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EMPOWER

EMPOWER

Engineering Mathematics Program for Orientation, Workshops, and other Educational Resources


Degrees of Support

Degree 0 Support

During the process of orientation to the university, students may be required to take a placement test to determine the best mathematics course for their first semester at OU. In support of this orientation, EMPOWER invites students to:

  • Review materials on topics from the placement test.
    • Make a student account on the free site MyOpenMath.com
    • Use the course ID: 301984
    • Use the enrollment key: empower
  • Study workshops and support hours throughout the summer ahead of their fall enrollment.
  • Ask individualized questions via email or a one-on-one appointment with a math-retention specialist.

Transfer students who need to place into a mathematics course are also invited to receive review materials and have the opportunity for one-on-one appointments if unable to attend other live events during the summer semester.

Student working with professor at study night.

Students participating in an Engineering Study Night.

Degree 1 Support

After students begin their coursework, EMPOWER is available for review in the following ways:

  • Mentorship, review, and open support hours to students enrolled in Math Catalyst courses.
  • Weekly support hours as well as one-on-one consultation availability with any Gallogly College of Engineering student
  • Study Nights cohosted by Engineering Broader Impacts, Engineering Pathways Mentors, and the office of Development of the Engineering Workforce for certain math courses.
  • Calculus Workshops for students wanting to refresh foundational early calculus, precalculus, and algebra concepts early each semester.

Degree 2 Support

During their major coursework, students need most of the math they have learned in their math courses. Some topics might need more review than others. EMPOWER offers support to faculty and students in these major-related courses in the Gallogly College of Engineering in a number of ways. Currently in pilot stages, participating faculty are in consultation about targeted reviews for their classes, which might include:

  • In-class review sessions
  • Canvas modules with additional resources
  • Attendance at outside-of-class workshops
  • Online homework sets
  • Other options as requested by and collaborated on with faculty.

Faculty interested in discussing their course may email empower@ou.edu for a consultation.

A student working on a math problem on a whiteboard.

Spring 2026 Engineering Study Night Schedule

EMPOWER, along with Engineering Broader Impacts, Engineering Pathways Mentors, and Career Development, hosts study nights with tutors, faculty, and snacks available. These are scheduled regularly so that you may jumpstart exam studying, work on any homework that is due, or ask for help with a study schedule.

To round out your studying cycle, be sure to take time to decompress regularly. Decompression nights are designed to balance out your studying with other activities.

All Call

Location: GLG 127

For questions and accommodations, email Dr. Haskins at chaskins@ou.edu.

DateTime Slot
Tuesday, February 106 pm to 9 pm
Tuesday, March 106 pm to 9 pm
Monday, April 66 pm to 9 pm
Thursday, April 236 pm to 9 pm
Three students working on a mathematical equation on a whiteboard.

Support Hours with EMPOWER Faculty

EMPOWER faculty are available to support you each semester that you are in a math course. Note that the Math Center, Engineering Tutoring, and Action Tutoring are available for free for long study sessions and drop-in tutoring. An appointment with EMPOWER faculty might include consultations about study skills, time management, grade calculations, or additional content practice as it relates to your math coursework.

For questions and accommodations, email EMPOWER at empower@ou.edu.

Spring 2026 Math Workshop Schedule

Join EMPOWER for workshops on various topics from your foundational coursework! These are timed so that any student looking to review the topic for an exam or before they need it in another course may come refresh their skills.

Email EMPOWER at empower@ou.edu for accommodation requests.

TopicDateLocationTime
Anti-derivatives and Integration TechniquesTue, 2/10GLG 1275pm-5:50pm
Algebra Review and Dimensional Analysis for Precalculus, Chemistry, and PhysicsTue, 3/10GLG 1275pm-5:50pm
Derivatives and Derivative RulesMon, 4/6GLG 1275pm-5:50pm
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions in College Algebra through CalculusThu, 4/23GLG 1275pm-5:50pm

Resources Course

ENGR 1501: Resources for Engineering in Mathematics

Catalogue Course Description: Departmental Permission, GCoE majors only; Co-requisite: the MATH course aligned with the section of 1501. The course guides students to identify strategies and resources for independent studying and learning of mathematics as a novice engineer, to build transferable engineering problem-solving skills, and to work through engineering and computing applications tied to their mathematics course. May be repeated up to 3 hours in support of different math courses (i.e., MATH 1503, 1523, 1823, and/or 1914). (F, Sp, Su)

This course offers all of the following:

  • Academic Success Skill Lessons — we will create or modify student efforts on time management and other related study skills
  • Engineering Math Applications — we will discuss some of the connections between the math content and potential future uses of it in the students' GCoE degree
  • Math Support — we will have regularly scheduled study days in the class along with outside-of-class support from your EMPOWER faculty

For questions about this course offering for future semesters, email EMPOWER at empower@ou.edu.

Summer 2026 Support Hours with EMPOWER Faculty

EMPOWER faculty are available for support hours during the summer while OU math coursework is in session. Gallogly College of Engineering students may drop in to study and ask questions about the math content in their summer math course. 

Dates and times in-person support hours will be posted by May 1, 2026. 

Note that the Math Center and The Student Learning Center are also available for free drop-in tutoring during summer semesters.

For incoming students navigating placement or OU students taking a mathematics course elsewhere, consultations may be scheduled at the following link.

For questions and accommodations, email EMPOWER at empower@ou.edu.

Summer Math Launch

Interested in an early connection to EMPOWER Resources with a chance to recieve a financial award? Apply to join us July 6, 2026 through July 30, 2026 for the Summer Math Launch! 

The Summer Math Launch serves incoming Gallogly College of Engineering (GCoE) students who want to be prepared for their first semester of college-level calculus. This 4-week virtual program will preview early calculus content with a focus on its foundations, academic success skills, and an introduction to GCoE offices, resources, and support staff. Students who complete the program are then eligible to apply for the Growth in Mathematics Award worth $500!

FAQs

Students are eligible to apply if they are an incoming GCoE major for the Fall 2026 semester. Since the mathematics content is focused on previewing calculus, we suggest that students who have seen precalculus or trigonometry coursework before should apply!

In 2026, the program will take place 4 days per week, 75 minutes per day, between July 6 and July 30 from 10:30AM-11:45AM Central Time. All interactions will take place through Canvas and Zoom.

The program covers a preview of calculus, which may include a precalculus/algebra review, limits and continuity, and/or derivatives. Guest speakers will also be available to cover academic success topics that are necessary for student engineers and engineering scientists. This may include time management, tips for success from students, campus resources, exam studying skills, scholarship navigation, career development, leadership skills, etc.

Between July 6 and July 30, students in the program will be in a Zoom lesson for 75 minutes on each of 4 days of the week. Outside of these lessons, these days will include some short practice problem sets or reflections on the lesson. Successful completion of the program requirements (95% completion of assignments and 80% active engagement in the Zoom lessons) will mean eligibility for the Growth in Mathematics Award.

This program is brought to you by the Gallogly College of Engineering and EMPOWER at no cost to the students in the program. We will use Zoom, Canvas, and open-source homework and textbooks within the program. EMPOWER faculty are Math Retention Specialists, are expert in teaching in Zoom settings, and are sponsored by GCoE.

A student must be admitted to the program, then successfully complete it. Successful completion means completing both a pre-test and post-test, completing at least 95% of the assignments in it, and actively engaging in at least 80% of the Zoom lessons. After successful completion of the program, students may enter an essay (prompt provided during the program) for the Growth in Mathematics Award – $500 awarded during the fall semester.

Engineering Summer Bridge (ESB) is an on-campus, residential transition program designed to support incoming engineering students as they adjust to OU and the expectations of STEM coursework through academic preparation, professional development, and community building. ESB participants enroll in an OU credit-bearing math course (MATH 1503, MATH 1523, or MATH 1823), engage in an engineering design experience and team-based project, and take part in structured professional development and community activities throughout the program (all based on OU’s Norman campus).

Summer Math Launch is a 4-week virtual program that helps students get an early start on calculus content and academic success strategies while also introducing key GCoE resources and support staff. It is a great fit for students who want a calculus preview and a virtual transition experience, especially if being on campus for a residential summer program is not feasible to be on campus during the program.

Students may apply to either program, but due to timing conflicts and the nature of both programs, may not engage in both. If you have further questions about either program, please see the Engineering Summer Bridge Website; contact EMPOWER faculty at empower@ou.edu or contact Engineering Summer Bridge’s Director, Brandon Abbott at brandonabbot@ou.edu.

For questions and accommodations, email EMPOWER at empower@ou.edu.

Students working in a large study group with laptops and whiteboards.

EMPOWER Faculty

Casey Haskins.
Casey Haskins, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor


Math Retention Specialist
chaskins@ou.edu
FH 222J

Nick Brown.
Nick Brown, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor


Math Retention Specialist
nbrown10@ou.edu
FH 222E