This guide was written by sigma Directors Duncan Lawson (Coventry University) and Tony Croft (Loughborough University), in association with Margaret Halpin (Coventry University). It distils the findings of the Learning and Teaching Support Network funded teaching and learning project "Evaluating and Enhancing the Effectiveness of Mathematics Support Centres", which investigated the extent to which universities have made additional provision, in the form of Mathematics Support Centres, to support students who are struggling with the mathematical and statistical components of their undergraduate studies.
This guide presents a brief rationale for Support Centres and also for alternative forms of provision. It goes on to provide guidelines on establishing and running a Support Centre. The handbook does not claim that having such a Centre is the best way of supporting students. Rather it offers advice, the experiences of those who have already developed or who work in Support Centres, and good practice for anyone intending to develop such a Centre in their own institution. The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the HEA Maths, Stats & OR Network. Without this support this project would never have started.