The Remedial Mathematics Puzzle

• In Event: Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Barriers to Academic Performance

Abstract

Many undergraduates are currently required to take remedial courses after entering college. About two-thirds of students in community colleges and one quarter in four-year colleges take remedial mathematics. Do these courses affect degree completion? We address this using national transcript data and employ techniques to address selection. On average, enrolling in remedial math has a negative effect on graduation likelihood in four-year colleges, but no significant effect for community college students. However, timing and number of courses matter, so students who are taking many such courses or are still taking them after their second year of college are less likely to graduate. Moreover, remedial math courses clearly function as gatekeepers: students who fail are unlikely to complete their degree.

Authors

• Paul Attewell, City University of New York

• Sou Hyun Jang, The Graduate Center - CUNY