Many high school grads unprepared for college

I applaud the Utah State Board of Education for considering increasing the math and science requirements for high school graduation. Many high school students (and their parents) believe that completing the required courses for high school graduation prepares them for college. This is false! It is only a myth that the exit requirements of high school meet the entry requirements of college. We have a significant college "underpreparedness" problem in Utah, in part because we believe in the myth that if we complete the graduation requirements for high school, we'll be ready for college.

This myth encourages some high school students to "coast" during their senior year. This myth has led even college-bound seniors to decline taking math and science courses, since they are not required to do so. The myth may also contribute to the high number of college freshmen who end up taking remedial courses in college. In some of Utah's largest colleges, more than half of the entering freshmen take one or more remedial classes.

I also applaud the Utah State Board of Regents for introducing a new Regents Diploma that rewards (with automatic university admission and, perhaps, some cash) all high school students who take this college-prep curriculum including (among other courses) four years of math and three years of science. This Regents Diploma curriculum better prepares students to succeed in the math and science courses they'll encounter in college.

Turning things around is critical to our competitiveness in the tech-savvy world of the 21st century. For this reason, Congress has just authorized a new financial grant program for college students who succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Regardless of whether you want to be an engineer or an artist, almost all college and university programs will require you to pass basic math and science courses. Unfortunately, there is currently a significant gap between the exit requirements of high school and the entry requirements of college. It's a shame that so many students (and parents) do not realize this until they find themselves in remedial courses during their first year of college. Congratulations to the Board of Education for its work in closing the gap.

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Bradley A. Winn is the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Snow College.