Math + Math = Income
Improving your math skills may also improve your chances for a pay raise or qualify you for a higher paying job. A recent Oakland County employment job survey, Oakland County in the 21st Century, by Ronald Tracy and Kevin Murphy of Oakland University, demonstrates the relationship between education and income. Tracy and Murphy point out that 60% of all projected job openings in Oakland County will require a college degree or post high school training. "The figures show that occupations that require post high school training earn over $8,000 per year more on average than those requiring a high school diploma. A college degree will add another $12,000 per year to the average," the authors note. "Finally, the study indicates that the need for both mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills increases with higher education levels.

Getting started
Anxious to get going, learn more, develop problem solving skills and expand your mathematical knowledge? New students should get a free application from the admissions department at OCC. Then, prior to enrolling in a math class, they need to take a placement test to assure that the math class they take matches their skill levels. The college has recently instituted COMPASS, a nationally validated computerized math placement test. The test adjusts to the ability level of the student, either increasing or decreasing the difficulty of the questions until proper placement in a math class can be determined. If it’s been years since your last math course, no problem, this test will identify what math concepts stuck and which need to be polished. Tests are administered five days week at the Individualized Instruction Centers (IIC) on each of the college’s five campuses.

You’re on your way
"There are any numbers of ways to improve your math skills," says Professor Terry Cremeans of the Math Department at OCC’s Highland Lakes Campus. One of the easier ways is by registering for a formal class at OCC. Then you get instructors whose major focus is teaching, small classes (maximum class size is 27 students) and help in the math labs located on each of the campuses." OCC offers several options for attending math classes which make it convenient for students. There are literally hundreds of courses offered in traditional lecture fashion, during the day, evening and weekends. In addition, students who are independent learners, and have good computer skills, can utilize math courses offered on the Internet. This highly flexible learning arrangement allows students who can’t attend on a regular basis to access faculty from their homes, or places of work. Cremeans explains that, "right now the number of Internet classes is limited, but they will be expanding as demand for this type of instruction grows."

Help is here today
"Many people find math difficult to learn and thus avoid taking math classes if they can," says Cremeans. To ease their fears, OCC provides math tutors in the IIC and Program for Academic Support Services’ (PASS) office. In general, these facilities are available for both day and evening students. Recently, the College began a "student tutor" program that has earned rave reviews from students and tutors alike. The program pays students who have high grades in a particular class to attend the course again and tutor their classmates before and after class. Besides making a little money, the student tutor learns the subject matter thoroughly, and is better able to help the fellow students because the tutor knows exactly what the instructor has said and done. The key to math success is good, clear and logical instruction; good support services like the tutors; and time. Cremeans notes that it takes time to complete math assignments. When taking math classes students must realize they may need to spend several hours out of class doing problems and assignments. "The norm," he says, "is probably two to three hours for each hour of class time."

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