SCC's "Achieving Success With Math" Program Receives $5,000 from Local Couple

Published: 02/03/2011

“This gift will directly help St. Charles County students to be successful in completing the college-level math requirements, a challenging subject for many students,” said Kasey McKee, executive director of Foundation and alumni relations. “We’re so thankful for the generosity of the community members who support the college’s mission and its programs.”

SCC’s Achieving Success With Math program reduces the number of entering students who need developmental math in college, and increases the number of students who will complete the college-level math required for a degree.

“By entering college prepared, or by moving quickly through developmental coursework, students will save the time and money needed for up to three extra semesters of coursework,” said Joyce Lindstrom, SCC professor of mathematics. “Successfully passing math allows students to go on to their other classes, complete their studies at the community college and to pursue their dreams.”

Achieving Success With Math addresses math readiness challenges by allowing SCC math faculty members to reach out to students attending area high schools through presentations with an important message: take math your senior year. SCC Math Department data have shown that students who take math their senior year have a higher assessment score on average than students who did not. After hearing the presentation, more than 85 percent of students who heard the SCC presentation are taking math their senior year, and twice as many of those students are placing into college-level math as those who did not hear the presentation.

The program also assists current SCC students taking developmental math classes through the purchase and use of technology.

The couple, who wishes to remain anonymous, said they gave the gift because, quoting James Caballero, “I advise my students to listen carefully the moment they decide to take no more mathematics courses. They might be able to hear the sound of closing doors.”

For more information on the program or to learn how to contribute, contact McKee at 636-922-8472 or kmckee@stchas.edu.

The St. Charles Community College Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, raises funds to support student scholarships and education programs for the college. For more information on the SCC Foundation and its vision to transform lives and strengthen communities, visit www.stchas.edu/foundation.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.