Mathematics Learning Center
In accordance with the Mission of the College to provide open-admission access for all
learners along with support services to provide students with the maximum opportunity to
succeed, the Mathematics Learning Center is committed to providing high quality
mathematics one–to–one tutoring and small group learning for all students. Innovative
pedagogical techniques, including educational technology are employed. In order to
insure the highest quality of service to students, the Mathematics Learning Center engages
in on-going assessment using CUNY-wide and college-specific indicators.
The Mathematics Learning Center is a tutoring and self-study facility accessible to all
students. It is open year round and provides assistance for all mathematics courses, from
developmental to advanced level. Highly qualified tutors and faculty are trained to work
with students on a one-to-one basis and in small group workshops. The Mathematics
Learning Center provides course-integrated workshops and review sessions to help
students exit from remediation in an expeditious manner. The Center provides review
sessions to help students succeed in credited math courses to increase retention and
graduation rates. In addition, the Mathematics Learning Center works with other
departments in the College to provide services for targeted cohorts to appropriately
support students in credit level courses. For transfer students, the Center provides
resources to test and assess students’ ability so that proper placement in advanced level
courses is achieved. The Mathematics Learning Center provides support services for
grant-funded projects in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department.
In order to accomplish the mission for the academic year 2011 – 2012, the following
services are offered: One-to-one tutoring for credit and non-credit bearing math courses,
course-integrated workshops for MA 5 modular classes, course-integrated workshops for
USIP MA 5 and MA 10 classes, review sessions for final exams, MA 5 Express, MA 10
Express workshops, mandatory MA 10 CUNY intervention workshops, MA 10 USIP
intervention workshops, ASAP review classes/workshops and specialized Nursing and
Biology tutoring and workshops. The Center's services expanded to providing on-line
review sessions through a "Virtual Classroom" a Perkins grant funded project. The
Mathematics Learning Center serves approximately 5,000- individual students fulfilling
32,000 tutoring/workshop requests per year.
Core Activities and Performance
Core Activity
Key PI
Indicators
Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 One-to-One
Tutoring for Credit and Non-Credit Bearing
Math Courses
Passing the course with a C or better
For Fall
2011, 53% of
the students
that received
tutoring in
the Math
Center
passed the
course. For
Spring 2012,
47% of the
students that
received
tutoring in
the Math
Center
passed the
course.
MA 5 Modular Workshops
Passing the uniform final exam
For Fall
2011, 83%
passed the
MA 5
Modular B
Workshop
and 65%
passed the
MA 5
Modular C
Workshop.
For Jan
2012, 96%
passed the
MA 5
Modular
Workshop.
For Spring
2012, 99%
passed the
MA 5
Modular B
Workshop
and 95%
passed the
MA 5
Modular C
Workshop.
For June
2012, 84%
passed the
MA 5
Modular
Workshop.
MA 10 CUNY Intervention
Passing the CUNY uniform final exam
The MA 10
CUNY
Intervention
workshop
was given for
the first time
during the
June 2012
session.
79% of the
students that
attended the
workshops
passed the
uniform final
exam.
MA 5 Express
Passing the uniform final exam
For the
January
2012 and
June 2012,
100% of the
students that
attended the
MA 5
Express
Workshops
passed.
MA 10 Express
Passing the uniform final exam
For January
2011, 89% of
the students
passed the
MA 10
Express.
For June
2012, 25% of
the students
passed the
MA 10
Express.
For MA 10
Express in
June 2012,
the
requirements
changed and
the passing
rate
increased.
Students
took a CUNY
uniform final
exam for
which the
passing
grade is
greater than
or equal to
76.
Department-Sponsored Staff Development Activities
Activity Type
Topic
Date
All Tutor Professional Development
1/25/2012
Total
both
80
Professional Achievements and Activities of Individual Staff
Achievement Type
Other
First Name
Last Name
Achievement
Semester
Elizabeth
Nercessian
As part of the MSEIP grant with
Spring 2011
Medgar Evers, attended several TOC
training sessions. Under the MSEIP,
she trains and supervises tutors
mentoring students using this
method.
Elizabeth
Nercessian
Part of the grant team awarded by
Fall 2011
CUNY to develop and implement a
web app preparing students for the
math portion of the entrance exam to
QCC. She developed several problem
sets, wrote the scripts for the
solutions and made instructional
videos available on the web from
mobile devices, such as smart phones
and tablets as well as a desktop
computer.
Elizabeth
Nercessian
Part of the ME 7 Perkins grant team Fall 2011
that was awarded for Fall 2011 Spring 2012 to develop and
implement the concept of E-reviews
called the "Virtual Classroom" for
math courses for technology majors.
She trains, supervises the
E-instructors and pedogogically
reviews and edits the on-line
sessions.
Elizabeth
Nercessian
Requested by CUNY Central to
Spring 2012
develop review materials for the new
CUNY Algebra Proficiency Exam.
Conference, workshop,
training attended
Grants awarded (title,
awarding agency, amount
and period of award)
Service to department,
College, University,
community, and/or
professional society
Changes in Department within Last Year
Change Type
Change
Reason
Semester
The Center has reduced the use of paper by
requiring the use of a small hand-held
whiteboards as the method of tutor
instruction.
To reduce/eliminate the use of paper. Fall 2011
Requiring students to take notes during
a tutoring session will help the students
improve study skills and reinforce
course material.
The Center replaced a regular white board
with a smartboard.
To improve the delivery of instruction
by using technology.
Equipment
Spring 2012
Assessment and Evaluation
KPI
Target Outcome
Actual Outcome
Action Plan
Status
Passing the course
60% pass rate
with a C or better for
students attending
one-to-one tutoring
sessions for credit
and non-credit
bearing math
courses
53% pass rate during the Fall
2011 and 47% pass rate for
Spring 2012
Continue to improve
Continuing
method of instruction by
incorporating technology
and appropriately
assigning tutors and
students.
Passing the uniform 75% pass rate
final exam for the MA
5 Modular
Workshops
83% pass rate for Fall 2011 and
99% pass rate for Spring 2012
Continue to develop and Continuing
adapt materials and train
and supervise to prepare
qualified workshop
leaders.
Assessment Plan
Core Activity
KPI
Target Outcome
Plan
MA 5 Modular Workshops
Passing the uniform final
exam
75%
Develop materials for the
workshops. Train and
supervise workshop leaders
for instruction.
MA 10 CUNY Intervention
Passing the CUNY uniform
final exam
65% pass rate
Develop new materials for
the workshops. Train and
supervise workshop leaders
on materials and new CUNY
standards