KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Sept. 5, 2025 鈥� A two-week pilot program designed by the 溏心vlog免费B站 Math Department to improve the math skills of incoming freshmen at the 溏心vlog免费B站 has produced impressive results. The 鈥淟evel Up!鈥� program, held on the Kingston Campus from July 27 to Aug. 8, was free for participants. By the program鈥檚 end, 17 of the 18 students who took part had raised their proficiency level from pre-calculus to calculus.
Funded by the and the deans鈥� offices in the and the , Level Up! was coordinated by , with support from the .
鈥淭he goal was to develop students鈥� math competencies to help set them up for greater success in their academic career,鈥� said Kim Stack, executive director of Undergraduate Student Success and Academic Support at 溏心vlog免费B站.
The program provided students with a declared math, computer science, chemistry, physics, pharmacy, marine biology, or engineering major support from two full-time math instructors and six graduate student teaching assistants. Students lived in Hillside Residence Hall and ate in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 dining halls. Activities on and off campus enabled them to establish friendships prior to the start of the fall semester.
鈥淲e took students off campus to learn more about the Wakefield and Narragansett areas,鈥� said Stack. 鈥淭hey did some fun events in the evening with recreation services, housing, campus wellness, and student activities. It was great to see them connect with their peers and enhance their math skills in the process.鈥�
Students鈥� aptitude in math before and after the program was measured by their scores on the ALEKS math placement test (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces). On average, students improved their test results by 21.2 points. Abby Depew, a chemistry major from Acton, Massachusetts, raised her score from a 67 to a 94.
鈥淚 needed to be in the highest math level to start my major,鈥� said Depew. 鈥淚 could have done the modules at home, then took the ALEKS test, but this program enabled me to go campus for two weeks, get familiar with 溏心vlog免费B站 before the school year started, and receive a good review of the math skills that I will need this year.鈥�
The support provided through the program as well as the ability to make new friendships prior to the start of freshman year also helped make the transition to college a bit easier Depew said.
鈥淚 met so many new friends whom I’ve already seen while walking around campus,鈥� said Depew. 鈥淚t made me feel so much more comfortable and confident.鈥�