The Gini index is one of the most commonly used indicators of income inequality, and its computation and interpretation require a thorough understanding of various quantitative literacy concepts. In this article, we describe a unit for an interdisciplinary quantitative literacy course at a community college that treats concepts of ratio and…

Traditional college algebra courses focus almost exclusively on power functions such as y = x[superscript 2] and y = x[superscript 3] rather than the more general y = x[superscript p]. However, it is the more general form that is the basis of the mathematical models that arise throughout the natural sciences in a host of unexpected and highly…

A set of criteria for determining faculty workloads in light of changing roles and responsibilities is presented along with a formula that institutions can use to assess faculty workloads. After introductory material, the first section defines a workload formula as a method of determining the responsibilities a faculty member must carry out in a…

This paper presents and illustrates a technique that can be used to analyze the internal and external influences on community college enrollment trends and staffing patterns in a way that quantitatively expresses the amount of increase or decrease attributable to various competing factors. Introductory material relates the rationale behind the…

This first-year report of the National Effective Transfer Consortium (NETC) summarizes the progress made by the member colleges in creating standardized measures of actual and expected transfer rates and of transfer effectiveness, and establishing a database that would enable valid comparisons among NETC colleges. Following background information…