Map of Texas with West Region Highlighted

West Texas

Welcome

Stakeholders in the West Texas region work collectively to create seamless mathematics pathways aligned across institutions for all P–16 learners. Key leaders from regional community colleges and universities serve as a leadership team to work with the Dana Center Mathematics Pathways (DCMP) regional coordinator to address shared issues, and to problem-solve across systems with a goal of improving student completion.

Coordinator

Dick Whipple
Dick Whipple
whipplewaytx@gmail.com
“It is a pleasure to serve the West Texas region where the folks are friendly and higher education institutions are receptive to new ideas like Dana Center Mathematics Pathways!”

Institutions

  • Amarillo College
  • Angelo State University
  • Clarendon College
  • El Paso Community College
  • Frank Phillips College
  • Howard College
  • Midland College
  • Odessa College
  • South Plains College
  • Sul Ross State University
  • Texas Tech University
  • The University of Texas at El Paso
  • The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
  • West Texas A&M University
  • Western Texas College
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Regional Advisory Group
INSTITUTION NAME TITLE
Amarillo College Tamara Clunis Vice President of Academic Affairs
Angelo State University Karl Havlak Chair, Department of Mathematics
Clarendon College Brian Fuller Vice President of Academic Affairs
El Paso Community College Steven Smith Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education
Frank Phillips College Beth Summers Math Professor
Howard College Susan Strickland Program Director of Adult Education & Literacy and Math
Midland College Michael Dixon Dean, Instructional Support Services
Odessa College Valerie Jones Vice President for Instruction
South Plains College Ryan Gibbs Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sul Ross State University Yvonne Realivasquez Director of Administration, Office of the President
Texas Tech University Jerry Dwyer Professor of Education
The University of Texas at El Paso Ivette Savina Assistant Vice President for Outreach and Student Access
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Michael Zavada Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
West Texas A&M University Pamela Lockwood Professor and Associate Dean of Mathematics
Western Texas College Stephanie Ducheneaux Dean of Instructional Affairs

 

 

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Goals and Activities

Current Focus

In the 2017–2018 academic year, stakeholders in the West Texas region are focused on achieving the following goals:

  1. Plan for the implementation of Texas House Bill 2223 (HB 2223);
  2. Host regional convenings to address:
    1. HB 2223 co–requisite models; and
    2. Transfer and applicability.
  3. Host sub-regional convenings to address local issues and topics identified in the Convening Planning Survey (conducted Spring 2017); and
  4. Create sub-regional organizations for long–term support of cooperative work through DCMP.

These goals are based on discussions at regional convenings/workshops.

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Highlights from the Region

  • 2016–2017 Builds Momentum in the Region

  • Spring 2018 Regional Transfer Convening

  • HB 2223 Workshop at Midland College

  • Regional Survey Highlights Future Areas of Work

In the 2016–2017 academic year, institutions in the West Texas region suggested conducting a survey to introduce the Dana Center and the DCMP coaching model, and to gauge topics of interest. Survey results revealed great interest in addressing several transfer issues and developing a Core Transfer Guide for West Texas. The region’s first Transfer and Applicability Convening was originally scheduled for Fall 2017; however, the passage of HB 2223 necessitated co-requisite developmental workshops for the region. 

Fall and spring HB 2223 workshops were held at Odessa College (October 2017) and Midland College (February 2018). The Transfer and Applicability Convening was rescheduled for April 2018. What great progress we have made this past year in West Texas! See the highlights in the following sections for details on recent workshops.

In Spring 2018, Texas Tech University and the Dana Center hosted the West Texas Regional Transfer Convening. Eight community colleges and five universities from the West Texas region reviewed research on student transfer and mathematics course requirements by program, held cross-institutional discussions on transfer and mathematics pathways alignment, and planned for seamless transfer in the region through an exploration of key metrics and regional data.

Discussions surfaced an understanding of the close cooperation between West Texas colleges and universities in this mostly rural region. A shared responsibility for students who move between institutions in West Texas creates a solid foundation to build upon for students moving through aligned mathematics pathways.

Selected Resources:

The Dana Center and Odessa College jointly hosted a workshop concerning HB 2223 for West Texas college and university staff on October 4 and 5, 2017.  Primary emphasis for the two–day workshop was the development of institutional plans to address the changes to developmental education resulting from HB 2223. The focus was on developmental mathematics education and the role played by mathematics pathways. Key topics included understanding the current context and planning for change, transforming the role of placement, and exploring the structure of co-requisite courses. Staff from twelve colleges and universities in West Texas either attended or viewed a recording of the workshop.

Selected Resources:

In Spring 2017, the Dana Center and institutions in the West Texas region developed and conducted a survey to assist in planning the proposed Fall 2017 West Texas Convening. Survey content was based primarily on information gleaned from DCMP regional coordinator visits and conversations with institutional representatives of the nine community colleges and six universities that make up the West Texas region. The purpose of the survey was to identify topics to be covered at the convening. 

Topics identified included:

  1. Mathematics pathways
  2. Curriculum/pedagogy
  3. Transfer and applicability
  4. Advising
  5. Professional development
  6. Data and evaluation
  7. Convening Planning Survey – summary of participant responses and comments
Dr. Magdalena Toda
"In the Math and Statistics Department, we favor and support the Texas Tech University motto ‘From here, it’s possible.’ We are happy about our new bridges with all colleges in the region. The Dana Center makes those bridges and pathways possible."
Dr. Magdalena Toda
Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech Univeristy
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Institutional Representatives
INSTITUTION NAME TITLE
Amarillo College Tamara Clunis Vice President of Academic Affairs
Amarillo College Edythe Carter Dean, Academic Success
Angelo State University Karl Havlak Chair, Department of Mathematics
Clarendon College Brian Fuller Vice President of Academic Affairs
El Paso Community College Steven Smith Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education
El Paso Community College Joshua Villalobos Dean of Instructional Programs
Frank Phillips College Shannon Carroll Vice President for Academic Affairs
Frank Phillips College Beth Summers Math Professor
Howard College Susan Strickland Program Director of Adult Education & Literacy and Math
Howard College Bryan Stokes Director of Student Support
Midland College Michael Dixon Dean, Instructional Support Services
Midland College Margaret Wade Dean, Math and Natural Sciences
Odessa College Valerie Jones Vice President for Instruction
Odessa College Timothy Contreras Mathematics and Engineering Department Chair
South Plains College Ryan Gibbs Vice President for Academic Affairs
South Plains College Alan Worley Chair, Math and Engineering
Sul Ross State University Yvonne Realivasquez Director of Administration Office of the President
Sul Ross State University Kathy Stein Director of Academic Center for Excellence
Texas Tech University Jerry Dwyer Professor of Education
The University of Texas at El Paso Ivette Savina Assistant Vice President for Outreach and Student Access
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Michael Zavada Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
West Texas A&M University Pamela Lockwood Professor and Associate Dean of Mathematics
West Texas A&M University Brad Johnson VP Strategic Relations
Western Texas College Stephanie Ducheneaux Dean of Instructional Affairs

 

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Our Work at the State Level

Select a state to learn more about how local leaders are setting a vision for math pathways or read an analysis of math pathways work across multiple states.