Editor’s Note: A version of this article in the March 2019 City Times print edition mistakenly quoted Math Center manager Kate Woodward as saying students received 150 hours of tutoring, when in fact the number was over 1,000 hours of tutoring. 

The Umoja community at San Diego City College brought music and pizza to many students at the Math Center and Curran Plaza during yesterday’s Math Jam. 

The event provided a fun social environment intended to help students get math tutoring for their upcoming midterms and homework assignments. 

Students gathered to eat pizza, meet tutors, and do a little dancing at the Curran Plaza outside of the Success Center. After an hour of fun, the tutors grouped students by what their needs are and headed upstairs to the Math Center. 

According to Kate Woodward, the Math Center manager, “(there were) about 125 students who received over 1,000 hours of tutoring at our previous Math Jam.

“It really shows the level of dedication to succeed in math from the students.”

One of the math tutors assisting with the event, Chima Achusi, had nothing but great things to say about the successful program. “It kind of gives an avenue whereby every student on campus that takes math comes around with their questions.”

Achusi talked about how he was happy to share his knowledge with his community, and was thankful for the UMOJA program and the support from City College faculty. 

“I also want to thank the faculty of City College and all the staff for their exceptional investment and belief into this UMOJA program,” Achusi said. “The sky is just the starting point for this kind of social community created to help students fall in love with mathematics again.”

The Umoja community is a program designed to assist African-American and other historically underrepresented students who desire to transfer to four-year colleges and universities, according to its website. 

The Math Center is located in L-208. Upcoming Math Jams this semester are scheduled for April 24 and May 15.