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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in collaboration with the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Foundation (ISPEF), launched the “SIUE Homework Hotline” in mid-February.
Photo by Roger Starkey
The hotline is available for students in grades 6-8. They can call and receive free help with their math homework Sunday through Thursday from 7-10 p.m. Tutors can be reached at (618) 650-3072.
SIUE Homework Hotline tutors are from programs across campus, including mathematics, engineering, business and education. Many of the math and education majors working the hotline will be certified to teach middle school math upon graduation. As part of the preparation, tutors took part in training prior to the opening of the phone lines.
“Since this is a pilot program, we decided to begin with only our middle-level students and focus on mathematics,” said Cindy McAndrews, co-coordinator and an instructor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within the SIUE School of Education. “As the program grows, we hope to expand our geographic area, as well as include fifth grade and high school students in our targeted population.”
McAndrews and program co-coordinator Liza Cummings, an assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction, have been in the planning stages since fall.
“The goal is to create a program that is an educational asset to our local schools, students and parents by providing after hours math assistance,” Cummings said.
Nathan Schwartz, professional engineer and ISPEF chairman, noted the ongoing demand for qualified workers in science, technology, engineering and match (STEM) fields.
“These fields are critical to our ability to compete and innovate,” Schwartz said. “Wages are higher, unemployment is lower and STEM sectors will continue to grow faster than non-STEM sectors for years to come. Homework Hotline is a tool to continue ISPEF’s goal to help math and science students get the support they need to prepare for these jobs.”
Personnel from both SIUE and the ISPEF have been in consultation with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an Indiana university that currently has a successful math and science homework hotline. The new math hotline is modeled after that program.
“It is our hope that the SIUE Homework Hotline will be another tool students can use to develop mathematical understanding, and build the skills needed to be successful in their current math course and beyond,” said McAndrews.
The program is planned to run through May 1, with the possibility of extending hours through May 8.
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