HBU is known for its friendly professors, whose open-door policy helps ensure students aren鈥檛 lacking in academic support. But sometimes, a boost from another perspective is just what is needed to help students perform well in a course. The Academic Success CenterTutoring Program is about employing the power of peers.
Undergraduate or graduate students who need assistance in a subject or in a writing assignment may schedule tutoring via HBU鈥檚 portal for next-day appointments. Students may also visit the ASC, housed in the Moody Library, during library hours for walk-in appointments or to schedule a tutoring session in person. 鈥淲hen students come for a tutoring appointment, they鈥檙e learning from a peer who has taken the class, earned an 鈥楢,鈥� and received a professor recommendation,鈥� explained Margaret Humphreys, director of the ASC. 鈥淪ometimes students are more comfortable approaching a peer for help instead of a professor.鈥�
About 50 qualified tutors assist other students at the center. 鈥淗iring effective tutors and partnering with our faculty are two keys to the ASC鈥檚 success,鈥� Humphreys said. The center is CRLA (College Reading & Learning Association)-certified. The ASC鈥檚 services also encompass academic coaching, supplemental instruction, online tutoring, academic workshops and test reviews.
Biology major Oscar Benitez, Jr. comes to the ASC regularly for tutoring across subjects. 鈥淚n high school, sometimes getting tutoring has a stigma. But in the college setting, you鈥檙e dumb if you don鈥檛 go,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 say to people who struggle in class: 鈥楬ave you gone to tutoring?鈥� You have to take advantage of the resource.鈥�
Tutors like聽Klaire聽Ansell, a philosophy major, benefit from the program as well. She is able to practice toward her goal of becoming a professor while having a part-time job on campus. 鈥淚 love doing it; I like the people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would always recommend it to everyone.鈥� In addition to the tutors, the ASC employs several student workers to facilitate appointments and keep the center鈥檚 3,000 appointments per year running smoothly.
Students don鈥檛 pay a fee for the tutoring聽service, and聽are not limited in the amount of tutoring they may receive. The ASC, with its moveable furniture, Apple televisions, dry erase surfaces and private study booths 鈥� all made possible by donors 鈥� has become a learning and studying magnet for students.
For soccer athlete Malik Key, the community environment facilitates study groups and connections outside of formal tutoring as well. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the great thing about being in the ASC. You have a lot of others in the same major whom you can go to,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f I need help, I鈥檒l study with someone who鈥檚 about to graduate. Nobody judges you if you don鈥檛 understand the concept. Everybody here is welcoming.鈥�
Humphreys said, 鈥淭he ASC is one of students鈥� favorite places on campus. We are kind and helpful to students while also empowering them with the resources they need to be successful.鈥�
Learn more at HC.edu/ASC.