History

In 2003 the Texas Legislature replaced the Texas Academic Skills (TASP) with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) coordinates the implementation of TSI across the state. The TSI assessment requires all Texas public institutions of higher education to determine college readiness for success in college-level academic courses. The TSI Assessment is now known as the TSIA 2.0 or TSIA2. All students entering Texas public colleges, technical schools, and universities undergo assessment using the TSIA2, unless exempt. The TSIA2 consists of three examinations – Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), and Essay. Students are placed into appropriate coursework based on their results from the TSIA2.

UTEP is committed to meeting students where they are academically. The Developmental Math Department has created several options to help accelerate a student’s progress through developmental education. Co-requisites allow students to co-enroll in developmental education and college level courses simultaneously. Non-competency-based options (NCBOs) are bridge programs to help students refresh on their skills. These varying options save students time, effort, and money.

Developmental Math department at UTEP is housed now under Entering Student Experience (ESE). It prepares students for college-level work in math. It has 6 faculty positions and offers 4 courses, Beginning Basic Math (NCBM M031), Intermediate Algebra (Math 0311), Intermediate Algebra Co-req (Math 0312 Co-requisite), and College Algebra Co-req (Math 0313 Co-requisite). These courses are taught using ALEKS, a web-based application. The Developmental Math department is very proactive in searching for better ways to make our students successful, not only in our classes, but in their first college-level math course.

In addition, the Developmental Math department offers two summer bridge programs, MDM (Mad Dog Math), and Extender. These two programs are designed to help students succeed in college.

The Developmental Mathematics department has 3 labs that are available for students. The labs are in the Education Building; rooms 211, 215C and 316. They are designed to provide developmental math students with course instruction, tutoring, and access to computers to complete their course work. Computers are available and fully equipped with internet access and the latest software needed to work on course assignments.

2017 Co-Requisites (Co-enrollment in Developmental Education and College Credit courses)
In 2017 the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2223 requiring that all developmental departments across the state offer a co-requisite course to developmental students. The law specifically stated that by 2018 25% of students must be placed in a corequisite model, by 2019 50% placed into a co-requisite model and by 2020 75% of students must be placed into a co-requisite model. The intent of this law is to allow more students to attempt a college-level Math or English course their first semester.

In Fall 2018, Developmental Mathematics Instructors taught for the first time Intermediate Algebra Co-req (Math 0312 Co-requisite), and later in Spring of 2020, College Algebra Co-req (Math 0313 Co-requisite) was taught for the first time. The focus of these two courses is to provide just-in-time content aligned with the content schedule of the college-level Math course.

2013 NCBOs (Non-Course Based Options)
In Fall 2013 HB 1 required all Developmental programs to offer Non-Course Based Options. Developmental Math created several NCBM courses to address a student’s identified weaknesses and effectively prepare the student for college-level work.

2011 Math 0311 (Intermediate Algebra)
HB1244 established a state-wide mandate in placement cut scores and test used to determine a student’s college readiness. Developmental Math restructured courses to eliminate Math 0310, beginning algebra and created a new Math 0311 that included content for both beginning and intermediate algebra.

The Developmental Mathematics department at UTEP was housed for some time under the Office for Undergraduate Studies; the department prepared students for college-level work in math. The program consisted of three courses. The department had 10 faculty positions and offered two courses, Introductory Algebra (Math 0310) and Intermediate Algebra (Math 0311). These courses were taught using ALEKS, a web-based application.

In addition, the Developmental Mathematics department taught a lab (Math 0120) in conjunction with the UTEP Mathematics Department. In 2006, the ACCUPLACER cut-off scores were changed to allow students that placed in the top portion of Intermediate Algebra to take their college-level math (Math 1320) with the help of this lab. In 2009 the cut-off scores for Math 0120 were readjusted. Read More