Getting tutored on campus

A college education can bring many previously unattainable goals well into a student’s reach. Along with these advancements, however, come many obstacles and headaches. To help students meet these challenges and overcome them is the main goal of the Tutoring Center at Woodland Community College.

The Tutoring Center, under the guidance of Loretta Richard, offers tutoring in almost every subject, including the tough ones like Intermediate Algebra and College Composition. Located in the 100 Building, it is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Fridays, the center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All the tutors are students at WCC and the majority of them are carrying a load of at least 6 units.

The newest addition to the Tutoring Center is online tutoring. Students interact with a real tutor through the internet or over the phone. They receive live tutoring and can even scan and send their homework or handouts from their computer to the tutor’s. This enables students to receive help on problems they are actually doing instead of just examples and practice problems.

Available evenings and weekends, the program caters to distant education students and those with an inconvenient schedule. Just like all tutoring services, this one is also free.

As stated before, students can connect to the program using their own personal computer or one of the computers at the center. For students without a computer, the program is available using a toll free number. Instead of receiving help through the internet, students talk directly to the tutor. Before a student can call, however, he or she must first receive a password and access information from Loretta Richard.

Started this past summer, the pilot program offers help only with math subjects and only one tutor is currently trained to use the program. The size of the sessions is also minimal, usually 1 to 2 students and the tutor. Plans for adding Chemistry and English classes, as well as more trained tutors, are in the works.

Also in the works are the plans for the new Tutoring Center. The new center will be located in the Learning Resource Center, which is currently under construction. Around 2,000 sq.ft., the center will house offices, tables for tutoring, and smaller tutoring rooms for groups sessions. The new center will also include more computers. There is one other option for students if a tutor is unavailable.

For students seeking help in math, the center offers computer-based tutoring. Unlike the online tutoring, this one does not involve a live tutor. Using a special program on the center’s computers, students can watch tutorials that cover the lessons they are having trouble in. The program guides students through the problems step by step, giving examples and practice problems along the way. The program can be used with or without a tutor and is available anytime the Tutoring Center is open.

If a student needs help and would like to have a tutor, he or she must first fill out a Request for Tutoring form and return it to the center. Once the student is approved and the teacher’s signature is attained for the subject to be tutored, the student can then sign up for a tutor. Although tutoring sessions typically last 30 minutes, if needed, arrangements can be made with Loretta for 1-hour sessions.

Each tutor sets their own hours, so availability can change from week to week. Tutoring is also on a first come first serve basis. To make sure you get an appointment and the help you need, be sure to sign up as soon possible.

What is convenient about the Tutoring Center is that students are not assigned tutors; they can choose who they want to see. If it doesn’t work out with one tutor, students can simply try someone else. The main focus is on the student’s success.

For additional information on services and programs, contact the Tutoring Center at (530) 661-5733.