Transforming Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics

TL;DR

This paper introduces TPSE Math, a national initiative aimed at transforming post-secondary mathematics education through community coordination, shared vision, and action-oriented strategies to improve teaching and learning across colleges and universities.

Contribution

It describes the formation, goals, and initial consensus-building efforts of TPSE Math to drive systemic change in higher education mathematics.

Findings

Broad consensus on challenges in mathematics education

Successful community engagement and collaboration

Initial steps towards transformative action

Abstract

In this manuscript, I introduce and describe the work of mathematicians and mathematics educators in the group Transforming Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics (TPSE Math or TPSE, pronounced "tipsy", for short). TPSE aims to coordinate and drive constructive change in education in the mathematical sciences at two-year colleges, four-year colleges, and universities across the nation. It seeks to build on the successes of the entire mathematical sciences community. This manuscript reviews the events that led to the founding of TPSE Math and articulates its vision and mission. In its first phase with national events, TPSE found broad consensus with the mathematical sciences community on the challenges facing the community. Learning from educational transformations experiences in other scientific fields, and with the support of the Mathematical Advisory Group of 34 mathematical sciences department chairs and leaders, TPSE moves into a second phase focused on action. This is a snapshot in time, and TPSE's ongoing activities will continue to be documented and disseminated. The piece concludes with a reflection of the impact that my involvement in this work has had on my career.