Math Center Provides Academic Support for MU Students
Marcus Zwiebel
Manchester University’s Math Center, despite its recent beginning at the start of the autumn semester, has witnessed and promoted great results for an increasing number of Manchester students.
The Math Center, which is one of numerous tutoring areas offered at Manchester (and quickly becoming one of the most popular), is located in room 124 of the Science Center and is open 7-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. During the three-hour period, there are usually three math center tutors on staff to help students in a variety of mathematics and statistics courses.
Math Center tutors must be recommended by department faculty and must have shown prior advanced understanding in several mathematical areas, as well as the ability to properly and politely facilitate information to a group of students—which can range from 5-35 students. The group each night does range drastically but generally averages 15-20 students who attend the Center from a variety of disciplines, interests and from different mathematic courses.
It is available to help students at any level from introductory math to advanced math with any quantity of work.
“All are welcome,” said tutoring programs coordinator and Manchester alumna Diana Nettleton. “The Center welcomes people who need an entire lesson and problems reexplained or just happen to have a single problem that is making them tear their hair out. Nothing is really too small or large for coming to the Center.”
Students who attend the Math Center will find skilled tutors offering their expertise in the subject and willingness to formulate a program or routine to each student’s preferred method of learning. Nettleton explains that there exist comprehensive black binders organized by course and concept that serve dually as a collection of mathematical lessons for students and collective references of study and material tips for each respective course. Every skill, tip and suggestion from students and faculty will contribute to the content of the binders and further influence and elevate the ability of the tutors and the respective education and tutoring of each student.
Before the development of the Math Center, study tables were held for math courses, much like general study tables for other courses. However, students and tutors found the study tables inconvenient and nonhelpful due to their limited hours and spotty availability. Nettleton elaborates that the Math Center developed as the result of an increasing need on campus and was enthusiastically welcomed by students, staff and faculty. It will also be complemented by senior Ryan Morley’s imminent tutoring app, which will allow students to be remotely connected to tutors. Morley’s app will greatly benefit commuters and other students less available to attend tutoring sessions or math center hours.
Students interested in math tutoring (or the numerous tutoring programs at Manchester) may contact Nettleton or seek more information from involved faculty and staff and are encouraged to simply walk in and observe the discussion and environment of the Math Venter anytime during hours. Individuals may also reach out to Nettleton if they are interested in becoming paid tutors in any discipline.