University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

MEDIA RELEASE

CSUN’s Math Tutoring Center Seeks to Help Mathematicians

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Oct. 22, 2007) — Trigonometry, algebra and calculus can seem like a foreign language at times. Hoping to give students a better understanding of the mathematical world, Cal State Northridge’s Department of Mathematics has established a math tutoring center to give students the opportunity to become fluent in such complex subjects.

The tutoring center assists CSUN students enrolled in lower-division mathematics classes through calculus. Located in Sierra Hall Room 274, students can use the center after class to get reinforcement of concepts or help with homework.

"The goal of the Math Tutoring Center is to help students succeed in doing math, which ultimately makes it much more enjoyable," said Mary Rosen, coordinator of the center. "It’s a place where students can feel comfortable asking questions and, hopefully, improve their understanding of a topic that caused difficulty.’

The center currently employs 19 instructional student assistants and two graduate assistants, who help students decipher the mystery of math with questions and encouragement.

"Just like any other language, no one is born speaking it," said math tutor Alex Hanna. "It takes a lot of time, practice and constant exposure to grasp and retain these concepts."

Complimenting the center’s efforts is a conveniently located computer lab next door, making it easy for students to get immediate assistance. The computers are programmed with WebWork, an electronic system utilized by several lower-division courses to assign and grade homework. A student assistant is available to help tutor in the math software as well.

Rosen said the student assistants are the force behind the center, serving as interpreters to break the language barrier.

"The tutors are wonderful! They are patient, enthusiastic, clear, knowledgeable and committed to helping every student," said Rosen. "The tutors manage to effectively give everyone attention and to keep everyone actively involved. It’s clear they enjoy sharing their mathematical knowledge and insights."

Not only does the center help struggling math students with their homework, it also serves to help the student assistants. Hanna found that tutoring helped to solidify and retain many of the concepts he might otherwise have lost over time.

Rosen said math students no longer need to feel as though they are in a foreign country while attending classes. They simply have to visit the "math embassy" on campus to find relief.

"I walk by the center on my way to class and I always look in," she said. "It is satisfying to see so many students from so many different classes being helped at the same time."

California State University Northridge has 34,000 full- and part-time students and offers 62 bachelor’s and 50 master’s degrees as well as 28 teaching credential programs. Founded in 1958, CSUN is among the largest single-campus universities in the nation and the only four-year public university in the San Fernando Valley. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.