SB 196 (Math Competency)

SB 196 (a.k.a. the “Math Competency Initiative”) was passed by the Utah Legislature in the 2015 session. The bill stipulates that Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions will grant degree credit and award “math competency” for an American College Test (ACT) math score of 26 or higher, and for a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) math section score of 660* or higher.

What this means for SUU students with qualifying math scores:

• Students applying to SUU fall 2017 and thereafter, and have an eligible ACT/SAT math score that is not older than 18 months, will automatically receive credit.
• Qualifying scores will grant students Quantitative Literacy (“QL”) credit and will be equated to three credit hours at SUU.
• Credits will be transcripted as transfer work with a listing of “ACT or SAT QL Credit” and bear the QL attribute.
• Credits may only satisfy the Quantitative Literacy requirement for any Program of Study that requires MATH 1030; credits will not substitute for a specific course or program requirement.
• Credits will not serve as a pre-requisite for any course.
• ACT or SAT QL credit will not count in student’s GPA.
• Use of ACT/SAT scores to determine placement in the math sequence remain the same.

*The original bill listed a qualifying SAT math section score of 640. There was a change to SAT scoring in March 2016; based on College Board concordance tables and recent changes to the standardized scoring metrics, 660 is the new score equivalent. Qualifying scores are not based on composite scoring or SAT subject exams.