Assessing the Effectiveness of a Learning Community Course Design to Improve the Math Performance of First-Year Students

National attention is focused on the persistent high failure rates for students enrolled in math courses, and the search for strategies to change these outcomes is on. This study used a mixed-method research design to assess the effectiveness of a learning community course designed to improve the math performance levels of first-year students. Results suggested that investing resources into learning community programs that help students meet collegiate-level math course demands helps promote academic success in math courses and eases students’ college transitions. Participants in the math learning communities reported significantly higher rates of using academic supports, engaging in campus activities, and understanding general education learning outcomes compared to a quasi-control group of students enrolled in the same math courses. Math learning community participants enrolled in introductory algebra courses had higher levels of math performance compared to nonparticipants