PVCC’s Tutoring Center Reimagined
PVCC is offering both in-person and online tutoring for a variety of different courses in the Tutoring Center room M253. Although this is where the First Quadrant Math Center used to be located, tutoring is still available for many math classes offered at PVCC through the newly renamed Tutoring Center.
Students can either schedule a tutoring session online through Navigate or stop by the center. If a student drops by without scheduling an appointment, they may have to wait for availability; the Tutoring center goes by a “First come, first serve,” policy, said Director of Academic Support Services & First-Year Programs Dr. Todd Parks.
PVCC tutors are responsible for helping students understand materials in a course, and they often do this by “redirecting the student to their resources,” according to Parks. These can include textbooks, handouts and notes. Parks said, “The assignments make a lot more sense when we read the instructions first,” while discussing how often students will skip over the introduction or instructions and this often leads to initial confusion that can be cleared up easily.
Along with tutoring, PVCC also offers academic coaching. Coaches help students with overcoming difficulties with note taking or procrastination, for example. Students can set up an appointment with an Academic Coach through Navigate.
PVCC also has a Writing Center available to students in the Main Building room 617. There are few specific differences between the Writing Center and the Tutoring Center that are crucial to students. “The Writing Center provides assistance with writing assignments regardless of class. Any writing assignment, any class,” said Parks. This means that the Tutoring center does not help students with writing papers, but instead will help students understand material in a class. The Writing Center is also helpful for making PowerPoints and slide presentations.
The Tutoring Center not only offers tutors for a variety of courses, but it also has an open floor plan that welcomes students to gather in groups or work individually on studying for classes. The room includes TVs that students can wire their laptops to and many tables to sit at with classmates or tutors. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
