Student Success Center 2023-24 Lunch & Learn Series
Education First supports the Student Success Centers for the community colleges in Oregon, Washington & Arizona in their efforts to support faculty and staff in creating student-ready colleges. As part of this support, Education First is hosting a webinar series focused on learning and applying new content and practices, elevating “bright spots” and demonstrating impact of student success efforts.
This four-part series features guest speakers from each state where the overall topic is explored from various perspectives. Each webinar is 60 minutes at noon Pacific Time.
October 12, 2023: Co-Requisites
Co-requisites allow students to enroll in a college level course and a concurrent remedial course to help stay on the path. Taking co-requisites encourages students to identify their learning needs and allows them to receive additional support while they develop the skills needed to complete their college level course and, ultimately, their program of study.
October 26, 2023: Non-Academic Supports
Students often face challenges beyond their academic studies. By providing non-academic supports to students, community colleges can help students overcome these non-academic challenges. Non-academic supports may include: tutoring, financial aid, counseling, career services, food pantry, childcare, transportation assistance, housing assistance, mental health services, disability services and more.
Coming Soon:
Ensure Students Are Learning
- November 9, 2023
- January 11, 2024
Clarify the Path
- January 25, 2024
- February 29, 2024
Choosing a Path
- March 21, 2024
- April 11, 2024
- May 2, 2024
Let’s Help Our Students Graduate On Time and With Less Debt
How do we ensure that our school is truly accessible to diverse students and all students are set up for college success?
One effective way is to offer corequisite math courses in the first year of college. Corequisites are an alternative to traditional developmental education that have been shown to increase pass rates and improve equitable outcomes. Research shows they help college students graduate on time and with less debt.
Around the country, corequisites work.
Corequisite math has been shown to help all students, and is particularly supportive for students who have been underserved by our educational system. This includes students of color and economically disadvantaged students, who are placed in remedial prerequisites at disproportionately high rates. We can employ this approach to serve our students in Oregon as well.
Corequisites – A Better Alternative To Traditional Remediation
Currently many students—including a disproportionate number of historically underserved populations—are placed in developmental math, which is characterized by low pass rates and low persistence rates. When students are placed into these remedial prerequisites, it can prevent them from building the momentum they need to earn their credential. These students are more likely to rack up debt taking multiple terms of prerequisites and drop out.
Prerequisites are one of many systemic barriers that particularly impact those who have already been marginalized by our education system, including students who are:
- Black
- Indigenous
- People of color
- Immigrants
- Migrants
- From rural areas
- Experiencing poverty
The data shows more students succeed with supports from corequisites.
How do corequisites work?
Corequisite math offers an effective alternative to unnecessary systemic barriers such as developmental math. Students are placed in college-level math upon entering community college or university, while also getting extra support to learn and understand the curriculum. The corequisite course provides background knowledge, reviews material, and previews upcoming topics.
This strategy builds on Oregon’s existing student success efforts, such as Guided Pathways and Math Pathways, and has been shown to increase pass rates. For faculty, administrators, and advisors who have been immersed in that work, this is not something totally new, it’s a logical next step in student-focused practices.
Let’s work together to offer students more effective opportunities to a strong start.
We know that when students do well in school, it has a ripple effect throughout entire communities. Our students can achieve more. By implementing corequisite math, we can provide them with equitable support to achieve their academic goals.
Resources For Implementing Corequisite Math
We understand that faculty and advisors have a lot on their plates and implementing a new strategy takes work and planning. To help make implementation as simple and effective as possible, we have created and compiled resources, and are holding regular conversations to share learnings.
Implementation Recommendation Matrix
Report: Corequisite Works: Student Success Models at the Univesity System of Georgia (Complete College America, 12/7/2021)
Article: Corequisite courses gain momentum (Inside Higher Ed, 7/19/2023 – Oregon’s work featured)
Past Webinar Materials (Cohort I)
Corequisite Math Pedagogy 101
- Victoria Dominguez PowerPoint (Corequisite Course Pedagogy)
- Corequisite Math Pedagogy Reflection
- Joan Zoellner PowerPoint (Corequisite Course Pedagogy)
- Webinar Attendee Report
Curriculum Planning for “Just in Time Support”
- Curriculum Planning for Just-In-Time Support (PowerPoint)
- Bingo Scavenger Hunt Ice Breaker
- Brainology by Carol Dweck
- Corequisite Remediation Handout – Math
- Facilitating Group Work & Group Cards
- Growth Mindset Diagram
- Homework Reflection
- Key to Success – Grit
- Let Learners Struggle Homework (from Cuyamaca College)
- One-Minute Paper Reflection After Exam 1
- Scavenger Hunt Activity for Corequisite Math Courses (Instructor Version from Citrus College)
Active Learning Techniques in Math
- Active Learning Techniques in Math by Victoria Dominguez (PowerPoint)
- Active & Collaborative Learning by Joan Zoellner (PowerPoint)
- Webinar Attendee Report
- Webinar Recording Link (passcode: 6SR=C7Rr)
Cohort II Materials
Check out our toolkit.
Our Strong Start Oregon toolkit includes materials, resources, and message boards — all designed to help you implement and talk about corequisite math.
Visit the toolkit in Basecamp (Login required. Need access? Contact Oregon Student Success Center Director Elizabeth Cox Brand, elizabeth@occa17.com).
Peer Support
Message with fellow faculty and advisors from other community colleges and universities to troubleshoot problems and share successes. Plus, access resources from other states and institutions to help build your program or lesson plan. Check it out in Basecamp.
Messaging and Content
Need to communicate about corequisite math? We’ve developed messaging, data visualization, and content for you to share on your website, social media, e-newsletters, and wherever else. Check it out in Basecamp.
Data and Research
We’ve compiled the research that tells the story of why corequisites work. Dig deep into the reports and find compelling data. Dig deeper in Basecamp.
