Dear Student:

On the first day of class, I will make a special effort to ensure that you are enrolled in a class that is appropriate for you.  That gives you a chance, on that very first day, to use add/drops to switch immediately to an appropriate class, and miss at most one session of that new class.  This bulletin is a heads-up for you on that process, which, if necessary, enables you to switch before the first day of class, and thus miss no sessions of your appropriate class.

Now, there are three ways in which College Algebra may be inappropriate for you:

1.  You may not need this course. 

Thre are two main reasons for taking College Algebra:  (1)  You will be going on to Calculus.  (2)  Your program specifically requires College  Algebra, by name (not just "college-level math").  If you do not fit into one of those two categories, you should be taking one of the courses listed in Alternatives to College Algebra.

2.  You may not have the prerequisites for this course, in spite of what you have been told by an advisor (click here to see what they are).

This is a serious defect, and will probably result in my having to drop you from the course, in accordance with ACC policy.  This will not be out of meanness, but stems from a sincere desire that my students prepare themselves for success in mathematics!  If you are dropped, you may end up waiting until next semester to enroll in a different course, thus delaying your program.

I have examined each student's records, and there are a number of you that appear not to have the prerequisites for College Algebra.  

Please e-mail me at powens@austincc.edu, and I will respond with my opinion (based on the records available to me) as to whether or not I believe you have the prerequisite.   If I am unable to make that determination, you should visit an advisor before the first day of class, and obtain the requisite documentation, which will be required, in any event, by the second day of class.

3.  You may have the technical prerequisite for College Algebra, but still not possess the algebra skills necessary for success in this course.

Please refer to the Sample Prerequisite Review for a sample of the kinds of algebra problems you should be proficient at in order to ensure success in this course.


With best wishes for success in mathematics,
Dr. Owens