Staff Resources

Hello SF State colleagues.  If you don’t find answers to your questions about English/Written Composition courses and Math/Quantitative Reasoning courses below, be sure to contact us at gatorsmartstart@sfsu.edu.

Fall 2023 sections are now updated!

Non-Metro specific sections:

For students who have chosen not to register in a support section: Statistics/Non-STEM B4 stand-alone sections

For students who have chosen to register in a support section: Statistics/Non-STEM B4 with support paired sections

 

 

Fall 2023 sections are now updated:

Gator Supportive Pathway options

Gator Support Pathway help

 

 

 

Executive Order 1110 addressed some of the historic inequities related college preparation by removing remedial math and English courses that didn’t count for credit and replaced them with a system of college-level math and English courses with support.  Student placement into these courses, instead of relying on a single, high-stakes test, are now determined by multiple measures (test scores, grades, high school course work, and supplemental advising exercises), giving students multiple ways to demonstrate their current skills and choose the best courses for their success. All courses now count toward the 120 units required to graduate.

B4 Advising Cheat Sheet FA23

Changes:

  • Starting in Fall 2023, students on pathways 1 or 2 in math MUST take the non-stretch version (DS110, MATH 110, or MATH 199) if they are on the Calculus or Business track.  

    • This will not affect the non-Calculus track so if a student on pathway 1 or 2 is choosing one of the courses that have a support section (MATH 124 or ISED 160), they are still able to opt into the support section (MATH 123 or MATH 122).   
    • The First-Year Math Advising module has been updated. 
    • This change will be hard coded in the schedule by restricting registration in MATH 107 and MATH 197 to students on pathway 3 or 4, but MATH 108 and MATH 198 will not change; this way any pathway 1 or 2 student who has already begun the stretch series will still be able to complete it. 
  • PSY 171 is currently hidden in the class schedule. 
    • There is no Instructor for this course yet, once an Instructor has been hired, the course will be made visible.
  • Pathway 4 in math FTF STEM students will be block enrolled into their math course based on their choices in the FYMA exercise.   
    • The sections set aside for these students are currently hidden in the schedule of classes but will be available once the block registration is complete. 

 

Standard overview: 

  • Students are encouraged to complete the First-Year Math Advising (FYMA) exercise at mathadvising.sfsu.edu to help them decide which version of the B4 is best for them. 

    • Although advisors should communicate that students are expected to complete the FYMA exercise, you are not responsible for enforcing compliance. 
    • Continuing students are also eligible to take the FYMA. 
    • If a student chooses not to complete the FYMA exercise, they should follow their pathway when choosing their B4 course: 
      • Pathway 1 - No B4 course needed (certain majors may require further math classes) 
      • Pathway 2 – Single semester stand-alone B4 course appropriate for their major 
      • Pathway 3 – Stretch course if on Calculus track, support section if on Statistics track depending on their major 
      • Pathway 4 – Stretch course if on Calculus track, support section if on Statistics track depending on their major (Early Start is not offered this year).
  • It is strongly encouraged for a student to complete their B4 by the end of their first year. If they are unable to complete the requirement in fall or spring, some B4 courses are offered during the summer.

     

  • Patterns 
    • Non-STEM B4 options 

      • MATH 124 (MATH 123), ISED 160 (MATH 122), PHIL 111, LCA/HIST/PHIL/PLSI 112 

        • PHIL 111 PSY 171, LCA/HIST/PHIL/PLSI 112 do not have support sections available. 
        • GEOG 203, and CSC 110 are not offered this semester 
    • Calculus for Business 
      • MATH 110 or DS 110 or MATH 107/108 (available only for pathway 3 or 4 students) 
    • Calculus for STEM 
      • MATH 199 or MATH 197/198 (available only for pathway 3 or 4 students) or MATH 226 

         

  • Pre-requisites for MATH 226 Calculus I 
    • MATH 198 or MATH 199 or equivalent with a grade of C or better (CR from a “pandemic semester” is also accepted) or 
    • MATH 226 or equivalent with a grade of C- or lower or 
    • High school pre-calculus with B or better or 
    • High school calculus with a grade of C or better 

A2 Advising Cheat Sheet FA23

 

Changes: 

  • Pathway 4 in math FTF STEM students will be block enrolled into their English course based on their choices in the FYWA exercise.    

    • The sections set aside for these students are currently hidden in the schedule of classes but will be available once the block registration is complete.  

 

Overview 

  • Students are encouraged to complete the First-Year Writing Advising (FYWA) exercise at writingadvising.sfsu.edu to help them decide which version of the A2 is best for them. 

    • Although advisors should communicate that students are expected to complete the FYWA exercise, you are not responsible for enforcing compliance. 
    • If a student chooses not to complete the FYWA exercise, they should follow their pathway when choosing their A2 course: 
      • Pathway 1 - No A2 course needed 
      • Pathway 2 – ENG 114 or ENG 209 (multi-lingual) 
      • Pathway 3 – ENG 104 & ENG 105 or ENG 201 & ENG 202 (multi-lingual) 
      • Pathway 4 – ENG 104 & ENG 105 or ENG 201 & ENG 202 (multi-lingual) Early Start is not offered this year.
  • The stretch versions of English (ENG 104/105 and ENG 201/202) are cohorted classes so the Instructor, students, day, and time will be consistent for the entire year. 
    • For the full stretch experience, students must start in fall 
    • Students who pass the first stretch class (ENG104 or ENG201) but do not pass the second (ENG105 or ENG202) have two options: 
      • It is recommended that they take ENG114 or ENG209 and sign up for tutoring support in the next possible semester. 
      • For ENG 104/105, there is sometimes space in ENG 105. The student can reach out the English Department to see if there is space to join (taralock@sfsu.edu). 
  • It is strongly encouraged for a student to complete their A2 by the end of their first year. If they are unable to complete the requirement in fall or spring, ENG114 is offered during the summer. 

     

  • Patterns 
    • ENG 104-105 (stretch) 

      • If a student fails or withdraws from ENG 104, they are eligible to take ENG 106 in the spring. 
    • ENG 114 
    • ENG 201-202 (multi-lingual stretch) 
    • ENG 209 with an option of 212 before 209 (or even simultaneously) 
      • ENG 204 is not being offered this year. 
      • CMS info: https://english.sfsu.edu/content/cms-faqs 
      • CMS questions: can do an email introduction of student and Esther Chan and Priya Abeywickrama, professors in CMS. 

The Math Department supports students taking their B4 for a third time here at SF State only if there is enough seats available after all first and second attempt students have registered.  If a student would like to appeal to take a specific B4 for a third time, they should follow this procedure:

  1. Students must wait until the start of the semester - the Chair will not review appeals before the first day of classes.
  2. Student start by completing the college waiver.  Please note that this form no longer requires a permission code.
  3. Once the semester has begun, the student should contact the Instructor of the section they would like to add, let them know it will be a third attempt, and ask if they can join the class.
  4. If the course has a matched course (such as a 4th hour for 199, 226, 227, and 228, or a required co-requisite like 123), please also write that course on the waiver form.  
  5. If the Instructor(s) approve, they will send the form to the Department on the students behalf.

The English Department is supportive of students taking their A2 for a third time here at SF State to help with continuity and stability.  Currently, it is expected that there will be enough seats available so students should follow this procedure:

  1. During registration, the student should contact the Instructor of the section they would like to add, let them know it will be a third attempt, and ask if they can join the class.  
  2. If the Instructor agrees, they will give them a permission code to add the class.
  3. The student will then complete the college waiver and email it to engdept@sfsu.edu for approval and processing. (They will accept the forwarded email from the Instructor as the Instructors signature).  Please note that form no longer requires a permission number.

Problem solving, quantitative awareness, reading and writing are all skills that, when practiced regularly, give individuals more power by increasing their effectiveness in analyzing situations, evaluating options, and communicating through complexity to represent truth(s). More immediate, by taking math and writing courses early in your college journey, you will increase your success in all other classes, since they ask you to employ these skills.