Florida is home to Varsha Chutkan, where she’s working on her IU Online BS in Mathematics. She’s deeply involved with her fellow students and faculty at IU East, where she’s a Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader, a tutor, and a researcher.
Chutkan enrolled in IU Online in 2022 to pursue math, a subject she came to love while studying physics. One of the degree's required courses—Calculus I—is a make-or-break class that math majors must pass to advance in the program. Chutkan credits IU Online’s SI program for her success in the class. “Supplemental Instruction is a great resource for students who really want to get the most out of their classes,” she says. “SI leaders are rather like AIs—they’re in class with you and your professors, so they know exactly what’s being taught and how. During the week they hold study sessions to go over class material. It's the biggest boon. It’s like being in an in-person study group.”
Serendipitous connections
Chutkan's professors have had a major impact on her academic work. She especially credits Professor Kim Schwartzel. “I interviewed with her to be a Calculus I mentor," says Chutkan. "She also recommended me as an SI leader.” Now Chutkan meets with students four times a week and is on call for individual help. “Supplemental Instruction helped me so much,” she says. “SI is IU Online’s best resource. I’m so excited to be able to pay it forward.”
Chutkan was surprised to find herself this active in the online community. “IU Online is so much about personal connections. I never expected to be this involved as an online student. Everything is very interactive—nothing feels remote. We engage via discussion boards, we collaborate; everyone brings a different perspective. IU Online is definitely effective in building connections among students, faculty, and staff. I’m so grateful for that.”
Chutkan is also an Upswing tutor. She calls the Upswing tutors “the geek squad for college-level mathematics.” Here she works with students in higher-level courses via a one-to-one video interface. The technology makes it easy to interact. Still, she says, “I have to be quick on my feet. Every session is like a new timed puzzle I get to complete with my online students.”
The connections Chutkan has made have borne fruit. A professor she worked with invited her to join him in researching physics-based math. The research allows her to combine her interest in physics and her love for math, all the while enhancing her professional resumé.
A moveable comfort zone
Chutkan finds studying online very accommodating. “Working in your own private space can increase your comfort level,” she says. “You can choose how you’re represented. Even on your worst days, there’s the zoom filter!” She notices that online faculty are more acutely aware of students who seem to need extra help. An online dashboard shows who’s engaged and who may be struggling.
A future of many possibilities
When Chutkan graduates with her BS in Mathematics in 2023, she’ll face a future rich in opportunity. “My math degree opens doors to data science, technology, finance, teaching, and research. I’ll consider grad school and possibly teaching and researching at the college level.”
The skills she’s gained as an online student will serve her well. “Working online takes strong time management skills. I’ve developed skills for how to prioritize my time. What I’m practicing and learning here will be a huge asset in balancing life and work when I graduate.” Would she consider teaching online? “Absolutely! It encourages more participation than in-person classes. It’s so much more than an instructor standing in a room before a class.”
“Working on my degree online is a great experience," Chutkan says. "It’s very challenging in the best possible way. I've never felt I was missing out on anything by being an online student.”
