Department of Liberal Arts - Council Reports

External Review of Developmental and College Preparatory Mathematics

Request for the Review

On April 7, 2006, a recommendation for an external review was discussed and supported at the math innovations initiative team meeting. In late April, the math council approved the recommendation and forwarded it to the college-wide college prep council, where it was also approved. The recommendation was discussed at the math council and math discipline meetings held at fall convocation. In September 2006, an external review leadership team was formed to develop deliverables, timelines, make selection of reviewers, and negotiate costs. See below for a list of the team members.

The external review leadership team met several times during fall 2006, and developed a list of the scope and deliverables for the consultants.

Proposal

After considering possible consultants, Dr. Hunter Boylan from the National Center for Developmental Education was contacted. Suggested site visit ideas and cost estimates were obtained from Dr. Boylan and Dr. Barbara Bonham, resulting in the development of a proposal submitted by the external review leadership team to Dr. Green, Executive Vice President for Instruction and Student Success at the end of February 2007. The attached proposal was approved in March 2007.

Consultants

Dr. Barbara Bonham and Dr. Hunter Boylan from the National Center for Developmental Education have been selected by the Florida Community College external review leadership team as the consultants. You can read more about Dr's. Bonham and Boylan at the National Center for Developmental Education web site.

Timeline of the External Review

First Visit - Professional Development - April 2007

The first phase of the review was a discussion of professional development opportunities for math faculty and service units that support developmental and college preparatory math students. Dr. Bonham visited Florida Community College on the afternoon of Thursday, April 19, and the morning of Friday, April 20. Click here for itinerary of the April visit.

Second Visit - Full Program Review - September 2007

The full program review, visiting each campus, (as outlined in the proposal) occurred September 26-28, 2007 with Dr. Bonham and Dr. Boylan. Please review the purpose and general agenda of the September visit and the September schedule established by the External Review Leadership Team.

General Post-Visit timeline:

Draft of Topics: In November 2007, Dr. Bonham and Dr. Boylan drafted a list of topics that could be addressed in the final report
Feedback on List of Topics: In December 2007, the list of topics was reviewed by the External Review Leadership Team and the college administration and feedback was communicated to the consultants.
Final Report: Dr. Bonham and Dr. Boylan will prepare final report with recommendations and research.
Review Report and Develop Long Range Action Plan: External Review Leadership Team analyzes report, (meets with college community and solicits feedback), determines how to use results from the review and prioritize the team’s agenda for any implementation, and makes recommendations to college community for long range action plan (spring 2008).

Reports

Dr. Bonham’s Professional Development report from the first visit (April 2007) is available. The External Review Leadership Team has reviewed Dr. Bonham’s recommendations. Based on her report, the External Review Leadership Team would like to recommend an optional certificate program for adult education and prep math instructors. Members of the Math Innovations Initiative Team and Math Council are now drafting a proposal for this certificate program.

External Review Leadership Team Members

April Tischer (Program Coordinator, Adult Studies, South Campus)
Betty Neyer (Assessment and Certification Manager, Kent Campus)
Bob McCown (Professor, Downtown Campus)
Vernett Lawrence (Interim Learning Center Manager, North Campus)
Deborah Morris (Program Development, Workforce, Martin Center)
Donna Martin (Professor, North Campus)
Judy Batson (Dean of Liberal Arts/Sciences, Kent Campus)
Lynne Crosby (Program Development, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Martin Center)
Paula Risko (Professor, Deerwood Center and Math Council Chair)
Ruth Dellinger (Professor, Kent Campus)
Sandra Willis (Dean of Student Success, Downtown Campus)
Sarae (Sunny) Mathews (Professor, Adult Studies, South Campus)
Katharyn Downing (Adult Studies, Downtown Campus)