Effectiveness and Efficiency of MATH 0045 at East Carolina University

Abstract

At East Carolina University, students who do not place into a college-level mathematics course are required to enroll in a remedial course and master material before continuing with their mathematics studies. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the remedial mathematics program, with a particular focus on the MATH 0045 course offered in conjunction with Pitt Community College. Over the years, the delivery method for course content has changed. To examine the effectiveness of the remedial mathematics program, student success in college-level mathematics courses was compared to their success in remedial mathematics courses, and by an evaluation of drop-withdraw-fail (DWF) rates. The efficiency of the course was examined by the analysis of test scores on a question-by-question basis, and data on students who successfully completed one or more recovery units. The results of this study will help to determine the program’s ability to remediate students and aim to improve the effectiveness of the program.