TRENTON – While most students were waiting for the first day of fall semester classes, more than two-dozen incoming freshmen at the Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Trenton Campus recently spent a large portion of their summer “brushing up” – and getting a head start on their college education.

The students were participants in MCCC’s first Math Brush-Up Assistance (MBA) program, an effort made possible through funding from the Princeton Area Community Foundation based on a proposal submitted by the MCCC Foundation. MBA is a 10-week math course designed to give students with weaker math skills the background they need to enter their freshman year prepared to take college-level courses.

Joann Mia, Director of the Learning Center at the Trenton Campus, oversees the MBA program. She explains that many students attempting to attend college directly from high school – or those who have been away from school for an extended period of time – find math proficiency a barrier to their success. This would require students to take remedial classes, with many students getting discouraged and dropping out. The attrition rate for these students is nearly 30 percent, she said.

Through the MBA program, those same students are now given the opportunity to elevate their math skills and retake the college placement tests, potentially testing out of those college preparatory classes, Mia said.

MBA participants were recently recognized for their efforts during a ceremony in Trenton, which was attended by Mia and MBA staff members Melissa Santiago and D’Mitrice Ministre, as well as MCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Eun-Woo Chang and Monica Weaver, Dean and Provost of the Trenton Campus.

“Math is kind of a foreign language for many people,” Chang told the group. “But once you get the basics, it is easy to master.”

Other attendees at the event included incoming students for the next MBA class, and members of the pilot program were eager to lend advice.

“It’s a long journey, but these people will help you with everything you need to know. Go to them,” said Khaatim Muhammad. “These people are here to help.”

Ja’Ronda Ingram added that to be successful, students need to take their studies seriously.

“Come to class on time," Ingram said. “Talk to your advisors, and make sure you are taking part in class.”

Weaver said the MBA program fills a very important function in community college education, which is to put students in a position to succeed in their studies and move forward with their life and career goals.

MCCC Foundation

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