Butler's Math Redesign is Area’s Top Innovator

Butler Community College was one of more than two dozen companies honored this week by the Wichita Business Journal as a winner of the 2018 Innovation and Enterprise Awards. The awards luncheon took place on Oct. 20 at the Hyatt Regency Wichita.

Last year, Butler implemented a new way of teaching math. This math redesign was a required change across the institution. The college changed the format from 3-credit hour, 16-week courses, to 1-credit hour, 5-week courses. By splitting semester-long classes into three modules within the 16-week timeframe, students are succeeding at a higher rate than before.

The math redesign at Butler was driven by three things: the national push to increase graduation rates; the focus on developmental education to improve success, retention and completion; and research that indicates math courses, particularly college algebra, are barriers to degree completion. Math has been blamed for students ending their college career. Research also indicates two-thirds of students are not academically prepared for college-level courses, with the largest percentage of those students needing developmental math courses. 

Last year, Butler saw a 20% increase in math student success and a 10% decrease in student withdrawals. With more graduates achieving their degrees and not stopping because of math, the workforce benefits.

Cutline:  Several math instructors at Butler Community College.