By Katelyn Needham/ editor-in-chief

Some students may now have a way to deal with College Algebra: Just don’t take it.

A new math pathway introduced at the board of trustees meeting Jan. 19 will make it possible for students to skip College Algebra in favor of courses that do not focus on algebraic math.

“Our proposal is for non-STEM majors,” SE mathematics and science dean Thomas Awtry said. “It’s important to realize this is the majority of TCC students.

“These students should be able to take one of the less algebraic-intensive courses. Our proposal is that these students not have to take MATH 0362 [Intermediate Algebra].”

Students who started in the second developmental math class and then moved to Contemporary Math had a 73.9 percent passing rate while students who passed the first developmental math class and moved on to Contemporary Math had a passing rate of 81.5 percent.

This data collected by SE Campus shows the new pathway that skips the second developmental course has a high success rate with students.

The new math pathway is currently available only to SE students but will be made districtwide in the summer or next fall, Awtry said.

“Students will finish the developmental courses sooner,” he said. “They will enter into their credit sequence sooner, and it will save them money because they don’t have to pay for that Intermediate Algebra course. It will also save them study time.”

The new pathway is not recommended for students on a STEM degree plan because they will need the algebra courses. All students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to help determine the correct pathway for them.

“If the student tests into Intermediate Algebra, then they can go straight into Contemporary Math or Statistics with the help of an advisor,” advisor Greg Shortes said. “The biggest thing when a student comes in for advising is looking at their major. Then we look at where they are planning to transfer after TCC. We can then choose the pathway they need to succeed.”

Also, introduced at the board meeting were 11 newly approved programs that will be available as early as next semester.

“We are creating additional pathways for students to pursue with the new programs,” TR health sciences director Troy Moran said. “A lot of the health programs have waiting lists. The more programs we offer the better chance they have to get into one.”

The new programs will have most of the same requirements students must meet as the other health science programs. They must meet all of the prerequisites, GPA and Health Education Systems Incorporated exam requirements, have a clean background check and pass a drug screening.

“Our phones ring all the time for sonography and these programs that are being added,” Moran said. “The courses were added due to the high demand with students and in the career field. We anticipate a huge number of students to sign up. Some of the courses are slated for the end of year and some for next year.”

New programs approved 

by board of trustees

• Nuclear Medicine

• Licensed Vocational Nursing

• Healthcare Leadership Certification

• Anesthesia Technology

• Central Sterile Processing

• Diagnostic Medical Sonography

• Computed Tomography

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Call Center Operator

• Bank Teller Operations

• AAS Surgical Technology