TTC implemented two alternative classes to MAT 101 (Beginning Algebra) and MAT 102 (Intermediate Algebra) courses. MAT 152 (Elementary Algebra) and MAT 153 (Elementary Algebra II) are five contact hour courses for students who struggle with math.
Trident Technical College
Active in Achieving the Dream:
2007 - present
Leader College:
2012 - 2015
Leader College
Participating Institution
The commitment among Trident Technical College’s (TTC) leadership and staff toward their goals and strategies has been unwavering since their initial application to be an Achieving the Dream college.
What We Are Doing:
Throughout the year, TTC continued to engage the college community in Achieving the Dream initiatives, with involvement of all faculty and staff in understanding and communicating important strategies to students. The students in the 2010-2011 school year’s Achieving the Dream cohort participated in 8 surveys and 7 focus groups; resulting data will inform improvements. The Achieving the Dream philosophy of using data to drive decision-making has permeated throughout the college.
The efforts most directly related to the college’s Achieving the Dream efforts include collaboration with the Regional P-20 Council, whose efforts focus on the alignment of math, science, and English requirements across all educational levels with the requirements of the workforce. In the past year, TTC’s priority has been student success in mathematics courses. The results have been gratifying, with revisions and interventions showing increased performance in several areas:
- Success rate of students overall who completed a Student Success Course in Fall 2010 was 76%, compared with 55% for those who did not take the course
- Revision of the Probability and Statistics (Math department) Online Course resulted in a 25 percentage point increase in student success rates
- Implementation of Computer-Assisted Instruction Supplemental Component in developmental math courses showed very strong Fall 2010 pilot results, with students in the CAISC course out-performing students in traditional sections
- Employment of MyMathLab intervention resulted in a statistically significant increase in the overall success rate compared to standard sections of the course who were not enrolled in the program
Who We Are:
Trident Technical College is a public, two-year, multi-campus institution that provides quality education and promotes economic development in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in South Carolina. The college provides lifelong learning opportunities for traditional and nontraditional students. These opportunities enhance the economic, social and cultural life of the community. Accessible and responsive to the needs of this multicultural community, TTC prepares students for a rapidly changing global environment.
In the Fall 2010 semester, approximately 15,700 students were enrolled at TTC. The curriculum includes programs in allied health sciences; aeronautical studies, business technology; family and child studies; hospitality; film, media and visual arts; industrial and engineering technology; law-related studies; nursing; and science and mathematics. Of the students enrolled in Fall 2010, 93% received financial aid and students of color comprised nearly 40% of the school population.
Student Success Strategies
Trident Technical College is using the following strategies to impact student success:
In Fall 2010, the Department of Mathematics began to systematically add a MyMathLab computer-assisted instruction (CAI) supplement to course instruction in order to help students to master course competencies and retain essential information through emphases on homework completion,
The college has used instructional assistants in the computer lab-based, self-paced MAT 031 (Developmental Mathematics Basics) and MAT 032 (Developmental Mathematics) classes to provide students with additional immediate instruction in classes in order to improve students’ skills
Orientation Services implemented group orientation sessions to provide college orientation to both new students and their families. These sessions are held frequently during the Summer term for incoming Fall students. An online orientation module is available for students who cannot a
TTC instituted the Student Advising Committee (SAC) charged with addressing advisor and student concerns about advising, providing greater access to advising information, and improving advising training and practices.
TTC is attempting to increase student enrollments in College Skills (COL 103) courses by offering the course for elective credit in degree programs and increasing class offerings each term. We increased COL 103 class offerings by 8 classes in 2012-2013, adding dual cr
In order to increase math students' access to assistance from instructors and other students outside of class, the college designed and furnished designated study spaces, called Math Cubes, on three campuses. The college does not explicitly track students&
TTC revised placement policies for math students in order to more accurately place students in the courses they need. In Fall 2010, incoming TTC students had to have an SAT math score of 580 or an ACT math score of 22 to exempt the Compass Placement Test.
