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 610* or higher.

What this means for SUU students with qualifying math scores:

• Students who are admitted to SUU and have an eligible* ACT/SAT math score that is not older than than September 1, 2016, will automatically receive credit.
• Qualifying scores will grant students 3 Quantitative Literacy General Education (GE) credits.
• Credits will be transcripted as transfer work with a listing of "2015 Utah Senate Bill 196" and bear the "M" attribute.
• Credits may only satisfy the Quantitative Literacy GE requirement and may not equate to a specific course number.
• Credits will not serve as a pre-requisite for any course.
• Students' ACT/SAT math scores, however, may be used to determine placement in subsequent math courses.
• ACT or SAT Quantitative Literacy GE credit will not count in students' GPAs.

 

* 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 changes to the standardized scoring metrics, 660 is the cutoff score for tests taken between September 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017. An additional change was made to the College Board concordance tables in 2018. Students who took the SAT on or after January 1, 2018, have an SAT math cutoff score of 610.