Position Paper on Time Limits for Course Prerequisites |
American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Position Paper on Time Limits for Course Prerequisites Mathematics knowledge can decline when not used. Therefore, continuing students should be encouraged to take a mathematics course each term until their math requirements are complete. Institutions should establish policies and procedures that encourage incoming students to make informed choices concerning initial mathematics course enrollment and a plan for the completion of mathematics course sequences. Among these policies and procedures are those dealing with time limits for a variety of course prerequisites (e.g. placement tests, college entrance tests, CLEP, AP, IB, course credits from other institutions, college readiness exams, and others), which should apply to both mathematics and statistics courses. The primary goal of these policies and procedures is the students’ successful and prompt completion of their mathematics and statistics requirements. AMATYC recommends that each institution determine time limits for placement tests and prerequisite courses based upon their own mission and goals, unless otherwise mandated through a governing state. After establishing a process for initial placement into a mathematics course, the institution should develop systems to determine reasonable time periods for acceptance of prerequisites and placement test scores. Policies and procedures established by institutions should be systematic and all-inclusive by specifying a time limit for all means of satisfying a prerequisite, including (if necessary) time limits on how long each of the following prerequisites is valid:
In establishing a prerequisite time limit policy, consideration should be given to these things:
Colleges should recognize that it will take a significant amount of time to develop meaningful and valid recommendations concerning time limits. The group making these recommendations should include faculty, academic advisors or counselors, and administrators. Appropriate institutional support for the collection and interpretation of data is important for success. Colleges might also seek input from other colleges that have implemented time limits. Once a recommendation is made and implemented, the data should be revisited periodically to assess its effectiveness. Approved at the Delegate Assembly |