Learning Center (ULC)

The Thomas J. Edwards Undergraduate Learning Center offers students an opportunity to develop their learning skills through credit-bearing courses in pre-calculus. Qualified instructors present courses in a personalized atmosphere enhanced by tutorial assistance.

Learning Center courses are open to any undergraduate student enrolled at the university. While the center is not a degree-awarding program, it does offer courses that carry regular academic credit.

Fundamental to the center is its free tutoring program, available on a walk-in basis, to university-enrolled undergraduate students. The Math Place offers students a comfortable and encouraging environment to receive assistance with their learning. Tutoring is offered for the following courses: ULC 147, ULC 148, MTH 121, MTH 122, MTH 131, MTH 141, & MTH 142.

The Thomas J. Edwards Undergraduate Learning Center is housed in Baldy Hall on the north campus. The main office is in room 217. Instructor offices are located in rooms 213 and 215 and the Math Place is in room 211. Each instructor office contains a white board and two computers that can be utilized during office hours to support students’ understanding of content and allow them access to online homework platforms.

The Math Place is equipped with tables and whiteboards for students to work at that encourage collaboration. Other resources available for student use include calculators, pencils, scrap paper, and the textbooks associated with each course that tutoring is offered for. The Math Place is a technology-friendly environment, offering wi-fi and plenty of outlets for students to use their own devices to access online homework platforms.

Faculty members in the Learning Center include a coordinator, a graduate teaching assistant, and eight to twelve instructors. All faculty members have backgrounds in mathematics, mathematics education, or a related field, and most have experience teaching mathematics in other areas including secondary education and at other higher education institutions. The coordinator oversees the instructional operations of the Learning Center while also serving as an instructor for mathematics courses. The graduate teaching assistant is directly responsible for staffing and running the Math Place and teaching Learning Center courses. While all of the instructors in the Learning Center are adjuncts, there is a stable core of instructors who have been with the department for at least ten years. Instructors are readily available during office hours to assist students who need additional support with course content.