<p>“Remedial” classes–in math in particular–are often a necessity for older returning students (who often turn out to be the most successful and motivated undergrads, as mspearl was). When I watched my son doing his middle school algebra homework last year, I vaguely remembered having done those same kinds of problems, but I would have no clue how to tackle them now. So even though “remedial” may connote “not up to snuff,” in many cases it really means “reminder.” And I hate to think of non-traditional students deciding not to return to school only because they need a refresher class in subjects they may have studied decades earlier.</p>