Learning Center helps students achieve success
Huan Vo
With nine centers spread across both the Southern and Dobson and Red Mountain campuses of MCC the Learning Enhancement Center is busy helping students.The center has a total of 70 tutors, and comes at no additional cost to students enrolled at MCC.
“We always look for more tutors since the numbers of students at MCC are increasing,” said Sarah Henderson, the director of the center.
Those seeking to be a tutor must have a grade point average of 3.0 to 3.5 in the subject that they want to tutor.
In addition, they must have a recommendation from their instructor.
They are also provided with a training workshop.
“There are a lot (of) requirements, Henderson said, “but in return, they gain leadership skill and improve communication skill.”
Carla Martinez, 19, is a math tutor at the center.
“I help other students with math problems,” Martinez said.
“In return, they teach me the skill of explaining a problem in an easy-to-understand way.”
Students are allowed to schedule appointments or just stop by the center.
“By far, drop-in tutoring is used the most by students,” Henderson said.
The center covers many subjects ranging from math to foreign languages. Henderson said the Math Skills Center is the busiest.
John Sondelski, 21, visits the center for help with biology atleast twice a week.
“I have a lot of things to learn and assignments to do. So, I need all the help I can get,” Sondelski said.
Sondelski said everyone at the center is friendly and willing to help.
Online tutoring is another way the center has offered help to students.
Though the list of subjects the center covers is a lot, not every subject is on the list.
“We do take suggestions and requests from students in terms of what subject the center should cover,” said Jacqueline Young, the center’s administrative secretary.
“We plan to open a 10th center. So, we look forward to covering those subjects that get requested from students,” Henderson said.
The center uses TutorTrac, a program that keeps track of students who attend the center.
“With it, we get information in terms of the numbers of students using the service and how active they are.”
Like any other department at MCC, the center has rules that students have to follow. One of them is the center expects students to keep their appointment. Furthermore, if they had to cancel their appointments, they should do it at least two hours in advance.
“It’s great to see students come back to the center,” Henderson said. “It’s proof that we’re doing something right.
