Placing More Freshmen Into College-level Mathematics Courses

Helmut Knaust

Colleges of Science and Engineering

University of Texas at El Paso

We describe a mathematics intervention at the University of Texas at El Paso targeted at entering students with the intention to major in science, engineering and mathematics (SEM). Afterwards we report on the encouraging results of this initiative.

Practicing their math skills is a key activity for students participating in the mandatory week-long summer orientation for entering students in the Colleges of Science and Engineering at UTEP. Having taken an initial math placement test before coming to summer orientation, the students have the opportunity to retake the math placement test at the end of the summer intervention program.