ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONS DIVISION

The Academic Foundations Division, AFD (formerly the Post Secondary Readiness Center, PSRC), represents a new and innovative approach to Developmental Skills education. Within the Academic Foundations Division students will learn the critical thinking skills necessary for problem solving and decision making. This will enable them to successfully complete the requisite proficiency scores on the CUNY Assessment tests.

 

For the academic preparation of students, the Academic Foundations Division provides academic instructions in English reading and writing and in math to students who failed to obtain a satisfactory score on the CUNY Assessment Tests. In addition, the division addresses the needs of at risk students, enabling them to tackle college level work and to succeed in college. The Academic Foundations Division interfaces with the Math and English Departments, as well as the Freshman Year and SEEK programs to facilitate assessment of students’ readiness for degree granting course work.

 

The Division utilizes various instructional strategies and methodologies to achieve its goals and maximize students’ achievement. The strategies include:

• Development of curriculum frameworks with standards that apply to all students regardless of their experiential back-grounds, capabilities, developmental and learning differences, and interests or ambitions;

• Small class sizes to facilitate individual attention;

• Teaching Assistants help in the classrooms;

• Learning activities that take place in large and small group configurations;

• Supplementing classroom instruction with laboratory and tutorial activities;

• Utilization of team teaching, Teacher Advisories and Discussion Groups.

The Academic Foundations Division’s staff includes a Chairperson who has the overall day-to-day coordination, an executive assistant, a Lab Tech who oversees the computerized reading lab, teaching assistants, and Lecturers of English and Mathematics.

 

More than 30 lecturers, comprising of full time and part time faculty teach reading, writing and math courses at the Academic Foundations each semester. These instructors and teaching assistants are competent, committed individuals who have educational backgrounds, experience, and interpersonal skills appropriate to the target population. They also have track records of working with at-risk, economically and/or educationally disadvantaged students.

 

The Academic Foundations faculty and staff provide students with the most efficient and effective educational and support services to insure success in their academic endeavors. The Division persistently strives to deliver the best customer service possible to students. The philosophy of customer service delivery is customer satisfaction through continued friendly communication and interaction, coupled with accessibility and responsiveness. This customer service culture is a permanent priority at AFD.  To effectively “Create Success One Student at a Time,” students are encouraged to reciprocate by observing and complying with the regulations, classroom and lab rules, developing good study habits by devoting enough time for studying at home, and by taking their education seriously and maintaining self-esteem. 

 

The Academic Foundations Division provides a referral system which addresses the numerous learning challenges that students face. It collaborates with and relies on the expertise of qualified and trained counselors from the Freshman Year Program, the SEEK program, the C.O.P.E. program, the Student Support Services Program and counselors from the various academic departments of the college. Counseling is comprehensive and includes personal, educational, career, family and peer counseling.

 

More than 1000 students enroll in Academic Foundations courses every semester, in fall and spring. In collaboration with the Freshman Year Program and SEEK, the Academic Foundations Division offers continuing and incoming freshmen students courses in basic skills English-reading and writing and in Math during the summer and winter  intersession.

 

The office hours for the Academic Foundations Division is weekly, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Appointments may also be made at other times.

Faculty and Staff of The Academic Foundations Division

For more information, you may contact Chudi Nwasike in Room 2032C of the Bedford Building. Phone (718) 270-4977. E-mail: chudin@mec.cuny.edu  or his assistant, in Room B2032 - Phone (718) 270-5139 - E-mail: chinwe@mec.cuny.edu