Notre Dame College Professor Helps Shape ACT

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio— 9th February 2009 —Notre Dame College professor Anthony Masci has been invited to share his expertise with the ACT National Curriculum Survey. He is one of a few professors nationally who have been asked to help ensure that ACT’s curriculum-based tests accurately measure the skills college instructors expect of incoming students.

The national college admission and placement examination has been administered across the country for almost 50 years. Of the 215 ACT questions asked, 60 are math based. Every three to five years, ACT revisits these questions to ensure their accuracy and efficiency. Masci answered a six page questionnaire examining the type of questions the ACT test poses to establish the math proficiency of high school graduates. His responses will be influential in shaping the ACT mathematics test of the future.

“I am honored and excited about representing Notre Dame College in this endeavor, which will identify the importance of the math content knowledge and skills that entering freshmen must have in order to be prepared for the courses we offer,” Masci said.

Masci isn’t sure how he was selected to participate in the survey, but believes that his 30-years in the public secondary school system combined with his career at Notre Dame College made him an ideal candidate. He  also played a large part in creating the math portion of Notre Dame’s College’s placement examination when the College switched to the ACCUPLACER test in 2004.

Ohio is one of the five states with the highest number of ACT-tested high school graduates. Notre Dame also uses the ACTs to determine applicant students’ knowledge and skills. Most of these freshmen will likely take one of Masci’s courses as he predominantly teaches underclassmen.

Masci resides in Highland Heights with his wife Marj. They have two grown children. For more information contact Mary Ann Kovach at 216.373.5252 or mkovach@ndc.edu.

Notre Dame College, a Catholic institution in the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame, educates a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional and global responsibility. The College offers bachelor’s degrees in 29 disciplines plus interdisciplinary programs and self-designed majors. A master’s degree in education and teacher certification program are also available as well as one of greater Cleveland’s oldest weekend colleges and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners.