Alexa Escalona/Contributing Writer
The Center for Academic Success located at both campuses offers students the key to succeed in their classes. The Center provides tutoring on a variety of tests and subjects.
The location is where students can find resources to help them with their academic struggles. Tutoring is offered for subjects ranging from biology to writing and students can visit this office in the heart of the Green Library at the Modesto Maidique campus and at Academic I at the Biscayne Bay campus for guidance in all of these areas.
“Our tutors work with students on how to study for a subject and how to build vocabulary for that subject. Once they go through a series of workshops, they get additional credit in their courses and it helps them to do better in their activities in the class,” said Maria Kulick, director of the Center of Academic Success.
Kulick said that tutoring plays a major role in the success of the students in the subjects that are giving them trouble. Tutoring in all levels of math, statistics, biology, chemistry, and physics are offered at the Center.
“We try to give students a more personal, individualized contact with the tutor. We promise them dedicated time with them one-on-one if they’d like it,” said Kulick.
Daniel Gil, an Asian studies major and tutor at the Center, said he prefers to use the non-directive method to teach.
“Instead of pointing out obvious errors, you ask them leading question to get them to notice their mistakes themselves, and that way they’ll pick up on their cues more actively and hopefully, not make those mistakes again,” Gil said.
Gil said that this method is effective, but adds that a large portion of students that come to the Center are students that have English as a second language.
“For the most part we do use the non-directive method, but it changes depending on the student,” said Jennifer Gonzalez, a psychology and biology major and tutor at the Center. “Then if we see that that is not working or it’s not what the student needs, then we become more directive, meaning we ask them, ‘There is an error in the sentence. Can you pick it out?’” said Gonzalez.
Brandon Paz, an economics major, currently attends tutoring at the Center.
“I do think tutoring will help me with what I need help in,” Paz said.
Even though it is Paz’s first time at the Center, he is confident that he will be able to achieve his goal in class.
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