State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) associate professor of math Kim Ghiselin has been selected to serve on Florida’s Mathematics Redesign Workgroup, which is focused on evaluating and improving the mathematics sequences for the Florida College System. Ghiselin’s appointment was based on her commitment to student success and her expertise in the field of mathematics.
The redesign workgroup is charged with helping prepare high school students for transition into Florida College System institutions and Florida College System students for transition into four-year universities. Workgroup members will collaborate to identify current challenges in mathematics pathways and develop policy and practice recommendations to improve student achievement across education systems.
According to Advancing Mathematics Pathways for Student Success, a coalition of national higher education organizations and foundations, mathematics courses are “the most significant academic barrier to postsecondary attainment,” with only 28 percent of community college students completing one gateway mathematics course within their first two years.
“Without question, mathematics is an important and foundational subject,” said Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor for the Florida College System. “We are increasingly finding that mathematics has become a barrier for many postsecondary students.”
She described Ghiselin’s leadership as vital to improving college completion rates and promoting student success throughout the state’s network of colleges.
“It is an incredible honor to represent SCF and serve alongside colleagues from all 27 Florida colleges as we try to map out the next steps for our math students,” Ghiselin said. “I look forward to sharing our results in June as we work to help make math more accessible to all students.”
For more information, visit floridacollegesystem.com or contact Ghiselin at GhiselK@SCF.edu or 941-752-5556.