for those who did not continue:
W     60
WU    46
['W', 'WU'] & continued: 37 / 143
['W', 'WU'] & continued & withdrew: 7 / 37
['W', 'WU'] & continued & failed: 5 / 37
['W', 'WU'] & continued & passed: 25 / 37
the grade distribution for students who received ['W', 'WU'] in F18 & passed in S19 :
A      2
A-     2
B+     0
B      0
B-     2
C+     1
C     12
D      6

SPRING 2019 to FALL 2019 (summer not available)
Total Enrolled 1275 S19 : 1628
Selected grades from initial semester: ['W', 'WU']
CO ONLY
Total restricted enrollment: 1114
Students who received: ['W', 'WU'] : 238 / 1114
['W', 'WU'] & did not continue in F19 : 202 / 238
distribution for those who did not continue:
W     110
WU     92
['W', 'WU'] & continued: 36 / 238
['W', 'WU'] & continued & withdrew: 15 / 36
['W', 'WU'] & continued & failed: 8 / 36
['W', 'WU'] & continued & passed: 12 / 36
the grade distribution for students who received ['W', 'WU'] in S19 & passed in F19 :
A     0
A-    0
B+    0
B     0
B-    3
C+    3
C     5
D     1

Total Enrolled 1275 S19 : 1628
Selected grades from initial semester: ['W', 'WU']
NOT CO
Total restricted enrollment: 478
Students who received: ['W', 'WU'] : 67 / 478
['W', 'WU'] & did not continue in F19 : 45 / 67
distribution for those who did not continue:
WU    25
W     20
['W', 'WU'] & continued: 22 / 67
['W', 'WU'] & continued & withdrew: 8 / 22
['W', 'WU'] & continued & failed: 7 / 22
['W', 'WU'] & continued & passed: 7 / 22
the grade distribution for students who received ['W', 'WU'] in S19 & passed in F19 :
A     0
A-    1
B+    0
B     2
B-    1
C+    1
C     1
D     1

MAT1375 Performance Split by: 1275 vs 1275CO vs Retake 1375 vs None of the Above

1275 F18 to 1375 S19

Total Enrolled 1375 S19 : 926
Using CO to separate 1275 F18 students.
the grade distribution for students in S19 :
A      69
A-     39
B+     46
B      56
B-     56
C+     52
C     125
D     128
F     218
W      87
WU     36
Name: Grade, dtype: int64
***Students (presumably) placed into 1375 : 141 / 926
***Final Exam 1375 S19 (non-zero) average: 59.46153846153846 n = 104
***Students retaking 1375 : 152 / 926
***Final Exam 1375 F18 (non-zero) average: 36.520270270270274 n = 74
***Final Exam 1375 S19 (non-zero) average: 53.44621848739496 n = 119
D      4
F     89
W     40
WU    15
Name: Grade_1375F18, dtype: int64
A      5
A-     2
B+     2
B      7
B-     9
C+     6
C     26
D     24
F     45
W     13
WU     9
Name: Grade_1375S19, dtype: int64
***Students coming from 1275 : 633 / 926
******Students with CO yes: 310 / 633
******Average 1275 final exam: 68.73387096774194
******Grade distribution in 1375
A     14
A-     9
B+    14
B     25
B-    17
C+    18
C     39
D     52
F     75
W     34
WU    12
Name: Grade_1375S19, dtype: int64
******Students with CO no: 323 / 633
******Average 1275 final exam: 67.88235294117646
******Grade distribution in 1375
A     43
A-    21
B+    25
B     20
B-    19
C+    22
C     39
D     34
F     66
W     22
WU     9
Name: Grade_1375S19, dtype: int64
FINAL EXAM COMPARISON 1375 S19 FOR STUDENTS FROM 1275 F18
yes mean: 56.599221789883266 no mean: 64.6859649122807
MannwhitneyuResult(statistic=28946.5, pvalue=1.240208509158262e-05)

SKIPPING SUMMER: 1275 S19 to 1375 F19 

Total Enrolled 1375 F19 : 914
Using CO to separate 1275 S19 students.
the grade distribution for students in F19 :
A      68
A-     31
B+     49
B      62
B-     39
C+     53
C     115
D     120
F     192
W     128
WU     40
Name: Grade, dtype: int64
***Students in 1375 with no S19 history: 384 / 914
***Final Exam 1375 F19 (non-zero) average: 67.93515037593986 n = 266
***Students retaking 1375 : 162 / 914
***Final Exam 1375 S19 (non-zero) average: 30.340366972477064 n = 109
***Final Exam 1375 F19 (non-zero) average: 55.557522123893804 n = 113
D       3
F     116
W      30
WU     10
Name: Grade_1375S19, dtype: int64
A-     7
B+     5
B      9
B-     5
C+    10
C     16
D     33
F     45
W     18
WU    10
Name: Grade_1375F19, dtype: int64
***Students coming from 1275 : 368 / 914
******Students with CO yes: 236 / 368
******Average 1275 final exam: 61.639830508474574
******Grade distribution in 1375
A     12
A-     5
B+    15
B      8
B-    12
C+    14
C     29
D     26
F     56
W     47
WU     8
Name: Grade_1375F19, dtype: int64
******Students with CO no: 132 / 368
******Average 1275 final exam: 51.25757575757576
******Grade distribution in 1375
A      8
A-     4
B+     9
B     12
B-     4
C+     6
C     17
D     14
F     37
W     12
WU     6
Name: Grade_1375F19, dtype: int64
FINAL EXAM COMPARISON 1375 F19 FOR STUDENTS FROM 1275 S19
yes mean: 58.914556962025316 no mean: 61.217032967032964
MannwhitneyuResult(statistic=6664.5, pvalue=0.16914995805632532)

Fin.

DRAFT – Grading policy

At next week’s meeting we will form a subcommittee to write an official department grading policy. To give the subcommittee a jump start, I have quickly drafted one that aligns with grading schemes I use in my own classes.

Grading policy for classes with a uniform final exam:

An instructor may decide on the exact grading scheme for their class but grading schemes must adhere to the following department guidelines. Grading schemes must appear on an instructor’s eClass folder.

According to college policy, overall grades as percents align with letter grades according to the diagram:

Final exam

  • The final exam is set by the math department. A student’s final exam grade must count for 20% to 40% of their overall grade.
  • Regardless of a student’s overall grade, they must score at least a 50% on the final exam to pass the course.
  • Students may use calculators during the final exam. They may not use any other devices (for example, they may not use a calculator on their cell phone).
  • Students may not use formula sheets of any kind during the final exam (except for MAT 1272 and MAT 1372???).
  • Uniform scoring guides are available for many classes with uniform final exams and instructors are encouraged to use them. Instructors should contact course coordinators for copies of these scoring guides. An instructor who plans to use a scoring guide for the final exam should align their grading throughout the semester with the guide as much as possible.

Term tests

  • In addition to the final exam, grades for at least three term tests must count toward a student’s overall grade. Together, these term tests must count for 50% to 70% of a student’s overall grade.
  • An instructor who wishes to drop students’ lowest test grades from overall grade calculations must offer at least four term tests throughout the semester in addition to the final exam.

Homework/WeBWorK

  • Suggested textbook homework problems appear on the course outline and, for classes where is available, WeBWorK (online homework) sets appear on the course outline as well.
  • Instructors are encouraged to have students complete textbook homework and WeBWorK (where available) as part of their overall grade. A student’s homework and/or WeBWorK grades may count for no more than 20% of their overall grade.
  • Learning to write careful solutions is an important part of student success in mathematics. Instructors are encouraged to collect students’ written work and offer feedback throughout the semester (not just on term tests). For example, an instructor using WeBWorK may give regular quizzes where students must show all their work.

Class participation

  • Participating in class is important for student success in mathematics and instructors should encourage students to participate in class whether it counts toward overall grades or not. Instructors are responsible for creating an environment where students can participate.
  • If participation is part of students’ overall grades, the instructor must be very clear of the expectations as part of their grading policy at the beginning of the semester. Such instructors must also create options for students to participate other than simply speaking out in class. Some suggestions for assigning participation credit include
    • sharing written work on the board
    • attending office hours
    • participating in OpenLab and/or Blackboard discussions
    • participating in the WeBWorK on the OpenLab question/answer forum
    • attending tutoring (students should ask tutors for verification slips to return to their instructors)
  • A student’s participation grade may count for no more than 10% of their overall grade.

Projects

  • In-depth assignments help students develop critical thinking skills as well as familiarity with course content and instructors are encouraged to assign them.
  • The proportion of an overall grade which is devoted to projects depends on the scope and number of such projects and is at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Many projects have already been created by CityTech math faculty and are available for instructors to use in their own classes. Instructors who are interested in these projects should contact their course coordinator.

Extra credit

  • Extra credit can be a valuable incentive for students wishing to improve their grades, especially at the end of the semester. However, it must be used sparingly.
  • Extra credit assignments must be substantial and must help students master course content and/or develop appropriate skills. They may count for no more than 5% of a student’s overall grade.

December 12, 2019 Department Meeting Materials

  1. MAT2630 (Prof. Zhou)
  2. MAT 0605 (Prof. Ellner)
  3. MAT1190 experiment continuation (Prof. Benakli)
  4. MAT 1272 prerequisite proposal (Prof. Katz):
    • Language approved by Curriculum Committee:
      • MAT 1190/1190CO or higher OR eligibility for MAT 1275.
    • Suggested rewording #1:
      • MAT 1190 or MAT 1190CO or higher or a score of 75 or higher on the NYS Algebra I Regents exam or a score of 70 or higher on the NYS Geometry Regents exam or a score of 70 or higher Algebra 2/Trig Regents exam.
    • Suggested rewording #2:
      • MAT 1190 or MAT 1190CO or higher or a score of at least 75 on the NYS Algebra I Regents exam or a score of at least 70 on the NYS Geometry Regents exam or a score of at least 70 Algebra 2/Trig Regents exam.
  5.  MAT 1275/MAT 1275CO video resources
    • The Curriculum Committee voted to remove the existing external links to video resources from the MAT 1275/1275CO course outlines. Professor Masuda has compiled such links for MAT 1375 and 1475 as well and has aligned them with the schedule on the course outlines. The department should be aware that these video resources exist and determine how best to use them.
  6. MAT 1375 (January) and MAT 1475 (next semester) WeBWorK subcommittee announcement