College offers academic support year-round
By Jessica Skaggs
MATH RESOURCE CENTER
Location: CLB 212
Fall/Spring Semester Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: Noon- 4 p.m.
Like the writing center, the math resource center offers free tutoring with no appointment necessary. According to Brett Cooper, director, the main services about half of all math students seek out include graphing calculator rentals for $25, computer labs and solution manuals available for checkout within the lab.
While the resource center only offers online tutoring for those enrolled in calculus courses, the center is looking to expand the services to more courses in the summer and fall semester.
Study rooms are available for reservation for groups of three or more. Additionally there is a quiet study room for those who need their own place to think.
Within the resource center, there are 24 staffed tutors. On average, there are between four to six tutors available at a time.
“From what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard from the students, they find [the math resource center] very, very helpful,” Cooper said. “The students constantly say ‘thank you’ and always say how great the tutors are, so students who use this place really value it.”
Final review packets for nearly all the math classes can be found in the center, a tool Cooper said will probably become very important to students in the next few weeks.
SCIENCE RESOURCE CENTER
Location: CLB 112A
Fall/Spring Semester Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The science resource center aims to assist students in the comprehension of their studies by reviewing key concepts deeper in depth than in the classroom.
“A lot of times we will go over background information with them, especially with physics and chemistry with all the math part of it,” Suneetha Menon, director said. “So we review those concepts, at least for that unit. That way it helps them build up a complete understanding of the topic, rather than just with what they are struggling with.”
Students can receive one-on-one tutoring with the confidence that the person helping them knows what they are talking about.
“Most of the tutors here at least have a bachelor’s, if not, a master’s,” Menon said. “They have experience in teaching, so it’s a really great resource if you use it.”
Within the center, students have access to scientific models and computers. Additionally, tutors are willing to go through test reviews.
“We get really good student feedback,” Menon said. “Most students have gone up in their grades. This place is very friendly, most of these students that come here, we know them by their first name and we know what they need, so we try to provide a very positive environment.”
THE WRITING CENTER
Location: LIB 308
Fall/Spring Semester Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sunday: Noon-4 p.m.
The writing center, located on the third floor of the library, is a place where students and community members can receive attention and guidance on essays, resumes and even legal letters. This is the only academic resource center open to the public. Students can also find examples of what professors believe an “A” paper looks like, as well as various writing prompts.
“The writing center is a multiple service center,” director Kathryn Byrne said. “Students can have a one-on-one tutoring session that can last anywhere from 15 minutes up to about an hour.”
Those seeking writing assistance are not limited to the campus location, as there is a grammar hotline and online writing lab also known as OWL.
“Students can go to our website, read the directions and they can set up an appointment to discuss their paper online so they don’t actually have to come for a face-to-face,” Byrne said. “So that’s a real nice resource.”
In addition to the 13 tutors, the center offers one credit courses, where students can get individualized instruction.
Byrne said that the writing center is a place for those who are really engaged in their writing and want to improve and get verification in their efforts.
“All good writers get a second pair of eyes and feedback to help them be deliberative about their writing. That’s the function of the writing center,” she said. “Whether they do it through a machine or do it through some hand outs or they do it with another human being, the options are always there.”