Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the tutors? How are they selected? What do they do?

Tutors are freshmen and sophomore JCC students. They have been recommended by faculty and are being trained under College Reading and Learning Association guidelines. Tutors do their best to help students complete assignments (short-term goal) and become more independent and successful learners (long-term goal). Potential tutors sometimes self-select. More often, instructors recommend students who have strong academic and interpersonal skills. (These are not necessarily the 4.0 students.) If you have questions about what tutors can or cannot do while working with your students, please visit the center to observe and talk with the coordinator. Also check Services, as well as the section on how we help students with writing papers.

How do I refer students for tutoring?

We do not have any bureaucratic forms for doing so. A kindly suggestion sometimes is all that is necessary. We ask you though not to make the referral punitive. The most successful referrals say something like, “Two of the students in this class are working with Amy in the learning center. They’ve said she’s been a big help.”

May I put reserve materials in the learning center?

Please do. It’s one way to encourage your students to use this resource and to feel comfortable here. You might put old exams, videotapes, sample papers, answer keys, etc. on reserve.

Can tutors visit my class?

Yes. You can schedule a brief presentation, Q and A session, or time when a tutor is assisting with conference or review sessions.

What if the tutors give students incorrect answers?

No doubt that happens. Let us know, so we can do better next time. We appreciate your working with us to improve services.

Can I send students to the learning center if they miss my class?

As always we’re happy to help, but the first line of instruction should be yours. We hope they talk with you first and get notes or assignments from a classmate before coming to the learning center.

Can I send students to the learning center to make up tests?

We do only SLN and accommodated tests (requested by the Coordinator of Disability Support Services) at this time.

What accommodations do you provide? For whom?

Tutoring is open to all students and is not considered an accommodation. We do have adaptive technologies (Disability Support Services), and we provide a distraction-reduced space for testing.

Can I use the computers in the learning center?

We hope you’ll stop by often to do so. Your presence in the center is one more way we can welcome students. You might also want to review course software with students. Your student account can be used to log in to the LACC computers.

How do you help students learn more effectively and efficiently?

The most effective tool we’ve found so far is the test analysis. The coordinator will review a recently taken exam with a student to determine why errors were made. In the process, the student should discover things about his or her own learning profile, along with devising a better study plan for a particular course. We also talk with students about notetaking, preparing for exams, learning text-based vocabulary, task management, and ways of dealing with obstacles and challenges to their success.

Can I hold office hours or group review sessions in the learning center?

Please do! We have a beautiful facility with a VCR and lots of white-board space.

Is it all right to stop by and talk with you about teaching and learning?

We hope you do. The better we understand your expectations for your students, the better our assistance.