Exploration: A co-requisite support course for general chemistry

A traditional preparatory level, non-credit introductory chemistry course was the starting course for STEM students at Montgomery College that did not meet the placement criteria for college-level first-semester general chemistry. Despite efforts to address student success, the percentage of students earning an unsatisfactory grade in this preparatory level course remained high. Following the model of our Mathematics Department in their conversion of all pre-requisite developmental courses into co-requisite support courses, the Chemistry Department created a new 2-credit co-requisite support course, Principles of Chemistry I Exploration. The Exploration course is designed to equip students with the skills needed to be successful in college-level general chemistry by providing just-in-time instructional support in fundamental chemistry and related mathematical principles. This co-requisite support model provides the opportunity for underprepared students to register directly in the credit-level general chemistry course thereby reducing the time and cost to completion and graduation in STEM programs which contributes to College graduation and completion initiatives. Student success data in our college-level general chemistry course compared to the same course offered with the co-requisite support course will be shared.