Helping Students Succeed in Developmental Math
During the Spring 2012 semester, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College will introduce a way for students to determine the exact amount of developmental and credit-level math they will need for their degrees. This new process will help students move through developmental courses quickly and successfully.

For faculty and advisors:
Beginning Monday, November 7, 2011, Reynolds initiated a new placement testing process. Under the leadership of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), Reynolds will now administer the Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for the assessment of math skills in relationship to courses requiring math placement. It is the first installment of a comprehensive placement tool that will be used at all Virginia community colleges. Read the full developmental math redesign plan or use this brochure as a quick reference.

About the courses:
This series of one-credit developmental math courses covers basic skills and essential math and is designed to prepare students to take credit-level math courses (they will replace current developmental math courses MTH 02, 03, 04 and 05).

• Each course is one (1) credit hour and will be offered in four sessions (each 3½ to
  4 weeks in length) during a regular semester. Two sessions will be offered during summer semester.
• To pass each course, students must maintain a 75 percent average and receive a score of 75 percent on the final course test.
• Students will take only the developmental courses they need to qualify for the first credit-level math course required by their curriculum/degree program. For example, liberal arts degree plans will require fewer math courses, and therefore less developmental math courses, than engineering degree plans.
• Current developmental math courses MTH 02, 03, 04 and 05 will not be offered after Fall 2011.
• Students who have taken or are currently enrolled in MTH developmental math courses should meet with their advisor to determine which MTE courses they can enroll in. View the MTH to MTE conversion chart.

About the new placement test:
Students who have not taken or received a grade in a math course (including developmental math) by Spring Semester 2012, may use the Compass Placement Chart (if Compass has been taken within the last two years). Students may choose to take the new placement test which will be offered in early November 2011. View the chart.

• Any student who has taken or attempted MTH 02, 03, 04, or 05 during or before Fall Semester 2011 will not need to take the new placement test. They will transition to the new BSK/MTE courses.
• New placement test results will determine which of the new developmental math courses students need to take and which they “place out” of.

For more information, contact the JSRCC School of Mathematics and Science at
(804) 523-5374 or math@reynolds.edu.

Course Descriptions:

BSK 1 Whole Numbers (1 cr.)
Covers whole number principles and computations. Develops the mathematical mastery necessary for MTE 1. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 1 Operations with Positive Fractions (1 cr.)
Includes operations and problem solving with proper fractions, improper fractions, and mixed numbers without the use of a calculator. Emphasizes applications and includes U.S. customary units of measure. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or BSK 1. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 2 Operations with Positive Decimals and Percents (1 cr.)
Includes operations and problem solving with positive decimals and percents. Emphasizes applications and includes U.S. customary and metric units of measure. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or BSK 2. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 3 Algebra Basics (1 cr.)
Includes basic operations with algebraic expressions and solving simple algebraic equations using signed numbers with emphasis on applications. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 2. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 4 First Degree Equations and Inequalities in One Variable (1 cr.)
Includes solving first degree equations and inequalities containing one variable, and using them to solve application problems. Emphasizes applications and problem solving. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 3. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 5 Linear Equations, Inequalities, and Systems of Linear Equations in
Two Variables (1 cr.)
Includes finding the equation of a line, graphing linear equations and inequalities in two variables and solving systems of two linear equations. Emphasizes writing and graphing equations using the slope of the line, points on the line, and applications. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 4. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 6 Exponents, Factoring, and Polynomial Equations (1 cr.)
Includes techniques of factoring polynomials and using these techniques to solve polynomial equations. Emphasizes applications using polynomial equations solved by factoring. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 5. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 7 Rational Expressions and Equations (1 cr.)
Includes simplifying rational algebraic expressions, solving rational algebraic equations, and solving applications that use rational algebraic equations. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 6. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 8 Rational Exponents and Radicals (1 cr.)
Includes simplifying radical expressions, using rational exponents, solving radical equations, and solving applications using radical equations. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 7. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester
[view & print course content summary]

MTE 9 Functions, Quadratic Equations, and Parabolas (1 cr.)
Includes an introduction to functions in ordered pair, graph, and equation form. Also introduces quadratic functions, their properties and their graphs. Credits not applicable toward graduation. Prerequisite: placement recommendation or MTE 8. Lecture 4 hours per week for ¼ semester.
[view & print course content summary]