Math courses can be challenging. If you find your coursework difficult, turn to one of our resources for help.
Tips for success:
Don't wait to ask for help. Give yourself plenty of time before an exam to get help understanding concepts.
Be prepared to put in the time. For every hour you spend in class each week, you'll spend about two hours studying on your own or with help.
Instructors and Teaching Assistants
You can meet with your instructor during their office hours. Most faculty members put their office hours on their office doors and faculty profiles. You can also call the math office at 815-753-0566 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to ask about office hours. Your instructor may be able to meet with you during other times as well.
Most 100- and 200-level courses also have a teaching assistant (TA) who can help you with coursework during office hours or other times.
Tutoring and Study Groups
You have several options for getting help from a tutor and/or fellow students:
Math Assistance Center: This center offers free tutoring for math courses at several locations, including virtual sessions.
Private tutoring: You can make arrangements to work with a private tutor. Check the bulletin board outside our office in Watson Hall for tutoring ads.
Study groups: Ask fellow students if they want to study with you. It can be helpful since you're working on the same material.
Additional Resources
Other resources available to you include your textbook and the course webpage. Your instructor may provide supplementary material in class or online. The publishers of your textbook might provide answer keys, software or other materials. Ask your instructor for more information.