Beyond Crossroads Preface

Preface

The seeds of Beyond Crossroads: Implementing Mathematics Standards in the First Two Years of College were planted in 2001 when a plan was drafted to revisit AMATYC’s 1995 publication, Crossroads in Mathematics: Standards for Introductory College Mathematics. The project’s National Advisory Committee, with representation from major mathematics and mathematics education organizations, met in June 2002 to advise the project leadership on the vision, direction, and general shape of the document. Surveys of members about how they used the 1995 Crossroads document and their needs resoundingly spoke to the importance of addressing implementation in the update of the AMATYC standards.

The AMATYC membership played a key role in helping to create and respond to various drafts. This document reflects the valuable contributions of hundreds. Through numerous forums and working sessions at annual conferences, focus sessions at Affiliate Conferences, and online questionnaires, the entire AMATYC membership and Association Review Groups and other professional organizations had many opportunities to give feedback on Beyond Crossroads. This is the strength of the document: that it was written by AMATYC and speaks for AMATYC and our profession, along with our professional col- leagues, in bold and visionary ways.

Electronic Resources

Accompanying this document are electronic resources in various formats providing successful classroom models, instructional strategies, and other materials, intended to provide direction to faculty, departments, and institutions that wish to engage their students in rich and purposeful mathematics. These resources enhance and extend the messages of this written document, promote the implementation of the standards, and provide a “living” link between this document and its readers through providing current information on initiatives and resources supporting the Implementation Standards and recommendations. The initial set of resources includes a Web-enhanced version of this document, Beyond Crossroads Live!, an Outreach Kit, and resources on Assessment and Quantitative Literacy/Mathematics Across the Curriculum. For more information about Beyond Crossroads electronic resources, visit the AMATYC Web site, www.amatyc.org. Electronic files of the Beyond Crossroads written document are also available at the AMATYC Web site, www.amatyc.org.

Acknowledgments

Each individual listed on pages 86–88 played an important role in the planning, development, and writing of the document. The work of the Project Directors and Planning Team began the process of revisiting Crossroads in Mathematics. The National Advisory Committee provided direction to the Writing Team to build upon and extend the excellent work of the 1995 standards. The tremendous expertise and tireless devotion of Project Editor Richelle Blair are of particular note. Her mantra to “Trust the Process” was a constant encouragement to all involved throughout the years of the project. The Writing Team Chairs with their cadre of Section and Contributing writers worked tirelessly to capture the key issues suggested by AMATYC members and other stakeholders and to identify the relevant research documents that are the foundation of the positions presented. Sincere thanks are extended to all who reviewed the document at various stages.

A special thank-you goes to the Association Review Groups (ARGs) of AMATYC and the American Mathematical Society Committee on Education, the American Statistical Association/AMATYC Joint Committee on Statistics, the Mathematical Association of America, the National Association for Developmental Education, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and careful readers Susan Ganter, Carole Lacampagne, Joan Leitzel, Harriet Pollatsek, Linda Rosen, Lynn Steen, and Elizabeth Teles. Thanks also to David Lutzer and Stephen Rodi for sharing the 2005 CBMS survey data before publication of the final document.

The continuing support of three AMATYC Executive Boards (2001–03: President Philip H. Mahler; 2003–05: President Judy E. Ackerman; 2005–07: President Kathy Mowers), is gratefully acknowledged. The assistance of the AMATYC office staff (Cheryl Cleaves, Executive Director of Office Operations; Beverly Vance, Office Director; Christy Hunsucker, Accounting Director; Christine Shott, Publications Director; and Shinder Blunt, Secretary) was invaluable and is greatly appreciated.