Math Alert Improving Performance

SUNY�s Math Alert Program is helping boost high school mathematics enrollment and improving the success rates of New Yorkers who take mathematics in college. Math Alert, in operation since 1993, was recently linked to an improvement in New York State SAT math scores by an official of The College Board.

Math Alert makes a prognostic mathematics test available to New York high school students in districts that choose to participate. More than 116,000 students at 650 different New York high schools have taken the Math Alert tests since the program began.

Each student tested receives a confidential report describing his or her performance in terms of an examination score, the college-level math requirements for college majors in which the student has expressed interest and an indication of what remedial courses, if any, would be required in the first year of college if the student�s math skills remain at the level tested.

Enrollment in math classes at Math Alert-participating high schools increased 13 percent in 1997-98, compared with the previous year. Also, 14 percent more Math Alert participants placed in college-level math classes when they arrived on SUNY campuses and 15 percent more Math Alert students passed their first college math courses.

"Math Alert has created an important dialogue among State University faculty, high school teachers and counselors on the importance of mathematics," said Chancellor John W. Ryan. "Math Alert provides high school students an objective assessment of their number skills and encourages them to take more mathematics courses in high school. The program is having real, positive results."

"As we analyze the increase in scores on the SAT math exam (up 10 points from 1992, 492 to 502), we believe that the effectiveness of efforts such as the Math Alert Program are a contributing factor," said Brian J. Petraitis, director of the New York State Office of The College Board, which creates and administers the SAT exams.

Altes Interim President at Empire State College

Jane W. Altes, who has played a leadership role in adult learning and higher education administration, has been appointed Interim President of Empire State College by the SUNY Board of Trustees. Altes, who will not be a candidate for the permanent post, succeeds James W. Hall, who has accepted the position of Chancellor of Antioch College in Ohio.