EPC 24-19 Support of Math Council on AB-1705

CSU Math Council Resolution Regarding the Implementation of Assembly Bill 1705 as it Pertains to STEM Major Academic Preparation

Whereas, Assembly Bill (AB) 705 was enacted in October, 2017 establishing the goal of students completing transfer level courses in English and mathematics within one year of entering a California Community College (CCC) and further establishing strict conditions under which a student could be placed in pre-baccalaureate coursework, and; 

Whereas, AB 1705 was subsequently enacted in September, 2022 providing additional requirements for CCCs to implement regarding placement into transfer level English and mathematics courses, and; 

Whereas, The CCC Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) has issued instructions to all CCCs that colleges are specifically prohibited from placing or enrolling students into transfer-level English or math/quantitative reasoning coursework that does not satisfy the requirements within the student’s intended program or major[1] 

Whereas, The CCCCO has published their definition of “highly unlikely to succeed” as a “throughput of 15%” meaning that only if data shows fewer than 15% of a specified cohort succeed in calculus without taking a prerequisite can that group be deemed to meet the AB 1705 criteria of “highly unlikely to succeed”, and; 

Whereas, These and other instructions by the CCCCO likely go beyond the requirements, spirit, and intention of AB 1705, and; 

Whereas, The CCCCO has developed many of their policies, directives, methodology and procedures in reliance on the data and conclusions of multiple reports provided by the RP Group, and; 

Whereas, Serious concerns and allegations are being expressed by experts including mathematics education researchers regarding the integrity and reliability of analysis and conclusions in the RP Reports, and; 

Whereas, One major concern is that the report disregards local community college placement criteria that differentiated the preparation of students initially placed into calculus from those initially placed into calculus prerequisites, and; 

Whereas, Another major concern is that the report focused on pre-pandemic data which is not representative of the current student population, and; 

Whereas, These concerns have not been addressed nor recognized by the CCCCO, who has already taken action in reliance on the analysis and conclusions and methodology of the RP Group reports, and; 

Whereas, The introduction of large numbers of underprepared students into calculus courses will likely negatively impact the quality of calculus instruction and outcomes, diminishing the average academic preparation of students majoring in STEM fields who transfer to the UC and the CSU, and; 

 Whereas, Any systemically diminished academic preparation will negatively impact STEM programs at the UC and CSU and have implications with accrediting agencies such as ABET for Engineering, 

Therefore, be it; 

1. Resolved: That the CSU Mathematics Council request that the CCCCO revise the definition of “highly unlikely to succeed” from 15% to 45%; and be it 

2. Resolved: That the CSU Mathematics Council request that the California State University and the University of California jointly commission a comprehensive peer review of the RP Group reports used by the CCCCO in developing policy to implement AB 1705; and be it 
3. Resolved: That the CSU Mathematics Council request the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges take up a review of the new CCCCO policies that implement AB 1705 and ensure those policies not go beyond the requirements of AB 1705; and be it 
4. Resolved: That the CSU Mathematics Council request that the Academic Senate of the California State University and the Academic Senate of the University of California undertake review of the RP Group reports, AB 1705, and the AB 1705 implementation policies of the CCCCO and consider the impact on the academic preparation of STEM majors transferring into the UC or CSU; and be it 

1. Resolved: That the CSU Mathematics Council distribute this resolution to:

The Academic Senate of the California State University 

The Academic Senate of the University of California 

The Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges

The Chancellor of the California State University 

The President of the University of California 

The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges

The RP Group 

The Departments of Mathematics of the California Community Colleges 

[1] AB 1705 Implementation Guide page 7