US college students face challenges in basic math

Colleges in the United States are finding widespread low proficiency in mathematics among their students.

At George Mason University, the number of students failing calculus has been consistently increasing for the past two years. Students who fall behind often disengage, disappearing from calculus class, which is a mandatory course for some STEM majors.

"Some students cannot even add one-half and one-third," said Maria Emelianenko, chair of George Mason's math department.