Math Excellence Workshop gets Minority Freshmen Talking Numbers
Fifty-one incoming freshmen got a strong dose of math as part of the 2007 Math Excellence Workshop (MEW). The program is open to all incoming Clemson University minority students majoring in computer science, engineering, the life sciences, the physical sciences or mathematics.
“It is crucial that engineering and science students learn to discuss mathematical concepts,” said Sue Lasser, Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention (PEER) director. “It’s a first step to working collaboratively, a skill they’ll need as future research professionals.”
Sponsored by the Louis Stokes-South Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation (SCAMP), a National Science Foundation-funded group; Duke Energy Foundation; the College of Engineering and Science; and the state of South Carolina, MEW has received national recognition for promoting superior mathematical understanding. Classes include pre-calculus and calculus. In addition, students attend a daily two-hour collaborative learning seminar in mathematical reasoning where they work together to solve problems.
MEW is an intense experience and Lasser says the students who choose to take the challenge average higher grades than other students in their math classes. Even better, they find they're prepared with the knowledge and study skills they need to master the technical classes ahead in their majors.
MEW is a part of the award winning PEER Office whose goal is to assist minority College of Engineering and Science students in achieving a career in an engineering or science related field.
|
