November 12, 2026
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
Barton Community College hosted approximately 110 higher education professionals from across Kansas Oct. 23 for the 2026 Kansas Corequisite Symposium, which focused on improving student success through innovative instructional practices and academic support.
Following the success of last year’s event, which was limited to community colleges, organizers expanded this year’s gathering to include state universities. The event drew representatives from nearly every community college, technical college, and state university in Kansas, giving educators an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and explore strategies to better serve students in corequisite math and English coursework.
Barton Dean of Academics Dr. Stephanie Joiner said the symposium was filled with faculty and staff who wish to support their students and the efforts of corequisite reform.
“There was an energy in each session that evidenced a desire to learn from and with each other,” she said. “I think the greatest strength of the symposium was that it created a space for the human aspect of learning. There are struggles and frustrations and joys that come with learning, which we sometimes forget as adults and educators, and the breakout sessions fostered a space for the participants to work through the struggles and celebrate the joys.”
Participants attended sessions and guided discussions covering curriculum development, teaching strategies, student engagement, and academic support services. Faculty members in mathematics and English joined advisors, administrators, and support staff to share successful practices and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Tammi Perez-Rice, a mathematics professor at San Jacinto College, researcher, and postsecondary education consultant with 17 years of experience in higher education. Her work focuses on corequisite education, mathematics pathways, faculty development, curriculum redesign, and student-centered reform.
The symposium also included an opening event Oct. 22 featuring a screening of the documentary "Counted Out: Math is Power," which explores the importance of mathematics in everyday life and its role in shaping opportunities.
Joiner expressed excitement at the strong statewide participation.
“To see representation from across the entire spectrum of higher education institutions in Kansas, it really highlighted the shared commitment we all have to strengthening academic support, improving student outcomes, and helping more students complete college-level coursework.”
For more information about the Kansas Corequisite Symposium, visit https://bartonccc.edu/Corequisite.