Recent statistics from the Salt Lake Community College Institutional Research Department show that SLCC students fail classes involving numbers the most. Accounting 2010, Math 1090, Math 1210, Accounting 1110, Math 1050 and Math 1010 are the top classes with the lowest success rate at SLCC. Statistics are based on a minimum class enrollment of 100 students.
Ray Emett, director of the Institutional Research Department, keeps track of all the statistics at SLCC. According to the most recent statistics collected the fall of 2011, fewer than 60 percent of SLCC students were obtaining a C in math and accounting classes. Universities require SLCC students to have at least a C in classes they will be transferring when students finish their associate’s degree at SLCC.
“Students need to go out and seek for resources,” Emett said. According to Emett, not looking for the resources available is the reason why students are struggling and failing math and accounting classes.
There are laboratories and centers available at SLCC for both math and accounting classes. At the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, there is an accounting lab on the second floor of the Business Building and a learning center for math located on the second floor of the Science and Industry Building.
According to Emett, both the accounting lab and the learning center are great tools for students seeking help with assignments. In addition, Emett said that workshop classes are also available in all of the math and accounting levels in which students are having a hard time passing. Workshops are one credit classes where students can do their homework with the assistance of a tutor or professor.
“If these tools were used, more students would be succeeding in accounting and math,” said Emett.
Diana Prudencio is an SLCC student enrolled in the accounting degree program. Pridencio is currently taking Accounting 1110, one of the top failed classes in SLCC and she uses the accounting lab when she needs help with her homework. Accounting has been very challenging for Prudencio in her first semester dealing with numbers.
“I did not know workshop classes were available when I registered for Accounting 1110,” Prudencio said.
According to Prudencio, accounting assignments are very time consuming and sometimes not easy to understand.
“I would’ve registered immediately for the workshop classes if I’d known they existed,” Prudencio said. “I‘m having a hard time understanding accounting material. The lab is really helping me, but an 1110 accounting workshop class would’ve helped me a lot.”
Professor Paige Paulsen has been teaching accounting at SLCC for more than 16 years. Paulsen currently teaches accounting 2010, 2020, 1120 and their respective workshops.
“In accounting, students need to keep up with the speed of homework or else they’re lost,” Paulsen said. “SLCC students have all the tools in their hands in order to succeed but are not taking advantage of them. We have online software where students submit their homework and find out their mistakes before they’re graded.”
The accounting lab has hired two additional tutors in order to help SLCC students even more. The tutors are available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for students who are struggling or want an extra help in accounting.
“Students can get all the help they need there,” Paulsen said. “Accounting is not hard, is just time consuming. If students are disciplined, keep up with the speed, learn how to study, use the resources and are willing to commit the time for their homework, they’ll be in a pretty good shape throughout the class.”
