The words “required math course” may give many students goose bumps or make their hearts beat a little faster if they have an innate fear of mathematics or if they performed well enough to pass their high school math classes, but realize the bar is raised at the college level.

Squashing this fear and helping students build their self-confidence are two of the goals of New Mexico State University’s Math Success Center, a subunit of the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

“By having students work together in the Math Success Center and by having well-trained, caring tutors there to help them, the students will be on their road to success,” says Patrick Morandi, head of the department.

Morandi, who has taught courses in math appreciation and a two-semester sequence for future elementary school teachers, has found that a large number of budding teachers who are not science-oriented may be somewhat math-phobic.

The math department also revised its course sequence in fall 2006, by replacing Math 115, 185 and 180 with Math 120, 121 and 190, respectively. Math 120, Intermediate Algebra, emphasizes modeling and problem solving in an activity-based, supportive environment. Math 121, College Algebra, addresses the needs of non-technical majors by increasing their understanding of the role of mathematics in society through projects and activities. Math 190, Pre-Calculus, blending Trigonometry with College Algebra, is devoted mostly to science and engineering majors.

“These changes were designed to better meet the academic needs of students,” Morandi says. “We’re moving from instructor-oriented to student-oriented classes, trying to get students to be more active learners.