Northern Arizona University has been recognized for its\u00a0math bridge program and its effectiveness in boosting preparedness for incoming freshmen.<\/p>\n
University Business <\/em>magazine honored NAU\u2019s Peak Performance Mathematics Bridge Program <\/a>in its Spring 2016 Models of Excellence<\/a>.<\/p>\n The voluntary program is entirely online and geared toward incoming freshmen and transfer students who place below the first math class in their chosen field of study.<\/p>\n Students agree to invest at least three hours a week for the six-week summer program. Participants schedule weekly video meetings with peer mentors, upperclassmen who provide one-on-one tutoring and also offer insights to NAU and its campus services.<\/p>\n NAU began using a math placement test in 2010, replacing\u00a0other\u00a0diagnostic tools and identifying greater numbers of students who could benefit from additional help. Enrollment in the remedial math program, which offers personalized content, nearly doubled during a two-year window.<\/p>\n \u201cWe retest students after the program\u2019s completion and students who improved their math placement score are offered enrollment in a higher-level math course,\u201d said Mary Ful\u00e9<\/strong>, coordinator of the Peak Performance Mathematics Bridge Program.<\/p>\n Ful\u00e9 and her team conduct a survey at the program\u2019s outset and its completion, measuring students\u2019 confidence levels about math and attending college. \u201cWe analyze the data and responses to ensure the program is meeting the goals and the needs of participants,\u201d Ful\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n The need for math improvement\u00a0measures is prevalent among incoming freshmen, and previous efforts are not sustainable for this sizable population, said\u00a0University Business<\/em> senior editor Tim Goral. \u201cNorthern Arizona University\u2019s free summer program offers a flexible alternative for incoming students to sharpen their math skills and maximize their credit hours.\u201d<\/p>\n The magazine also recognized NAU with its 2015 Model of Excellence Award<\/a>, highlighting the Peer Jacks Student-Mentoring program<\/a>, which facilitates the transition to campus life for out-of-state students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"