A Complex Equation: Confronting Math Obstacles on the Transfer Path
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| Title: | A Complex Equation: Confronting Math Obstacles on the Transfer Path |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Pamela Burdman, Alexis Robin Hale, Jenn BeVard, Just Equations |
| Source: | Just Equations. 2025. |
| Availability: | Just Equations. 678 13th Street, Oakland, CA 94612. Tel: 510-394-4858; e-mail: info@justequations.org; Web site: https://justequations.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 34 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | College Transfer Students, College Mathematics, STEM Education, Calculus, Community College Students, Barriers, Required Courses, Scheduling, Transfer Policy, Public Colleges, Mathematics Anxiety |
| Geographic Terms: | California |
| Abstract: | For the many community college students hoping to transfer to a four-year university, the transfer process can be a complex labyrinth of hurdles and barriers that narrows the path to bachelor's degree programs, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This report analyzes the role math plays in California students' transfer pathways and success, with a particular focus on students pursuing STEM and other majors requiring calculus. The analysis focused on what math-related barriers are faced by community college students who seek to transfer to four-year colleges and universities and how students and college staff who work on transfer issues view various math policies intended to support transfer. An analysis of research literature, combined with dozens of interviews with higher education professionals and students, found that the most common obstacles include inconsistent math requirements, scheduling barriers, opaque transfer policies, and math anxiety about completing the required courses. This report offers practical, actionable solutions, from state regulations to college policy updates, to make the transfer process more transparent, accessible, and equitable for all students. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED676008 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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