Grant Summary
$25,000 over 6 months. Under the auspices of a 2004 Teagle Foundation grant, the Appalachian College Association (ACA) worked with seventeen member colleges to collect and analyze data on the impact of primary academic programs on their students' learning. Using the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiencies (CAAP) assessment tool, the ACA colleges determined that while their students performed on par with national averages in most content areas, their scores in mathematics were below the national average. In response, a team of mathematics faculty and academic deans at four ACA colleges—Berea College (KY), Bethany College (WV), Campbellsville University (KY), and Emory and Henry Colleges (VA)—has formed to investigate the root causes of their students chronic underachievement in mathematics and quantitative skills, and to identify and study some of the best practices in these areas. The work to be done in this planning period includes:
- Confirmation of informational resources available for this project (for example, test scores, student transcripts, and curriculum surveys), and meetings with participants to define roles and responsibilities;
- Examination of data from previously administered CAAP math tests;
- Review of some of the nationally recognized programs for mathematics instruction;
- Convening of discussions with ACA, ACT, professional consultants, and institutional representatives to develop a detailed plan for the implementation phase of the study.