Need help with math homework or tips on how to strengthen study skills?
If so, the Learning Center at Quinnipiac University offers a wide range of services to hundreds of Quinnipiac students every semester.
The center, with its many private cubicles in a room free of noise and distractions, allows tutors to give students one-on-one attention.
The Learning Center, located in Tator Hall 119, employs over 50 peer tutors (meaning students) who have no lower than an A in a given subject, and whose services are available by appointment every day of the week, Sunday through Friday.
Andrew Delohery, academic counselor and director of the Learning Center, makes sure the tutors are trained in areas such as ethics, responsibilities and case study analysis.
“I applied for a tutoring position because I tutored a lot of my roommates and realized I could be getting paid to help people,” Sharon Rosenburg, senior math major who specializes in tutoring algebra, calculus, and physics, said.
To get extra help, students may call or go into the Learning Center one week in advance to make an appointment with a tutor who specializes in the subject in which the student is having trouble.
Tutorial sessions are usually 30 minutes long, but arrangements can be made for longer sessions if necessary.
Permanent weekly appointments with a specific tutor for up to one hour can be contracted as well.
The main subjects that the Learning Center deals with are math, science, foreign language, business and writing.
However, there are usually tutors available for other subjects, such as accounting and legal studies.
“I came here for Spanish, and it made a world of difference,” Rosenburg, who attends the Learning Center to be tutored as well as to tutor others, said. “Without their help, I know I would not have done as well.”
In addition to tutorial services, the Learning Center offers weekly seminars that teach a variety of skills such as note taking, time management and final exam preparations, such as “Conquer Multiple Choice Exams” and “Write the Right Essay.”
“I went to a workshop at the Learning Center last semester on how to avoid procrastination,” Elizabeth Frenna, junior physical therapy major, said. “Since then I’ve learned to get my assignments done without rushing to finish them at the last minute.”
Some other resources The Learning Center provides are reference texts, CD-ROM study ware, academic counseling sessions, study skill handouts, computers and alternative textbooks.
“It feels very rewarding when the students come back and thank me for everything I’ve done for them,” Rebecca Desautels, senior psychology major who tutors math, Spanish and psychology, said. “I remember one of the Math 117 students who used to come in twice a week last semester. She had pulled off a ‘C’ in the course and came in at the end of the semester and gave me a big hug and thanked me for everything. I was really happy for her.”
