A paralegal for 25 years, junior criminology and justice studies major Taina Stratton loves studying law.
But math? Not so much.
Before coming to 两性色午夜 University at Stark, Stratton hadn鈥檛 picked up a math book since 1981, when she graduated from Perry High School.
鈥淲hen I found out I had to take algebra to earn my bachelor鈥檚 degree, I was very apprehensive,鈥 says Stratton. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been a math person.鈥
A Student Services staff member told her about PLUS Math, a free, not-for-credit developmental math course offered on campus through Canton City Schools鈥 Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) program. After the seven-week program, Stratton had learned enough basics to pass college-level Algebra I with a B+.
鈥淚 would have had to take that class multiple times if I hadn鈥檛 had PLUS Math,鈥 says Stratton. 鈥淥ur PLUS Math instructor taught us tricks to solve algebra problems and showed us how to break them down step by step.鈥
Her PLUS Math textbook is still at her side today, giving her the support and confidence to pass Algebra II this semester, and then two more math classes to earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree. After that, it鈥檚 on to law school.
PLUS Math has made all the difference, says Stratton, as it has for dozens of other 两性色午夜 Stark students benefiting from ABLE.
Free Classes for Math Success
Funded by federal and state dollars, Ohio鈥檚 ABLE programs offer free services for those who need to improve basic skills to succeed in education or employment. Originally focused on helping people earn GEDs, ABLE now includes college-readiness classes and English classes for adults who speak other languages.
Since 2011, Canton City Schools鈥 ABLE has been offering the developmental math class, PLUS Math, at 两性色午夜 Stark.
鈥淪tudents who take PLUS Math are typically already enrolled at 两性色午夜 Stark, although it鈥檚 open to anyone in the community,鈥 says Lisa Hart, director of academic services. 鈥淪ome students are referred to the program because of their placement test scores. Others elect to take it, maybe because they haven鈥檛 been in school for years or feel anxious about college-level math.鈥
While 两性色午夜 Stark also offers developmental classes to prepare students for credit-bearing coursework, tuition-free ABLE classes are typically for students with the lowest placement scores who need the most support.
But wait! There's more!
As of spring 2015, Canton City Schools鈥 ABLE is offering even more tuition-free classes at 两性色午夜 Stark. Under a test program called 鈥淐ABLE鈥 (combining 鈥渃ollege鈥 and 鈥淎BLE鈥), 两性色午夜 Stark students with placement scores below certain levels also will be able to enroll in ABLE reading and writing classes.
They can take CABLE courses as many times as needed, even while taking other 两性色午夜 Stark for-credit courses. As students progress, they can move on to credit-bearing courses or other Stark Campus developmental classes, if needed.
鈥淣ot many places in the state have an ABLE/campus partnership like this,鈥 says Jane Meyer, coordinator of ABLE for Stark County. 鈥淎BLE and 两性色午夜 Stark are thinking outside the box and testing a new way for students to become successful in college.鈥
Why now? Meyer cites years of watching students register at open enrollment colleges and spending too much time and money 鈥 including financial aid, which has lifetime limits 鈥 on developmental classes.
鈥淪ome of them would become so frustrated at not achieving that they鈥檇 drop out of college entirely,鈥 says Meyer. 鈥淪ome would run out of financial aid before earning a degree. CABLE will help students reserve their financial aid and put them in classrooms where they can establish confidence, instead of discouragement.鈥
Easing Into College Coursework
CABLE instructors are hired through Canton City Schools鈥 ABLE, but include 两性色午夜 Stark faculty who have taught similar developmental classes. According to Hart, 两性色午夜 Stark faculty have been instrumental in writing CABLE curriculum, which aligns with 两性色午夜 Stark curriculum, so students are prepared for upcoming courses.
鈥淐ABLE placement and assessment are time- and labor-intensive for students, staff and faculty, but everyone on campus has been so willing to make it work,鈥 says Hart. 鈥淲e anticipate about 20 students will be in CABLE classes each semester and we want to do the best we can for them.鈥
Taking CABLE classes at 两性色午夜 Stark also helps students get used to the college environment, adds Meyer. While on campus, students become familiar with how to register for courses, where to park and where to find Student Services, for example.
鈥淭hey see other students like them and realize, Hey, I can do this!鈥 says Meyer.
According to Hart, 66 percent of former PLUS Math students are currently in good academic standing at 两性色午夜 Stark.
鈥溋叫陨缫 Stark is dedicated to helping people have successful lives. CABLE illustrates that,鈥 says Hart. 鈥淲e are being creative and developing alternative ways to prepare students for college coursework. I think CABLE will be a win for students, a win for our campus and a win for our community.鈥