Looking to improve your Marth, English, and Reading skills? This four-week Academic Skills Program refresher course will prepare you for college-level coursework!
This non-credit class is open to the public, priority and guaranteed admission are given to active-duty service members with those holding a GT score of 99 or less.
What Makes the Academic Skills Program Great? Ask it’s Founder!
Robert Mifflin has been one of our instructors for the Academic Skills Program (ASP) since he designed the math side of the class in 2005. His background includes generating hardware, software, and System on Chip designs for over 30 companies as a consultant. He holds a BSEE from UCI, MS in Bioengineering from UCSD, and worked on a Doctorate in materials for micro/nanosystems in a DNA lab. When asked how he landed at Palomar his reply was “pure serendipity”.
“I had enrolled as a Palomar student to refresh my Calculus skills before going back to graduate school. In addition to consulting and school, I volunteered to tutor math and science for Marines. One fine day I stopped to check in with my wonderful wife (a full-time math instructor at Palomar) at her office. She received a phone call while I was standing there and handed me the phone – which was a wee bit odd. It was from the Camp Pendleton BEC. They were trying to track down the volunteer “math guy” as they wanted him to set up a math program.
I have always enjoyed moving the world forward by designing devices and systems to improve the world. This was a new opportunity to reach 20 to 30 Marines at a time and the potential to change lives through a better understanding of math while I was prepping for grad school. I was fortunate in that I had access to first-class math instructors at Palomar to gather their best techniques. I then used the UCSD library to access research journals on optimal techniques for transferring knowledge to my students. In a typical class, we cover the complete Aufmann pre-algebra book in 2 to 3 weeks and then use the remaining time for tests and review.
This format works because Marines are constantly training as a way of life in their MOS. They are willing to work hard, execute assignments, and set aside their previous math experience while embracing new techniques. They are the absolute best students which makes the teaching fun.”
