The work of the Moss Quantitative Center is deeply rooted in inclusive and anti-racist initiatives at the College. The Q Center was established in response to a 1994 Drew House Forum hosted by students of color with the help of Onawumi Jean Moss (associate dean of students, coordinator of academic support services, and the inaugural director of the peer tutorial program) to highlight the need for adequate support for student learning, particularly in quantitative courses. Since then we have continued the work outlined in “A Promise to Keep,” the faculty’s response to the Forum, working with departments to create a supportive environment for learning outside the classroom where students can ask questions without hesitancy and enhance their understanding of class material.
The Q Center also has a decades-long involvement with the Summer Science Program, which has always aimed to introduce under-represented students to the College. In 2019, we helped inaugurate the Summer Quantitative and Social Science Program to expand that outreach.
The work of supporting all our students continues, from the Drew House Forum to Amherst Uprising, and has been a joint effort by students, faculty, and staff. We are proud to be a part of this work.